On April 15, 2019, the world held its breath as the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris teetered on the edge of collapse following a severe fire—the precise origins of which are still under investigation. Five years later, the damage has been cleared, the stone inside the cathedral shines anew, and the structure’s mighty spire has been rebuilt and secured in place. With an end in sight to the most significant restoration works, the city’s majestic icon is on track for its grand reopening on December 8, just as President Macron vowed.
In the meantime, there’s a unique opportunity to glean a fresh perspective on the 860-year-old monument. A new exhibition, that previewed on the eve of the April 24 grand opening, showcases masterpieces from the cathedral’s interior that were saved in the days after the fire and restored by specialized experts over the last two years. Seeing these marvels up close meant venturing south of Ile de la Cité, the city’s central island, to the 13th arrondissement where the Mobilier National, one of France’s lesser-known public institutions, preserves and repairs the country’s most valuable historic furnishings and decorative arts.
In the Galerie des Gobelins building, once part of the Gobelins tapestry factory, Restoring the Grands Decors of Notre Dame comes to life. The monumental exhibit is organized by the Mobilier National and the Direction Régionale des Affaires Culturelles d'Île-de-France (a part of the Ministry of Culture) with the support of the Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France. During the preview, its curators walked me through a selection of pieces that trace both the beloved cathedral’s decorative history and its future. The short version: It’s a chance to see restored pieces dating back to the 17th century on display outside the cathedral for the first time, juxtaposed with contemporary furnishing.
The Mobilier National preserves and repairs France’s most valuable historic furnishings and decorative arts.
The exhibit Restoring the Grands Decors of Notre Dame juxtaposes restored pieces and contemporary art.
Among the display of religious paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries that loom large at the start of the exhibit, the most notable are the 13 large-format pieces from a collection of 76 works called Mays. As the curators explained, these paintings were produced by the country’s best artists between 1630 and 1707 and donated to the cathedral by the goldsmiths guild of Paris every year on May 1, in honor of the Virgin Mary. During the Revolution, about 20 of the Mays were dispersed when all ecclesiastical property was seized. Five paintings disappeared, while the rest were transported to the Musée des Petits-Augustins and the Louvre. After
The website maxtravelz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
While Milan is well known as a global fashion and design hub, it’s also one of the most exciting art cities in the world and art could easily keep any visitor fully occupied for days. Here are some of the best art museums to visit, highlights in each, along with suggestions of where to stay and eat.
You may have missed the chance to spend the night in Barbie's Malibu DreamHouse or Shrek's Swamp, but don't fret, because Airbnb just took its once-in-a-lifetime stays and experiences up a notch. On May 1, Airbnb announced its latest category, Icons, a new vertical for “extraordinary experiences hosted by the greatest names in music, film, television, art, sports, and more.” Airbnb's goal is to bring some of travelers' wildest dreams to life—from witnessing the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games along the River Seine in Paris (on a terrace in the Musée d’Orsay designed by Mathieu Lehanneur, the designer of the torch and cauldron for the Paris 2024 Games), to spending the night in the Ferrari Museum in Italy (and taking a lap with Scuderia Ferrari ambassador driver Marc Gené while you're there). With overnight stays in jaw-dropping locations and experiences you won't soon forget, these listings certainly live up to their name.
A slew of exciting new hotels have been popping up in Honolulu — and starting June 1, there will be a new lifestyle hotel in the heart of one the city's most vibrant neighborhoods.
Good hotels are in the business of cherishing their guests. Hotels - at the highest end - are all about curation, which makes the products they sell in their shops particularly desirable, whether fashion, furnishings or art. Here are some presents that every mother will love.
Cowboys are so often depicted like John Wayne—meaning, as a white man on a horse. For a long time, this representation has overshadowed the existence, and importance, of Black cowboys, but in the 19th century, an estimated one in four cowboys was Black. They were often barred from competing against white riders, and went on to form their own rodeos—yet to this day, Black rodeos continue to thrive.
The 60th edition of the art extravaganza that’s the Venice Biennale runs until 24 November at the two main venues Giardini and Arsenale. as well as countless offsite locations, official and unofficial. There are 88 National participations this year, with four countries participating for the first time: Republic of Benin, Ethiopia, United Republic of Tanzania, and Democratic Republic of Timor Leste. Here are eleven of the must see country pavilions.
Fragrance is superb at creating a sense of place - and they are powerful sensory weapons for luxury hotels. Whether it’s a flickering, highly fragranced reminder of a perfect holiday, a signal of a forthcoming trip or an opportunity to dip into a beautifully curated world, these candles will help your mother dream of her next vacation.
In case you missed it, luxury transporter Blade — which is best known for operating helicopters and private jets across New York, Europe and Canada — has expanded into the bus market.
Etihad Airways' beloved Airbus A380 has returned to the US after four years. It landed at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport just after 10 a.m. on Monday after a more than 14-hour trek from Abu Dhabi.
Forty years ago, the Yugoslavian city of Sarajevo hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics. Many new structures were built, and the Games were seen as something of a reunion since many countries had boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics held in Moscow.
The world’s most prestigious contemporary art exhibition, the Venice Art Biennale opened last week and runs until 24 November in two main locations, the Giardini and the Arsenale, as well as throughout Venice, in museums, foundations, galleries, churches and palazzos. These “collateral events” are free and are mostly open through the fall. From stunning painting shows to sculptural installations, here are ten must-see exhibitions dotted throughout the city nicknamed "La Serenissima."