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Travel Travel highlight

Mount Kōya, Japan: Travel highlight

Exploring Mount Kōya, and more particularly Oku-no-in cemetery, was one of the highlights of our second trip to Japan. Here is a look back on an incredibly moving and memorable experience. Located about a hundred kilometers north of Kyoto, Mount Kōya, also known as Kōya-san, is the birthplace of Japanese Buddhism. It has been a UNESCO […]

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Café Food Tea room

An afternoon tea in Strasbourg: le LÉONOR

Having enjoyed our stay at hotel LÉONOR in early spring 2022, we recently returned to sample their new afternoon tea concept. Hotel le LÉONOR is located in the former residence of Marshal Léonor Marie du Maine de Bourg. This historic mansion (which for many years served as a police station) has been transformed into a […]

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Travel Travel highlight

Pitons Bay, Saint Lucia: Travel highlight

During our Caribbean voyage onboard a majestic sailing ship, cruising into Pitons Bay in Saint Lucia was one of the most unforgettable moments of the trip. The first memory of our Caribbean adventure was the shocking contrast between the freezing cold in wintery Strasbourg, and the tropical heat in Martinique.  While Strasbourg was covered in […]

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Seasons Top

15 views of Strasbourg in the spring

Spring is probably the best season to explore Strasbourg. The weather is mild and often sunny, which makes this the perfect time to wander the streets of the old town. Parks and gardens are suddenly clad in bright colors, a far cry from the wintery hues of February. Blooming magnolias, cherry blossoms and wisteria add a touch of poetic […]

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Food Restaurant

A Michelin-star restaurant in Strasbourg: Le 1741

Located in an elegant bourgeois townhouse on quai des Bateliers in Strasbourg, Le 1741 (1 Michelin star) offers an extraordinary culinary experience. The restaurant is named after the year that the Palais Rohan – located right across the river Ill – was built. The establishment reopened in August 2023 after 8 months of renovations. The […]

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practical information

Finding a mailbox in Strasbourg

Due to the current prevalence of digital communication, finding a mailbox in the city can sometimes prove to be a bit of a challenge, almost like a treasure hunt. In order to save you some time if you plan on sending a postcard or a letter, we’ve made a list of mailboxes in the center […]

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Travel Travel highlight

The Magerøya strait, Norway: Travel highlight

While we had been sailing onboard the Norwegian Coastal Express for several days, the experience of passing through the Magerøya strait  (70º58’N), just a few kilometers from the North Cape, felt like being on the North Pole on a beautiful winter’s day. We were in the middle of the polar night. At this time of year, the sun […]

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Travel

Our travel dreams for 2024

To start off the new year, rather than set a series of resolutions we’ll have forgotten by the 20th of January, we’ve decided we’d rather daydream a little and write a list of our travel dreams Every new place we explore is a bubble of inspiration, energy, and temporary escape that we truly make the […]

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Travel

Uzbekistan: travelling along the Great Silk Road 

Visiting Uzbekistan had been a dream of ours for many years: to explore this vast country in the heart of Central Asia, at the crossroads of so many cultures and traditions, and meet the people there. Discover its architectural treasures – a mosaic of blues – and its legendary cities, like Samarkand or Bukhara. Walk […]

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Event

12 things to do at the Strasbourg Christmas Market in 2023 

The magic of Christmas returns to Strasbourg from the 24th of November to the 24th of December 2023. For a whole month, the Capital of Christmas will be decked out for the festive season. The delicious scent of mulled wine, coconut macaroons, and tarte flambée will be wafting from stalls in every square, and as soon as it […]

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Travel

Unique things about Japan

Japan is a complex and multi-faceted place. Its ancestral heritage and age-old traditions are the foundations of its rich culture. Some of the distinctive characteristics of the Japanese archipelago pose a striking difference to the European continent, and to France in particular.  As a complement to our Travel diary, we’ve made a list of uniquely […]

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Hotel

Where to stay and enjoy a spa day in Strasbourg: Hotel Maison Rouge

Hotel Maison Rouge is the epitome of modern, elegant, and welcoming luxury in the heart of Strasbourg. Ideally located in the pedestrian city center, 100 m from place Kléber and just a few minutes from la Petite France and the Cathedral, this exclusive establishment is the perfect base for exploring the city’s many treasures. After […]

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Top

Strasbourg: Top 10 most instagrammable spots

Strasbourg is our home base. But also, and more importantly, it is a beautiful city (objectively speaking, of course!). It attracts visitors from all over the world no matter the season, and not just for the famous Christmas Market. Strasbourg also has a rich cultural heritage: the Grande Île, which is the historical city center, and […]

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Hotel collection Travel

Where to stay in Warsaw: PURO Hotel

PURO is a contemporary boutique design hotel in the center of Warsaw. It is located just a stone’s throw from the famous Palace of Culture and Science. JEMS Architekci are behind the conception of the modern and geometric seven-floor building, while the decor was imagined by London design studio De Salles Flint. The interior designers […]

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Travel

Warsaw: our best things to do

From the cobbled streets and colorful façades of the Old Town, the booming business district dotted with modern skyscrapers, the young and artistic borough of Praga, the lush royal Łazienki park, and a wide array of museums, Warsaw is looking to the future while remembering its history. Warsaw takes you by surprise. It is the embodiment […]

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Walk around

Walk around in Strasbourg: parc de l’Orangerie

The Orangerie park is the oldest and largest public park in Strasbourg. Locals love to recharge their batteries in this 64-acre green lung, located right next to the European institutions. Visitors particularly appreciate the park’s long, shaded walks, the gardens, the Pavillon Joséphine, the Temple of Love, the lake lined with weeping willows, and the […]

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practical information Top

2 days in Strasbourg: things to do

Are you planning a weekend in Strasbourg? We’ve prepared a 48-hour itinerary that will allow you to soak of the atmosphere of the city’s different neighborhoods, explore the must-see sights, and make the most of your stay. Check out the summary of the itinerary below. Day 1: the Cathedral, the city center & la Petite […]

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Hotel collection Travel

Where to stay in Stockholm: Hotel J

Hotel J is located on the waterside at Nacka Strand, east of Stockholm, and was named after the J class sailing yachts of the America’s Cup. The decor is consistently nautical, throughout all the rooms and common areas. The pared-down style combines Scandinavian design with elements inspired by Newport yacht clubs: a palette of white, red, […]

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Travel

Japan: our travel diary

Exploring Japan was one of the most memorable travel experiences of our lives. We were inspired, bewildered, enchanted, and fascinated, all at once. Our first trip captivated us so much that we chose the same destination for our honeymoon the very next year. Several years later, we still love taking a walk down memory lane, […]

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Hotel practical information

Where to stay in Strasbourg: our guide

Strasbourg is a comfortably sized and accessible city that is perfect for a city trip or a weekend stay. Since the city center is largely pedestrian with a well-developed public transportation network, it’s very easy to walk around from one neighborhood to the next. You’ll have no problem finding a neighborhood that suits your wants and needs […]