England & Wales

As a foreigner who grew up in the 20th century, my perception of British landscapes came from idyllic images conveyed through TV detective stories filmed in country villages, be they adaptations of Agatha Christie’s novels or the series Midsomer Murders: round hills with emerald-green grass and interspersed hedgerows and woods, and gorgeous cottage gardens, cramming with luxuriant flower arrangements…

From Yorkshire’s national parks to Snowdonia, from Chester and Shrewsbury to the honey-hued stone houses in the Cotswolds, my trips have allowed me to taste the delights of the British countryside and to capture its essence. They have also made me travel back in time when I visited many architectural gems in England and Wales, which testify of Britain’s rich and complex history. I invite you to follow in my footsteps through the photo-albums and outlines of my most recent trips to England and Wales.

During these trips, I had the opportunity to observe beautiful country gardens and to admire the know-how of British gardeners in the gardens of some Cambridge Colleges, private mansions, or in public parks such as the Dingle Garden in Shrewsbury, the Valleys Gardens in Harrogate, or Regent’s Park in London. Thus, I invite you to read my essay about the distinctive personalities of England’s gardens and landscapes, and their representations in arts in British “modern” history. Indeed, successive changes, reflecting historical and social changes and interrelating with British arts, have affected their features over centuries, giving them distinctive personalities within European/western culture.

Scientific Cambridge

Since Isaac Newton, Cambridge’s famous scientists have brought many discoveries to the world. Last July, during my two-week programme at Cambridge, I also explored the scientific side of this temple… Continue reading Scientific Cambridge

    Illustration on top of this page: Duck Island Cottage, on Birdcage Walk, St James Park, London (own photo)