Photos and the City

Tag: Cotswolds

  • Oxford

    it was already dark when I had arrived at my last Airbnb, a stunning and still super cosy cabin next to the River Thames, so I was already looking forward to waking up to an amazing snow-dusted view. But in the morning it was all gone… Good bye winter wonderland!

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    The view was still beautiful! I just have to come back and stay longer, maybe do the Thames Walk or write a book or both!.

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    It was hard to leave, even more as it was raining, but Oxford was waiting for me. There are quite a few park & rides all around Oxford, which is the cheapest and easiest way to get into the city centre.

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    Back to city life and people and lots of people feel always a little bit strange after a few quiet days, but Oxford was a lovely place to get back to busier times. It wasn´t possible to visit the universities but I had a long walk around town and enjoyed my last cream tea (still missing those).

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    Divinity Hall at the Bodleian Library – or like Harry Potter fans know it: the Gryffindor Infirmary and also used for the Goblet of Fire and other scenes.

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    My sanctuary from the rain: The Grand Café – the site of the very first coffee house in England, serving great cream tea!

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  • Blenheim Palace

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    Blenheim Palace, this monumental country house is the only non-royal and non-episcopal country house that is allowed to be named palace. And monumental it is! It is already a long drive from the entrance to the park to the palace itself.

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    Situated in Woodstock near Oxford Blenheim Palace is the principal residence of the Dukes of Marlborough and was built between 1705 to around 1722. The palace was a gift from Queen Anne and a thankful nation to the first Duke of Marlborough John Churchill after winning the battle of Blenheim in 1704 and other important victories.

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    Churchill commissioned Sir John Vanbrugh and  Nicholas Hawksmoor with building the palace. Over the next years, Vanbrugh fight with the Duchess who wanted a comfortable home instead of the monument he had in mind until  Vanbrugh was banned from the site and the palace was finished by Hawksmoor.

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    Vanbrugh planned Blenheim in perspective – that is to be best viewed from a distance. As the site covers some seven acres (28,000 m²) this is also a necessity. Close to, and square on, the facades can appear daunting, or weighed down by too much stone and ornamentation. (Blenheim Palace)

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    But these weren´t the only fights the Marlboroughs had. They had a fallout with the Queen, left the country in 1712, only returned after her death in 1714 and came back in favour in court. The first Duke died in 1722 and his widow made the finishing of the palace her passion project.

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    Blenheim Palace stands in a beautiful romantic park planned by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. The gardens were closed on that day because of all the snow, but at least I had a lovely walk along the grande lake and the bridge.

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    By marrying an American heiress,  Consuelo Vanderbilt, in 1896 Charles the 9th Duke saved the family and the palace from ruin. The exhaustive restoration started while the couple was on their honeymoon. While the palace became a place of wonder and prestige again, the marriage without love ended in a divorce in 1921, Consuelo had already left Charles in 1906, quite the scandal!

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    Winston Churchill, a direct descendant of the first Duke was born in Blenheim and spent a lot of time there with his beloved grandmother. Some of the staterooms or rooms next to them show an exhibition about his time in Blenheim and his life in general.

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    A library that was meant to take a stroll in it!

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    Blenheim Palace was named UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987. It is possible to visit this stunning place the whole year. And if might look kind of familiar you´ve might have seen it in a movie or tv show, like “Hamlet”, “Spectre”, “Cinderella” or “The Royals”.

    PS: if you donate the entry fee you´ll receive a pass for the whole year and one never knows if one might come back!

     

  • Burford

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    For my last full day in the Cotswolds I had planned to visit several smaller villages and places, but the coldest night (and day) England had seen in years, made me change my plans. Single track roads weren´t ploughed and quite icy with frozen snow and as I wasn´t completely certain the car could take this, I just decided to visit Burford and Blenheim Palace later on. And this was the point that decision was made – I tried…

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    Named “one of the most idyllic places” by Forbes magazine the medeaval town is also known as “the gateway to the Cotswolds”.

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    The Parish Church of St. John the Baptist dates from the 15th century with a Norman tower.

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    Burford lovely High Street offers a lot to see and browse. From cottages to baroque style houses from the 15th to 17th century, independent shops and pubs. Between the 14th and 17th century Burford was an important centre for wool trade.

    The broad main street slopes gently down to the river and is lined with dignified old houses and ancient cottages and many shops all of which appear little changed since Tudor times as witnessed by the precarious angles the buildings have come to rest at. (Burford Tourism)

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