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Story LIEU CHUONG
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From enchanting England to contemporary Japan, discover destinations that celebrate the heights of civilization.
ASHMOLEAN MUSEUM (OXFORD, ENGLAND)
Established in 1683, the Ashmolean Museum is Britain’s first public museum and remains an essential cultural landmark in the enchanting old city of Oxford.
Also known as the first university museum in the world, the Ashmolean has displayed more than a million artifacts and artworks, preserving the treasures of the world’s most iconic civilizations. Visitors will have the opportunity to contemplate masterpieces through the ages, ancient artifacts from different civilizations and ingenious artistic creations. Some timeless artworks currently on display at the museum include Paolo Uccello’s The Hunt in the Forest (c. 1470); the statue of Athena Parthenos and Sebastiano del Piombo’s The Raising of Lazarus (1517). The Ashmolean is not simply a place to contemplate artworks and historical artifacts. The museum also stands out for its endeavor to provide free access to the public, allowing all visitors to explore and experience different cultures. This openness has helped create a thriving cultural community that welcomes participation from everyone.
GHIBLI PARK (AICHI, JAPAN)
Children of the 1980s and 90s are likely familiar with the mesmerizing works of Studio Ghibli. Hayao Miyazaki’s elegant hand-drawn animations, combined with profound humanistic messages and memorable soundtracks, have touched many generations to the core. There is no doubt that Studio Ghibli has been an immense source of inspiration for modern artists. A trip to Ghibli Park in Japan is a return to childhood that allows visitors to immerse themselves in the dreamlike world of these animated films.
Located in Nagakute City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Ghibli Park is a new tourist destination that was inaugurated on November 1, 2022. Ghibli Park currently allows visitors to explore three
Ghibli Park is a foray into the magical world of animation, where the areas and characters are meticulously reconstructed from the studio’s classics such as My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke. Beyond spending time in the enchanting gardens and animated landmarks brought to life, visitors can also browse exhibits, watch movies in the theater and participate in themed creative activities. Parkgoers can also enjoy pancakes with Satsuki’s image and pastries resembling Calcifer, unique characters from the magical world of Studio Ghibli.
EDEN THEATER (LA CIOTAT, FRANCE)
Film aficionados flock to the South of France to visit the Eden Theater, the world’s very first cinema, which is still in operation today. The Lumière brothers, Auguste and Louis, showed their debut movie La sortie des l’usines Lumière à Lyon (Workers Leaving the Lumière Factory in Lyon) to a private audience at the Eden in October 1895, among other locations that fall. But historians point to a program of several Lumière films for a paying audience of 250 people in March 1899 as the first true cinema screening in history.
Located at 24 Georges Clemenceau Boulevard in La Ciotat, a picturesque city about 30 kilometers east of Marseille, the Eden was built as an Italian- style theater for operas, concerts and magic shows. After that historical screening, the Eden stepped into its groundbreaking role as a cinema. Time took its toll on the site, however, and it was shuttered in the mid-1990s in a dilapidated state. In 2013, however, the theater was restored and reopened, and the Eden gleams once again as part of the foundation of cinema thanks to the Les Lumières de l’Eden Association, founded by Gilles Trarieux-Lumière.
Visitors to the Eden Theatre can marvel at the gorgeous velvet curtains and coral-red seats as they take in classic movies from around the world. Stepping into the oldest cinema in the world is a journey to the past, a return to a golden age that heralded the glorious growth of international film. If you’re lucky enough to watch a film by Auguste and Louis Lumière here, the trip will be an unforgettable memory.
