Tag Archives: Notre Dame

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Best Cities for Lovers of Culture

While some cities around the world may seem slightly one-dimensional, there are others that are absolutely packed with culture, and are known around the world for being a cultural hot spot. When it comes to a city’s culture, its heritage, diversity, and involvement in the arts are all taken into account, and, if you are hoping to soak up plenty of culture on your next city break, these are the cities that you should consider visiting.

Paris.

Paris, France
The City of Lights can almost overwhelm visitors with the amount of culture that surrounds you wherever in Paris you go. With 24 national museums, and various other private ones, museum lovers will be in their element in Paris. The city also has a number of world-famous landmarks, from the Arc de Triomphe to the Eiffel Tower to the Notre Dame, and many of its chic boutiques could easily double as landmarks themselves! Paris is also the city with the largest number of public libraries, as well as cinemas, and has an impressive 353 performing arts theaters that support artistic talent and urban culture. Parisian culture is charming and intriguing, and needs to be experienced first-hand in order to be fully appreciated.

London

London, UK
You will never be short of cultural activities to fill your days with while in London, a city that is truly cosmopolitan yet has a strong sense of heritage. From visiting Buckingham Palace to taking a tour of the Tower of London to taking in a Shakespeare production at the Globe Theatre, the city is overflowing with culture. London’s culture is made even richer by the diversity that can be found around the city. Brick Lane is where you can enjoy the best Indian food outside of India, while Borough Market brings together food culture from all over the region. In addition to all of its national museums, London also has a massive 162 other museums, as well as an impressive range of music and art performances.

Kyoto

Kyoto, Japan
With great importance placed on history, tradition and art, Kyoto is a fantastic destination to visit for those who want to experience authentic Japanese culture. Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, most of which date back to many centuries ago, are dotted throughout the city, and there is definitely a noticeable lack of the looming skyscrapers and flashy advertising campaigns that usually take over a developed city. Kyoto has managed to progress forward whilst retaining a strong grip on its heritage, and this applies to everything from its ponds and gardens to traditional cuisine. To fully immerse yourself in the culture and traditions of Kyoto, spend a night at a local ryokan inn, sampling some traditional dishes and getting to know the locals.

Spending time soaking up the culture in a new city is a great way to open up your mind and learn about different parts of the world, and you will also end up feeling much more attached to a destination that you would have otherwise felt.

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Famous Gold Domes Around the World

Gold has been used in architecture for centuries, because not only is it able to withstand the test of time, but it also depicts a sense of power, wealth and grandeur. OROGOLD takes a look at some of the famous gold domes around the world.

Dome of the Rock. Jerusalem.

Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem, Israel
The Dome of the Rock is a 7th Century shrine in Jerusalem, Israel, and houses the rock from which the Prophet Muhammad was said to have ascended to heaven, as well as the site at which Abraham, the first patriarch of the Hebrew people, was said to have sacrificed his son. This makes the Dome of the Rock extremely significant to both Muslims and Jews. The Dome is definitely a spectacular sight, with 80 kilograms of gold used to cover it.

Golden Ring, Russia.

Golden Ring, Russia
As you approach the medieval Russian towns of Suzdal, Vladimir, Yaroslavl, Rostov and Zagorsk, you are likely to see glints of gold gleaming in the distance. This is because these towns form Russia’s Golden Ring, a series of historic towns that each have golden domes reaching towards the sky. Many sites in these towns are protected by UNESCO, and while the five towns that OROGOLD has mentioned are the main Golden Ring towns, there is no official list, and there are many other cities and regions that consider themselves to be a part of the Golden Ring.

Wyoming State Capitol, Wyoming

Wyoming State Capitol, Wyoming, USA
Built between 1886 and 1890, the Wyoming State Capitol is the seat of the government of the state of Wyoming, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987. While the dome of the building was originally built using copper, this became badly tarnished over time, and, in 1990, this was replaced with 24k gold leaf. To date, it has been re-gilded five times, with the most recent being in 2010. The golden dome is visible from all of the roads that lead to the city, glistening magically when it catches the sun.

Main Buidling, University of Notre Dame, Paris

University of Notre Dame, Paris, France
While the Notre Dame Cathedral may be one of Paris’ most iconic landmarks, the historic University of Notre Dame is also significant to the area’s past, as well as its present. The current structure is the third building to stand on the site, and was built in 1879. Its golden dome was added in 1882, and was most recently re-gilded in 2005, with the whole dome covered in gold leaf. On top of the dome stands a 19-foot statue of Mary, the Mother of God, making the whole building another important Parisian landmark.

Since ancient times, gold has been an extremely revered metal, and still is to this day. From the golden Dome of the Rock which was built in the 7th Century, to the golden dome of the Wyoming State Capitol, built just over one hundred years ago, these famous golden domes are located all over the world, each one a great example of the love and respect that we have for this metal.