Seen from Paris’s Pont de la Tournelle, the eight-story facade of the landmark restaurant La Tour d’Argent looks about the same as it did when its third-generation owner André Terrail grew up there in the 1980s, deploying toy parachutists into quayside traffic. But the interior is no longer indifferent to the 21st century: Late last month, La Tour d’Argent reopened its doors after a yearlong renovation led by the Paris-based architect Franklin Azzi. “It’s my Tour,” says Terrail, who took over following his father’s death in 2006. “The same, but more exacting, more thoughtful.” The new look draws on the outsize history of the classically French fine-dining institution, which has been serving diners since 1582, taking particular inspiration from the streamlined motifs of its Art Deco era. On the seventh floor, the redesigned restaurant — overseen since 2020 by executive chef Yannick Franques — functions more than ever as a theater. The airy dining room, in shades of indigo and silver, looks onto an open-plan kitchen and an elevated platform where the restaurant’s signature pressed-duck dish is prepared nightly. Upstairs and downstairs are new bars suited to less formal occasions: Le Bar des Maillets d’Argent, an all-day lounge with a fireplace, andLe Toit de la Tour, a rooftop terrace. Given that it has the welcoming air of a boutique hotel, it’s no wonder that the building can now host overnight visitors in a private apartment on the fifth floor, complete with a touch of Scandinavian-style minimalism attributable, in part, to Terrail’s Finnish mother.
Volcanic peaks and stunning views: why cycling is booming on tropical Réunion
26.08.2023 - 09:07 / nationalgeographic.com
Snaking into the hazy horizon, a hulking concrete-and-steel structure coils around Réunion’s north shore. Thrust skyward on enormous girders rising from this Indian Ocean island, which lies between Mauritius and Madagascar’s east coast, we’re cruising along the Nouvelle Route du Littoral — an ambitious 7.5-mile highway, built metres from the craggy coastline of steep cliffs that is ordinarily too dangerous to skirt far below.
Due to be completed by the end of this year, the new €2bn (£1.7bn) EU-supported project will link the cities of Saint-Pierre in the south and Saint-Denis in the north, via the airport and popular resort base Saint-Paul, and is estimated to be among the most expensive roads in the world.
Technically, I’m still in France. Connected to Paris by the country’s longest domestic flight, the overseas department of Réunion is a curious mix of the familiar in a setting that’s just like its tropical island neighbours. Carved by a multitude of tectonic rumblings and volcanic activity, vast craters gape across its rainforested heart. Steep slopes soar and lava fields tumble so close to the ocean that they’re sometimes kissed by the surf. Meanwhile, the island’s cafes serve crisp baguettes, buttery croissants and bottles of Bordeaux — all of which are payable in euros — and smooth, well-graded roads are signposted in French.
One popular cultural pastime Réunion didn’t naturally inherit from its French motherland, however, is cycling. But that’s all set to change now exploration on two wheels has started to take off.
“We’ve been hiring bikes and running trips for some time, but now the sport is becoming increasingly popular with travellers,” says Gildas Le Pessec of mountain biking specialists Rando Réunion Passion.
After collecting me from my hotel in Saint-Paul, we drive along corkscrewing roads to reach our starting point, 2,200 metres above sea level on the steep slopes of Piton Maido, one of Réunion’s many jagged peaks.
Towering above the Cirque of Mafate, a nature reserve in a caldera formed by the collapse of a volcano, the balcony of Maido plunges into a bowl of knife-edge emerald peaks trickling with waterfalls and deep valleys scattered with clusters of isolated farmhouses, which are only reachable by helicopter or on foot. Or so I’m told — sadly, on this brisk morning, everything below me is engulfed in impenetrable mist.
Skirting the fringes of the reserve, the Maido trail is a challenging and thrilling descent winding through dark forests and flower-filled meadows before ending up at the sea. As we approach the starting point, it dawns on me that I’ve never actually been on a mountain bike before. I’ve ridden over pot-holed roads and rocky trails on two wheels, but I’m
Fly From Major U.S. Cities to Reykjavik, Paris, and More for As Low As $350 — When to Book
Paris is always a good idea. And now travelers can escape to the French city and more European hotspots for less with a new Icelandair sale that has flights starting at just $349 round trip.
Meet the ex-Tesla staffer cycling across the world to encourage people to embrace low-carbon slow travel
Benjamin Parent has worked at Tesla, on ships, and as a part-time tennis coach.
Exciting new airline routes from August 2023 and beyond
Here at TPG, we keep you informed about all the changes and developments in the travel industry.
Five Stunning Cycling Routes To Explore Across Asia
When it comes to outdoor adventure, cycling offers the perfect blend of exercise and enrichment, providing participants with an opportunity to bask in the stunning scenery around them while simultaneously keeping their heart rate up—and few companies understand this as well as Art of Bicycle Trips. Launched in 2010, this expert-led tour company offers detailed itineraries across three separate continents, with locations ranging from the lakes of Chile to the mountains of Albania.
Moving To Europe On Your Mind? Best Places To Live And Work, According To Polls
“Home sales to Americans in Europe keep growing”; “The number of Americans living in European countries is increasing”; “Americans relocating to Europe is a trend.”
Travel and tourism industry deal activity decline by 35.7% YoY in January-July 2023, reveals GlobalData
US and UK saw respective deal volume reducing to almost half; China emerges as notable exception.
July 2023 saw substantial surge in visitor numbers and overnight stays in Albanian accommodation sector
International tourist arrivals in Albania are experiencing significant growth rates, accompanied by an expansion of the markets showing preference towards the destination.
Interview Tan Mai - MyTravelThru: Revolutionizing International Airport Transfers and Ground Transportation
Discover how MyTravelThru, an international airport transfer and ground transportation provider, is revolutionizing the industry. From their unique approach to customer and provider care to their commitment to sustainability and utilization of AI, learn why MyTravelThru stands out. Explore their future plans and the impact they made at the ARIVAL | Activate Bangkok event.
Middle East and Africa traveller and shopper trends revealed in latest m1nd-set research
Travel and tourism in the Middle East and Africa region, the focus of another recent region-specific research study by m1nd-set, is experiencing a robust revival, according to the Swiss travel and travel retail research agency.
World’s most powerful passport: Germany, Italy and Spain move up into second place
Japan has been knocked off the top spot for the world’s most powerful passport for the first time in five years.
Italy suspends ‘golden visas’ for Russians and Belarusians more than a year after EU recommendation
Italy has suspended its golden visa programme for Russian and Belarusian citizens, the country’s Business Ministry has announced on its website.