Here’s the rub: It’s a beautiful day in Oslo (summer, preferably), and you want to be outdoors in the fresh and sunlit air, perhaps have a picnic on the grass, stroll and enjoy the sights. But you also want some culture, a bit of art, yet not be cooped up in a museum on such a glorious day. Where do you go? The Vigeland Sculpture Park, part of the Frogner Park, located in Oslo, is one of the most popular and visually compelling places to visit in Norway’s capital.

Three kilometers northwest of the Oslo city center, the park covers 80 acres and features 212 bronze and granite sculptures by Gustav Berg. Each figure was personally sculpted out of clay by Vigeland and individual craftsmen were contracted to fabricate the pieces into what visitors see today. These works of art reside along an 850 meter-long axis divided into six sections: The Main Gate, The Bridge, The Children’s Playground, The Fountain, The Monolith Plateau and The Wheel of Life.

The Main Gate is made of forged granite and wrought iron and serves as an entrance to the park itself. It consists of five large gates, two small pedestrian gates and two copper-roofed gate houses, both adorned with weather-vanes. Financed by a Norwegian bank, The Main Gate was erected in 1926. Walking along the 328 feet long, 49 feet wide Bridge, you will encounter 58 of the park’s sculptures. The Bridge serves as a connection between the Main Gate and the Fountain. All of the sculptures are bronze-clad and contribute to the “Human Condition” theme of the park. One of the Oslo Park’s more popular statues, Sinnataggen, or “The Little Angry Boy.” This was the first part of the park to be opened to the public, in 1940. While most of the Oslo Park was still under construction, visitors could enjoy these sculptures.

Next one arrives at the Children’s Playground, located at the end of the bridge. This is a collection of eight bronze statues, all representing children at play. In the center, mounted on a granite column, is a representation of a fetus. One cannot say that there is no attention to truth.After the Children’s Playground is the Fountain, fabricated from bronze and adorned with 60 individual bronze reliefs. It portrays children and skeletons in the arms of giant trees, symbolizing new life emerging from death. It took Vigeland from 1906 to 1947 to establish this monument in Oslo.

Finally, you arrive at the Monolith Plateau and the Monolith. The Monolith Plateau is a platform made of stairs housing the Monolith totem itself. Thirty-six figure groups reside on the elevation carrying with them the “circle of life” message. Eight figural gates forged in wrought iron give access to the Plateau. They were designed in Oslo between 1933 and 1937 and erected shortly after Vigeland died in 1943.

The Monolith (Monolitten) is unquestionably the most popular attraction in the park. As the name suggests, the work is created from one solid piece of stone. This massive work was begun in 1924 when Vigeland himself modeled the monument out of clay in his Frogner studio. The design process took ten months. Then the model was cast in plaster. In 1927, a block of granite weighing several hundred tons was delivered to the Oslo park from a stone quarry in Halden and was erected the following year, protected against the elements by a wooden shed. It took 14 years and three stone carvers, beginning in 1929, to transfer the figures. The Monolith towers 46.32 feet high and comprises 121 human figures rising heavenward. This is meant to symbolize man’s desire to become closer to the spiritual and the divine. The tightly embraced **** figures convey a feeling of togetherness as they all make their way to salvation.

At the end of the park’s 850-meter-long axis is a sundial, forged in 1930. This is followed the Wheel of Life, completed between 1933-34. It is essentially a wreath depicting four people and a baby floating in harmony. It symbolizes eternity and suggests the Oslo park’s overall theme, which is man’s journey from cradle to grave.

Marvelous and powerful as these works are, not everyone has appreciated the sculptures. In March 2007, this park in Oslo was defaced when an anonymous person or persons affixed black strips of paper to every exposed nipple, crotch, and posterior on the park’s sculptures. As always, there is no accounting for taste.

For more information on Oslo, visit http://www.blogoslo.com and http://www.oslomicroblog.com.

The Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts is located in Hanoi, Vietnam at 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Hanoi. The Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts plays an important part in the museum structure in Vietnam, not only preserving and showcasing some of the cultural heritage of Vietnam through the medium of fine arts but also making them accessible to the public.

The Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts is housed in the complex that was once the French Ministry of Information building. The building was constructed by the French during their colonial rule of Vietnam. The architectural style comprises both of Vietnamese Oriental as well as classical elements from the French. Many people both locally as well as internationally flock to see not only the magnificent art works but also the equally impressive architecture of this building. From wing to wing of the Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts stands a collection of fine arts ranging from the ancient artistic works to the modern contemporary works.

On the ground floor one will be able to see some of the oldest artworks on display at the museum. The Amitabha Buddha sculpture created in 1057 also stands with the museum. A wooden sculpture of Boddhisattva, sandstone sculptures from the Funan and Champa Kingdoms and also the “One Thousand Eye, One Thousand Arm Guan Yin” can be found at the museum.

While visiting the many sights in Vietnam finding some good Saigon accommodation is a must. A Saigon hotel would be a good place to stay.

The French Alps are home to some of the most well-known and well-travelled ski resorts in Europe.

Throughout the winter months, France’s more than 100 ski resorts are often filled to near capacity with skiers from around the globe.

The French Alps, Pyrenees Mountains and Vosges offer a wide range of ski possibilities for beginners to advanced skiers. Adrenaline junkies from near and far enjoy the thrill of downhill skiing in the mountains of France.

The most famous ski resort in France is located in the French Alps – Chamonix is the oldest and largest resort in the area.

It was home to the very first Winter Olympic Games in 1924. There, the world’s highest cable car lifts passengers up nearly 12,000 feet to offer amazing views of the almost 16,000 foot peak of Mont Blanc.

Mont Blanc is Europe’s highest peak. In addition to skiing and other winter sports, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc offers great summertime holiday packages. Attractions include folk festivals, a fair, a museum, wooden sculptures, golf, movies, clubs, casinos, bowling, fishing and hunting.

More athletic or adventurous summertime guests can enjoy horseback riding, cycling or mountain bike riding, hiking, river rafting, rock climbing, tennis, swimming and other water sports.

Some of the more ritzy and fashionable resorts include Courchevel, Megeve and Meribel. Courchevel consists of five villages, all at varying altitudes. During the winter ski season it offers snowboarding parks, half-pipe, terrain and cross-country skiing, as well as various downhill skiing options.

All resorts offer great ski instruction for beginners and intermediate skiers looking to improve their skill. During the summer holiday months Courchevel maintains its popularity as a summertime holiday getaway. Some of the more popular summertime activities include golf, rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking and swimming. Part of Courchevel’s summertime allure is the relaxing atmosphere and amazing scenery.

Winter’s End

Most ski resorts have closed their ski operations in lieu of summertime activities. Many resorts maintain a near-capacity booking, even during the summer.

Throughout the summer, many families enjoy a relaxing summer holiday at various ski resorts. Even during the summer months, Courchevel, Megeve, Meribel and Chamonix often report yearly increases in summertime guests. Ski resorts are available for more than skiers; they’re often considered to be very posh and relaxing summertime holiday spots.

Summertime Skiing in the Alps

Just because it is summer doesn’t mean ski season is over entirely. Ski options still exist during the summer, only not as abundantly as winter time ski options.

Don’t put your skis away until you’ve examined all available summertime ski options. Glacier skiing in the Alps is very popular among die-hard ski enthusiasts. Glacier skiing is available in Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina and Whistler-Blackcomb near Vancouver, Canada.

Glacier skiing tends to provide less challenging skiing conditions, but is an opportunity every skier should take advantage of at least once. The snow and ice on glaciers tends to be flat and mushy, not exactly perfect conditions for the adrenaline junkie, but good for those who just love to ski.

Chile’s La Parva and Portillo resorts are popular off-season training areas for many ski teams. New Zealand’s Whakapapa resort offers a ski adventure of a lifetime. It is one of the few resorts in the world that offers the ability to ski down the side of an active volcano.

The Canal du Midi was constructed by Pierre-Paul Riquet between 1667 and 1681 (under the reign of Louis XIV) with the help of about 12,000 workers. Riquet designed it in such a way that it blended in with its surroundings and managed to turn his technical achievement into a work of art. It paved the way for the Industrial Revolution.  It is a 360km long canal in the South of France (called Le Midi) full of navigable waterways and 328 structures (91 locks, 55 aqueducts, 7 canal bridges and 126 canal bridges, dams and a  tunnel). The canal connects the Garonne River to the Etang de Thau on the Mediterannean Sea. The canal runs from Toulouse, through Castelnaudary, Carcassonne and Béziers and down to the Mediterranean port of Sète.

It was initially constructed to enable the transport of goods for the French Navy between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Thanks to the Canal du Midi, the boats avoided the long sea voyage around hostile Spain, Barbary pirates and a trip that in the 17th century required a full month of sailing. The canal was also built to facilitate trade within the area. In the 17th century the Midi had two major crops: wheat and wine and one major product: textiles (heavy cloth from Nimes, denim and silk). Transport by road which was a mud path was extremely slow and expensive. It was easier to transport heavy goods by water. The wine of the region needed to be exported or sent to northern France. The canal was mainly used by small sailing barges with easily lowered masts but by the middle of the 18th century horse towing had taken over and steam tugs arrived in 1834. By 1838 there were around 270 vessels on the canal and passenger and packet boats continued a good trade until the coming of the railways in 1857. Commercial traffic continued until 1980 when it began to decline rapidly until its closure in 1989. It is now almost exclusively used by pleasure boats. In 1996 the Canal du Midi was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Short and long cruises along the canal are very popular during the tourist season. Here is a taste of what there is too see in the various towns along the Canal du Midi.

Toulouse

Starting off in Toulouse, this cosmopolitan and enthusiastic Ville Rose (distinctive for its brick architecture) is an absolute must for anyone wanting to explore France. It mixes heritage, lifestyle, cultural events and festival pleasures. Toulouse is just as lively by night as by day. It has one of the most intensely cultural calendars in France, including classical concerts, lyrical art, jazz, variety and electro-acoustic music. It has many museums including the Musée Saint-Raymond which specialises in antiques. The Cathédrale Saint-Etienne de Toulouse originally built in the 12th century in the Roman style was later renovated in the Gothic Baroque style is a sight not to miss. Toulouse is the centre of Occitan culture and every year the city holds a Fête Occitane with traditional music, singing, dancing and a traditional Occitan ball. You must of course not forget the city’s gastronomic speciality: Saucisse de Toulouse (pork sausage with onions, white wine, salt, pepper and spices).

Castelnaudary

As the main port of the Canal du Midi, this market town located 50km southeast from Toulouse was very prosperous in the seventeen century. Today it is a popular pleasure port. The port is now known as the Grand Bassin and is the largest open area of water in the canal covering 17.5 acres. Walking around the Grand Bassin remains a popular pastime as you can get a lovely view of the town. The town’s most unique building is the beautifully restored 17th century windmill; Le Moulin de Cugarel. It is situated on a hill overlooking the Languedoc-Roussillon region. La Chapelle Notre-Dame de Pitié located just outside the city walls is also worth a visit. The building was restored in 1981 and inside has beautiful wooden sculptures evoking the life of Christ. If you are there for lunch then you must try the city’s delicacy: Cassoulet (slow- cooked bean stew containing pork sausages, goose, duck, mutton and white haricot beans).

Carcassonne

This medieval fortified town in the Aude department of France is divided into two parts: the fortified Cité de Carcassonne and the more expansive lower city, the Ville basse. A fortified settlement has existed on the hill where Carcassonne now stands since the pre-Roman period. The old part of the town comprises of a gothic cathedral, drawbridges, 52 towers, ramparts and many small streets whereas the lower city is more modern. There are always many music concerts to enjoy including the Music Festival on 21st June to celebrate the longest day of the year. There are train tours taking you through the medieval city which enable you to admire its turrets and ramparts. A visit to the Basilique St Nazaire to see the large beautiful stained glass windows is a must. The city has a very unique atmosphere and is a very popular place to live. If you are looking to buy a property in the area of Carcassonne, you can find a 4 bedroom villa with a large garden, a pool and outbuildings for €283,000 (Ref 10694). If you prefer something with a little more character then take a look at this beautiful 7-bedroom manor house set in a 5 acre garden with a swimming pool for €850,000 (Ref 17534).

Narbonne

Although the Canal du Midi does not run through Narbonne it is linked to it by the Canal de la Robine. The town was built by decree from Rome in 118BC as a trading post along the newly constructed Via Dolmitia. After the departure of the Romans it became the capital of the Visigoths. It is home to the St Paul Basilica which was one of the first Gothic churches in France in the Middle-Ages, the Pont des Marchands – an exceptional bridge with 7 arches and the Saint-Just cathedral which started being built in 1272 but was never finished. The Musée Archeologique, the Roman Horreum and the Palais des Archevêque with its view over Narbonne are also worth a visit. Narbonne has many traditional markets, cafés, restaurants and boutiques. The old part of the town has been tastefully improved with gushing fountains and pedestrianised streets. The daily food market in Les Halles sells fresh locally grown vegetables, meats, fish, charcuterie, cheeses and some locally produced wines. This historical city with a medieval heritage is a wonder to live in. Take a look at this villa with a large garden, a garage and a swimming pool for €330,000 (Ref 11405).

Béziers

The next stop along the Canal du Midi is Béziers, a town with a rich historical past, Béziers was first a Phoenician settlement before becoming a Roman military post. It is a town with a rich historical past, it was already a fully functioning and vibrant city when the Romans arrived in 35BC and named the town Colonia Julia Baeterrae Septimanorum. The town has since then preserved its Roman feel. The Cathédrale St-Nazaire which was rebuilt in the Gothic style after it was burned down in 1209 is a definite sight to see. You can take a stroll down the allées Paul-Riquet which are lined with trees, cafés, restaurants and shops. There is also the beautiful Plateau des Poètes, an English garden filled with ponds and trees that was designed by the creator of Paris’ Bois de Boulogne. If you are in Béziers in August then there is the famous 5-day festival: Le Feria du Béziers.  It is well known for its magnificent town centre, one of the largest in France. The landscape around Béziers is dominated by vineyards, providing the backbone to the city’s economy. Its location (near to the beach and the mountains) is a popular reason why people live there. If you are looking to buy a property in or around Béziers have a look at this large 6-bedroom winegrower house with a terrace, double garage and convertible space for €220,000 (Ref 12388). If you are keen on living in a Chateau (who doesn’t?), then this converted 2-bedroom apartment in a 19th century Chateau could be for you. It is situated in a working winery and has a communal swimming pool €384,000 (Ref 18385).

Sète

The final stop at the end of the Canal is Sète, this popular Mediterranean seaside island resort is home to 12km of fine sandy beaches. It is the largest fishing port on the Mediterranean and is notorious for its fish restaurants. Sète is home to many museums and the Théatre Molière. It is also particularly well known for its water jousting taking place every year during the summer months. Other local attractions include the daily closed market (including Sunday) selling regional produce and the panoramic view from the top of the Mont St-Clair Chapelle Notre Dame de la Salette is a must. If you get the chance you should try some of the town’s unique dishes: La Tielle; an octopus based pie with tomatoes and spices originally made by the Fisherman’s wives for their husbands to give them strength before they went to sea. It can be eaten hot or cold and is best served with a glass of regional dry white wine. And, Le Frescati otherwise known as the cake of Sète. It is a traditional French pastry with the base consisting of a sweet pastry biscuit and white raisins soaked in rum and topped with a soft Italian meringue and cold coffee fondant, it goes down very nicely with a glass of chilled Muscat. The town’s restaurants, canals, streets, bridges, fishing boats and the sweet scent of the garrigue (Mediterranean scrubland) and sea air all add to its charm. If you are looking to buy a property in the centre of Sète, why not check out this newly built 2-bedroom apartment with a panoramic view overlooking the sea €180,000 (Ref 14243).

Sextant Properties is a network of 160 local estate agents based in France

Tel (UK) : 020 7428 4910

www.sextantproperties.com

Panjim Travel Attractions