Travel podcasts for city break fans. All the historical and cultural background you need to enjoy your visit.
Episodes
Wednesday Nov 24, 2021
Wednesday Nov 24, 2021
Tales from the history of Holyrood in Edinburgh: King David's escape from death while out hunting in the 12th century, inspiring him to found the abbey of the holy rood (cross), a royal wedding designed to unite the thistle and the rose in 1503 and all the drama of Mary Queen of Scots and her life at the palace. (Think intrigues, religious unrest, murders and her eventual flight to England) Hear stories about the later Stuart monarchs and find out what to look out for when you visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse and its beautiful grounds.
Useful links
https://www.rct.uk/visit/palace-of-holyroodhouse
https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk/edinburgh
City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time! Check our website to find more episodes from our Edinburgh series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk
We love to receive your comments and suggestions!
You can e mail us at citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.uk
And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. It helps others to find us.
Wednesday Nov 17, 2021
Wednesday Nov 17, 2021
A stroll through the history of Edinburgh Castle takes in kings and sieges, feasting, battles, murders and plots. There are plenty of tales of capture and recapture, of English invaders and rival Scottish clans. Find out too what to look out for when you visit the castle today, including The Great Hall, built by James IV to host feasts and celebrations, the little room where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to her son James, born to reign over both Scotland and England, and ancient treasures like the Stone of Scone and the Scottish Crown Jewels.
Useful links
https://www.edinburghcastle.scot
https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk/edinburgh
City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!
Check our website to find more episodes from our Edinburgh series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk
We love to receive your comments and suggestions!
You can e mail us at citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.uk
And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. It helps others to find us.
Wednesday Nov 10, 2021
Wednesday Nov 10, 2021
Walk the ghostly narrow closes of the old town, visit the elegant Georgian streets of the new town, tour that glorious castle, sample the whisky, the seafood or maybe a tattie scone; it's no wonder that Edinburgh is one of the UK's most popular city break destinations. Here is an overview of the series, offering some geographical, historical and cultural details to whet your appetite for the remaining 15 episodes when we will tour all the main sites, telling you the stories behind them and introducing a wealth of colourful personalities who have influenced the city over the centuries.
Useful links
Wednesday Nov 03, 2021
Wednesday Nov 03, 2021
There will be no episode this week, but the new series, City Breaks Edinburgh, will begin next week.
Wednesday Oct 27, 2021
Wednesday Oct 27, 2021
Our interview with Stefanie Schnellhammer of Keksliebe covers all things culinary: The difference between Keks and Kuchen, how to eat a Weisswurst (and why you should always do it before 11.00 am) and why Prinzregententorte is Munich's favourite cake. She takes us through a number of Bavarian specialities and gives tips on where to find them when eating out in Munich or on a day trip to Lake Starnberg.
useful links
https://www.nymphenburg-sekt-cafe.de
https://www.starnbergersee.de/orte/feldafing
Wednesday Oct 20, 2021
Wednesday Oct 20, 2021
We welcome Jax Slisz back for a second week in order to hear about the 2 Munich tours he runs which help him explain some of the darker aspects of Munich's history to visitors: a 3rd Reich Tour and a visit to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site. He talks passionately about what there is to see, why it's important to know this story and how the memories of his Polish grandfather, Alois Slisz, underpin his desire to educate others about this period of German history.
useful links
https://citybreakspodcast.co.uk/munich
video on the WW2 memories of Alois Sisz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m680cbtwcDU
Wednesday Oct 13, 2021
Wednesday Oct 13, 2021
After 5 years in Munich, Jax has founded his own tour guiding company, Heart of Munich Tours, and here he tells us what's on offer and shares lots of insider tips: why are Marienplatz and the Hofgarten two of his favourite stopping-off places, what cultural events is the city famous for apart from the Oktoberfest, what's the atmosphere like in the Hofbrauhaus and why is a beer garden only a (traditional) beer garden if it is shaded by chestnut trees?
useful links
https://citybreakspodcast.co.uk/munich
Wednesday Oct 06, 2021
Wednesday Oct 06, 2021
Three great travel bloggers share their city break ideas with us: we explore the world from Athens to Kochi and the alphabet from Auckland to Vilnius, taking in Funchal and Seattle on the way and all with lots of ideas for what to see, do, eat and drink along the way. Have a listen and be inspired.
Useful links
our website: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk
to find us on twitter: @citybreakscast
to e-mail us: citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.uk
This week's guest websites
Wednesday Sep 29, 2021
Wednesday Sep 29, 2021
Part 2 of our interview with Andrea Giordani from Feel Florence, the city's official tourism website, in which he takes us on a journey through some of the highlights of Italy's best-known literary work, The Divine Comedy by the 14th century Tuscan poet Dante Alighieri. 2021 marks the 700th anniversary of Dante's death and so now is the perfect time to get to know more about him and all the reasons why he is so famous, in Florence, in Italy and worldwide.
useful links
https://www.feelflorence.it/en
https://www.feelflorence.it/en/node/44397
Wednesday Sep 22, 2021
Wednesday Sep 22, 2021
The first of a two-part interview with Andrea Giordani from Feel Florence, the city's official tourism website. The 14th of this month is the central day in a year-long series of events to mark the 700th anniversary of the death of Dante Alighieri, Florence's world-famous poet, author and philosopher (1265-1321). Andrea tell us a little about Dante himself and the Florence he knew, introduces us to his best known work, the Divine Comedy and outlines some of the many events happening in Florence this year to mark the anniversary.
useful links
https://www.feelflorence.it/en
https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk