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Garden at Château de Villandry, Loire Valley, France
Garden at Château de Villandry, Loire Valley, France
The grass truly is greener on the other side—especially when that side is Château de Villandry. While the Loire Valley in France is packed with stunning châteaux (French for castles), Villandry stands apart, not for its towering turrets or medieval might, but for its gardens. Built in the 16th century by Jean le Breton, a minister to King Francis I, Villandry was always meant to impress. Unlike fortified castles built for war, it was designed for comfort, featuring large windows and an open, welcoming layout. Its gardens are arranged across terraces with distinct themes. The ornamental garden showcases geometric patterns like the one pictured here. The water garden offers a serene retreat, and the vegetable garden turns everyday crops into artistic displays.Desktop Version
Happy Canada Day!
Happy Canada Day!
Today, Canada turns another year older. Canada Day is a nod to the moment when the country officially came together in 1867. What began as a confederation of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia has grown into a nation of 10 provinces and 3 territories. Originally called Dominion Day, the name was changed to Canada Day in 1982—the same year the Constitution Act was signed, granting the country full control over its constitution. While Canada Day is not the country"s "Independence Day" in the American sense, it"s the closest thing to it. Locals celebrate this holiday with fireworks, parades, concerts and community events. Ottawa, the capital, hosts one of the biggest celebrations, featuring music and speeches on Parliament Hill. Red-and-white flags, maple leaf face paint and singalongs of the national anthem, "O Canada," are all part of the day.Desktop Version
Wheatear, Peak District National Park, England
Wheatear, Peak District National Park, England
You don"t need to be a bird expert to notice the wheatear darting across open ground. These ground-dwelling songbirds belong to the Oenanthe genus and are known for their upright posture and habit of hopping or sprinting between perches. Despite the name, wheatears have nothing to do with wheat or ears—the name is a twist on the old phrase "white arse," pointing to the bird"s distinctive white rump found in most species.Desktop Version
Jorvik Viking Festival
Jorvik Viking Festival
If winter had a battle cry, it would sound like a horn blast echoing across cobbles. Each February, the Jorvik Viking Festival in York turns history into a living, shouting, occasionally bearded event. Run by the team behind the Jorvik Viking Centre, the festival celebrates the city"s past as Jórvík—from 16 to 22 February this year—a major Viking settlement from the 9th century.Desktop Version
Vila Franca Islet, São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal
Vila Franca Islet, São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal
Not far from São Miguel Island in the Azores archipelago of Portugal, you"ll find Vila Franca Islet. This uninhabited green islet sits quietly just south of the town of Vila Franca do Campo. Beneath its serene surface, this gem holds a lively past. First documented in 1537, around the time when settlers from São Miguel began expanding westward, Vila Franca Islet has played many roles throughout its history. It has served as a military fort, a port, a vineyard site and even a lookout for whale-watching.Desktop Version
JRR Tolkien Day
JRR Tolkien Day
Our picture of the day takes us to the Swiss village of Lauterbrunnen, where the Staubbach Falls shimmers in the distance beyond a quiet alpine valley. This is the landscape a young traveller, JRR Tolkien, crossed during a hiking trip in 1911, long before he became the storyteller behind "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit." Its soaring cliffs, silver waterfalls and crisp mountain air left a lasting impression and are believed to have inspired his vision of Rivendell, the elven refuge hidden deep in Middle-earth.Desktop Version
Barracudas at Shark Reef, Ras Mohammed National Park, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt
Barracudas at Shark Reef, Ras Mohammed National Park, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt
Being surrounded by a shimmering spiral of silver—that"s what it feels like to encounter a school of blackfin barracuda at Shark Reef in Ras Mohammed National Park, Egypt. These streamlined fish, marked by sharp V-shaped stripes, move in near-perfect unison. Their slow, deliberate spirals aren"t random—they"re an evolutionary strategy that offers both safety in numbers and an edge in hunting. Blackfin barracudas are found throughout tropical waters, from the Red Sea to the central Pacific. During the day, they gather in tight, coordinated groups near the reef, scattering at dusk to pursue prey.Desktop Version
Spotted eagle rays
Spotted eagle rays
It"s a bird, it"s a plane, it"s … a fish! Gliding through the ocean with flapping fins and polka-dot flair, the spotted eagle ray refuses to blend in. It doesn"t crawl along the seabed like its stingray cousins—it flies underwater. The species gets its name from—you guessed it—its protruding snout, which resembles an eagle"s beak, and its distinctive spotted back, which is unique to each individual, much like fingerprints. Their wing-like pectoral fins can span up to 3 metres. Near the base of the long tail are venomous spines, in case a predator gets too close. These rays aren"t aggressive, but they"re not defenceless either.Desktop Version
Whooper swans, Kotoku Pond, Japan
Whooper swans, Kotoku Pond, Japan
In Japan"s colder months, there"s a morning moment when stillness breaks—not with wind or footsteps, but with a bright, rolling call that sweeps across the water. Whooper swans have touched down. One loud whoop—and winter suddenly feels awake. These birds migrate from Siberia and the Russian Far East, choosing Japan as their seasonal home because its lakes offer what long-distance travellers crave: open water, steady food and a safe place to rest. One of their favourite destinations is Kotoku Pond in the Kantō region on Japan"s largest island.Desktop Version
International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem
International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem
As twilight descends on Walakiri Beach on the island of Sumba, Indonesia, the silhouettes of mangrove trees stand like sentinels in the tide—graceful, resilient and vital. Today, on International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, we honour these extraordinary trees and the critical role they play in sustaining life on our planet.Desktop Version
Elbe river in Dresden, Saxony, Germany
Elbe river in Dresden, Saxony, Germany
Berlin gets the buzz, Munich brings the beer, but what about Dresden, in Saxony, Germany? Dresden brings the story. The city, once called "the Florence on the Elbe," was nearly wiped off the map in 1945 during World War II. Since then, it has rebuilt itself into a place where modern museums, Baroque buildings and riverside views share the same frame. Much of the city"s oldest architecture can be found in the boroughs of Altstadt (Old Town) and Neustadt (New Town). The surrounding neighbourhoods, originally planned by Saxon monarchs in the 18th and 19th centuries, are named after Saxon sovereigns like Friedrichstadt and Albertstadt.Desktop Version
Guy Fawkes Night
Guy Fawkes Night
On the night of 5 November, the skies across the United Kingdom light up with fireworks, bonfires and the occasional singsong of "Remember, remember the fifth of November." But behind the sparklers and toffee apples lies a tale of treason, gunpowder and one man forever linked with an explosive plot that fizzled out.Desktop Version
The staircase of the Fortress of Palamidi, Nafplio, Greece
The staircase of the Fortress of Palamidi, Nafplio, Greece
Some landmarks invite you in. This one makes you work for it—857 steps, eight bastions and centuries of power plays later, the Fortress of Palamidi still believes history should be earned the hard way. Rising 216 metres above the city of Nafplio in Greece, this Venetian-built stronghold dates to 1714. Each bastion of this impressive fortification is designed as an independent unit so that if one fell, the others could still be defended. The Ottomans captured the fortress a year after completion, and Greece reclaimed it in 1822, renaming the bastions after heroes like Achilles and Leonidas. Today, visitors often test themselves on the fortress"s famous staircase—once believed to have 999 steps, though the actual count is 857. At the top, sweeping views of the Argolic Gulf make every step worthwhile.Desktop Version
International Tea Day
International Tea Day
Legend says that it began with a single leaf drifting into a pot of boiling water in ancient China. Centuries later, tea is the second-most consumed drink in the world (after water). Today is International Tea Day, a global nod to this timeless beverage, established by the United Nations to recognise tea"s role in reducing poverty and supporting sustainable development. It"s a day to honour both the drink and the people who are part of this industry.Desktop Version
Tufted titmouse, Massachusetts, United States
Tufted titmouse, Massachusetts, United States
Peter-peter-peter! That"s your first clue that a tufted titmouse is nearby. Don"t be fooled by its small size—this grey little bird is the neighbourhood"s feathered detective, hopping from branch to branch, eyes sharp, crest on high. Tufted titmice are part acrobat and part gourmet. They scour trees for insects, seeds and nuts, sometimes stashing their finds for later. Their signature black forehead patch and pointy crest give them a distinctive "hoodie-and-attitude" look, making them easy to spot if you pause and watch closely.Desktop Version
World Oceans Day
World Oceans Day
You can"t talk about life on Earth without talking about the ocean. This year, World Oceans Day is being celebrated in Nice, France, just ahead of the UN Ocean Conference starting tomorrow. Officially recognised by the United Nations since 2008, it began as an idea at the 1992 Global Forum, a parallel event at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. This year"s theme is "WONDER: Sustaining What Sustains Us." It highlights how the ocean supports life as we know it—influencing weather, food chains and economies.Desktop Version
Little Pigeon River, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, United States
Little Pigeon River, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, United States
Blink and you miss it—until you hear it. The steady ripple, the splash of trout, the distant laughter of hikers. That"s the Little Pigeon River, threading its way through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee. Long before tourists tubed it and fly fishers praised it, this river was how people stayed afloat. The Cherokee tribe fished in it. Settlers built grist mills along it. Towns like Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge grew up with it. Even the river"s name is a nod to the past—the passenger pigeon, once common in the area, vanished by the early 1900s.Desktop Version
Remembrance Sunday
Remembrance Sunday
Every second Sunday of November, the United Kingdom presses pause. Shops may buzz, trains may run, but at 11 a.m., the nation falls silent. For two minutes, the usual noise of life is replaced by a collective stillness. This is Remembrance Sunday—a day less about "time off" and more about "time out" to reflect.Desktop Version
Thousand Islands region, St Lawrence River, USA-Canada border
Thousand Islands region, St Lawrence River, USA-Canada border
When you hear "Thousand Islands," you might think of a jar of salad dressing, but behind that creamy condiment is one of North America"s most enchanting regions. The Thousand Islands is an archipelago in the St Lawrence River, spanning the state of New York in the United States and the province of Ontario in Canada. It is made up of more than 1,800 islands. Some of these islands have fairytale castles; others are barely big enough for a hammock. There"s also Just Room Enough Island, which lives up to its name with a single house and a lone tree.Desktop Version
Spiegelgracht canal in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Spiegelgracht canal in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Have you ever wondered how canals changed the way cities developed? For thousands of years, people have built canals to transport goods, control water flow and connect places. From ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt to medieval Europe, they transformed cities like Venice and Bruges into trade hubs. The Netherlands took this even further—by the 17th century, they were designing waterways that shaped cities such as Amsterdam.Desktop Version
Stretching to the sky
Stretching to the sky
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Chittorgarh Fort, Rajasthan, India
Chittorgarh Fort, Rajasthan, India
High on a hill rising over 180 metres in Rajasthan, India, Chittorgarh Fort spans approximately 690 acres (280 hectares). It stands as a proud witness to the valour of the famed warrior clans—the Rajputs. Their name comes from the Sanskrit "rajaputra," meaning "son of a king," and they are celebrated for their noble lineage and martial traditions across northern India. The fort"s stone walls have witnessed centuries of courage, pride and romance, remembered in the songs of Rajasthan"s bards. According to legend, Bhim, a hero from the Hindu epic "Mahabharata," first laid its foundations.Desktop Version
A delta in the Venetian Lagoon, Italy
A delta in the Venetian Lagoon, Italy
Pictured here is a spectacular view of a delta in the Venetian Lagoon, Italy. Spanning over 212 square miles, this lagoon is a rich mosaic of islands, mudflats, canals and marshes, and it"s one of the largest wetlands in the entire Mediterranean Basin. The lagoon isn"t just a scenic wonder—it"s a place steeped in history and innovation. Formed after the last Ice Age, it became a refuge for people fleeing invasions around the time of the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE. In the centuries that followed, those early settlers began building what would eventually become the iconic city of Venice.Desktop Version
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Every August, Edinburgh stops being just a city and starts acting up—literally. From pub basements to park benches, stages appear in the strangest places and shows pop up on quiet streets. Welcome to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, or the Fringe. The story began in 1947, when eight theatre groups turned up uninvited to the Edinburgh International Festival. They performed anyway. That spirit of rebellion stuck, and the Fringe was born.Desktop Version
Maritime forest in Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia, United States
Maritime forest in Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia, United States
Before you hit the beach, you"ll hear it—the rustle of leaves in salty air, the creak of twisted trunks, the hush of an old world. Welcome to the maritime forest of Cumberland Island National Seashore on the southernmost stretch of Georgia"s Atlantic coast. Salt spray, sandy soil, hurricanes? The trees here stand their ground. Live oaks bend but don"t break. Saw palmettos crowd the ground like leafy bodyguards, while Spanish moss hangs from branches like nature"s fringe. This maritime forest is one of the best remaining examples of this rare habitat in the United States. Thanks to its national seashore status, the island has been spared from the concrete creep seen on other coastlines.Desktop Version