Kosmos

Culture, travel, fashion and culinary delights: the Kosmos pages of Lufthansa Magazin bring you interesting and useful tidbits from around the world

Der Besserwisser

Mr. Know it all

If you thought time travel was restricted to the movies, you’d be wrong. This way to the Middle Ages!

chivalry in sweden

Visors down, lances set, spurs in – off they ride toward each other at a furious pace. Starting July 6, medieval jousting competitions will be taking place on the Swedish island of Gotland. The highlight of the season is Meval Week (August 5-12) in Visby, the island’s capital.

GuÉdelon castle in France

A real castle is being built 150 kilometers south of Paris, using only the tools, materials and methods known in medieval times.Visitors are welcome to visit the construction site and even lend a hand!

A festival in GERMANY

“Mittelalterlich Phantasie Spectaculum” is the world’s biggest medieval festival and it’s touring Germany this year. Many show people don’t just put on an act for the tourists but spend the whole summer playing the role of minstrel, knight, juggler or sutler.

London, Great Britain

Feet, meet floor

Sebastian Erras travels the world with his eyes on the ground, taking pictures of fanciful mosaic floors and snapping characteristic patterns in Paris, Barcelona and London (photo). The signature detail is the German photographer’s stylishly shod feet at the lower edge of every picture.

Jaipur, India

Palace of the windows

The Hawa Mahal in Jaipur, India, was built in 1799 for the sole purpose of allowing the ladies of the royal household to watch processions unobserved. Hence the 953 intricately screened windows in its facade.

Mr. Know It All

Daily boat

Summer and water sports are a perfect combination of fun and activity. But why not take it up a notch by building your own surfboard, sailing boat or raft? See you in the water!

Timber!

At a top speed of three kilometers an hour, a rafting trip on Sweden’s Klarälven River is a leisurely drift. But first you have to build your own raft – using whole tree trunks.

vildmark.se

Boat ahoy

Build your own kayak, row- or sailboat in only a week at the Great Lakes Boat Building School in the U.S. state of Michigan. Then set sail straight into the water sports arenas that are the Great Lakes on the doorstep.

glbbs.edu

Against the grain

Foam surfboards are a dime a dozen. At Patrick Burnett in Cape Town, you can make your own beautiful, ecofriendly, custom wooden board – and then test it at South Africa’s top surf spots.

burnettwoodsurfboards.co.za

Kultur-Themenparks

Culture clash

Exploring Indonesia, Mexico or France can take years. If you’re strapped for time why not try a cultural theme park instead?

Island hopping

At the Taman Mini park near Jakarta, you’ll find Indonesia’s over 17 500 islands in miniature format plus architecture, dances, crafts and culinary specialties from across the archipelago.

tamanmini.com

Mexico Express

Enjoy dance and music shows, watch traditional potters and smiths at work, stroll the ruins of a real Maya settlement – all at Xcaret, the Mexican culture park near Cancún.

xcaret.com

Showtime

Puy du Fou in Vendée, France, has been named the world’s best theme park multiple times. Its spectacular shows spotlight French historical and mythological heroes.

puydufou.com

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Old swings, new roundabouts

Just go ahead and do it!

Dance, dance, dance

Where ideas learn to fly

„I knew the accent had to go!”