Tomorrowland's main stage destroyed in devastating fire
The incident occurred before the annual festival, which draws tens of thousands of visitors, was due to begin on Friday.
Images showed flames and black smoke engulfing the stage and spreading to nearby woodland, with at least three-quarters of the stage believed to be damaged.
No one was injured in the fire, though around 1,000 staff members were on site at the time.
Organisers are now focused on finding solutions for the festival weekend, confirming that DreamVille and Global Journey activities will proceed as planned.
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Telegraph
21 minutes ago
- Telegraph
How over-tourism turned a chic Paris neighbourhood into a theme park
Michèle Barrière has had a lifelong love affair with Montmartre, living a stone's throw from the Moulin Rouge for the past 30 years. She has frequented its ivy-clad cafes and pastel houses for twice as long and has always embraced the changes to her beloved 'butte', as locals call the hilltop area with sweeping views of Paris. 'But enough is enough,' said the 72-year-old as she marched past souvenir shops and tour groups with her corgi, Valentine. 'Montmartre has become an amusement park, and we are the attractions. Soon they'll be throwing us peanuts,' she scoffed. 'It's Disneyland.' With its cobbled streets, windmills, vineyard, funicular railway, and bohemian history, Montmartre has long been popular with foreign visitors. The white-domed Sacré-Coeur basilica and the portrait artists of Place du Tertre have been a magnet for decades. But many among the district's 27,000 residents now say cohabitation with millions of tourists, who outnumber them 423 to one, has reached breaking point. Last year, the Sacré-Coeur was the most visited monument in France, ahead of the Eiffel Tower, with 11 million visitors. Montmartre now has an even denser tourist zone per capita than Venice. 'It has got totally out of hand. I have nothing against tourists per se, but now my prevailing feeling is one of hostility,' said Ms Barrière, an author of historic and culinary detective works. 'Sometimes I can't even reach my front door due to these hordes.' To prove her point, she shooed a tour group coming up the Rue de l'Abreuvoir with a royal wave as if they were pesky pigeons. Valentine, the corgi, looked on placidly. Eric Durand, a photographer, resident and member of the Association for the Defence of Montmartre and the 18th Arrondissement, said tourism had gone into overdrive since the end of the Covid lockdowns. 'Before, it was mainly felt on weekends when the weather was nice. Since the end of the pandemic, and even more so since the Olympic Games [last summer], it's been like this all year round,' referring to the crowds of tourists outside his home. He said the influx of tourists started with the 2001 cult movie Amélie. Tourists continue to flock to the Café des Deux Moulins, where scenes showing the heroine at work were shot. The Netflix series Emily in Paris brought even more tourists, who seek out sites that feature in the show such as La Maison Rose restaurant, or the Wall of Love in a garden off the Place des Abbesses with 'I love you' written in a myriad of languages on ceramic tiles. 'We saw it on the show and on TikTok so we thought it would be fun to come,' said Jen Park, a New Yorker who posed with her husband Bruce in a pit-stop during their trip to attend a wedding in Paris. Then last year, the Paris Olympics brought the road bike race to Montmartre with images beaming around the world of cyclists hurtling up Rue Lepic with a crowd of 55,000 cheering them on. As if that wasn't enough extra publicity, on Sunday July 27, the final stage of the Tour de France will make a detour via Montmartre for the first time ever, before riders finish on the Champs-Elysées. Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, personally announced the news. 'It's obviously great for business, but I do understand local residents' gripes about the number of people,' said Julien Ogeard, the 34-year-old manager of Le Nazir, whose boss is a cycling fan and is thrilled the Tour will pass by their cafe. 'My fear,' said Mr Durand, 'is that the tourists are now moving down the hill and saturating other areas, particularly Abbesses, which has become one long line of tourist terraces.' He added: 'We already had one amusement park at the top, now we risk having a second below. 'Montmartre is losing its soul. I'm thinking of moving out, and I'm not the only one.' Revolt has been brewing since the recent introduction of new traffic restrictions. There are fears it will force families to leave, and drive small shops that serve residents, such as butchers and greengrocers, out of business. Meanwhile, they say gas-guzzling tourist sidecars and Citroen 2CVs continue to hurtle down cobbled streets, scaring people. Others complain about rocketing real estate prices, with flats selling for up to €15,000 (£13,000) per square metre. Tourist rentals, meanwhile, are pushing out local families, who are leaving en masse. Between 20 and 30 per cent of properties are Airbnb listings, 'and that's not counting undeclared rentals,' said Brice Moyse of Immopolis agency and president of the Lepic-Abbesses shopkeepers' association. 'In the neighbourhood, long-term rentals have disappeared,' he told Le Monde newspaper. In recent months, banners have appeared in windows with messages such as 'Forgotten residents!', 'Let the Montmartrois live!' and 'Behind these façades there are people'. But also, on school buildings: 'No to class closures!' 'It's the same problem across Paris: the socialist town hall takes decisions without ever properly consulting residents,' said Béatrice Dunner, a translator who has lived in the neighbourhood since 1976. As president of the Association for the Defence of Montmartre and the 18th Arrondissement, she is drawing up a white paper she hopes the candidates the city's mayoral elections next year will adopt. She said Amsterdam, Barcelona and Majorca were models. Ms Dunner's proposed measures include higher tourist taxes on hotels and tougher regulations and checks on tourist accommodation, as well as limiting tourist group sizes. Other options are a ban on tour guide intercoms and pre-empting more commercial leases to avoid yet more shops selling Chinese-made Emily in Paris berets. 'We also need to decide, at the national level, whether we want yet more tourists,' Ms Dunner added. Last year, the Paris region welcomed 22.6 million visitors. In one bastion of resistance, at La Cave des Abbesses, a group of residents popped the cork off a bottle of crémant de Bourgogne and handed out glasses of red as the clock struck the aperitif hour of 6pm. 'We still meet up and it is still a life for locals, but look around, there used to be three bookshops, a sweetshop for kids from the local school, a drugstore. Now they're all brand stores. They're the only ones who can pay the rent,' said Sabine Bouillet, who works in a tea shop. 'I'm not happy at all,' said Olivier Boukhobza, 36, a resident who works for Le Vrai Montmartre (The Real Montmartre), which creates profiles of locals. 'The real acceleration came in the past five years with the rise of influencers and Instagrammers who post from Montmartre and make it a must-see location.' 'We need to find the right balance between tourists, locals and those who work here. Right now, it's the tourists who have the upper hand.'
South Wales Argus
an hour ago
- South Wales Argus
I tried a silent disco tour through Newport at Big Splash
When I saw the words 'Silent Disco City Tour' in the festival programme my interest was immediately piqued, and I couldn't help myself from going to see exactly what those words meant. On arrival at The Place, where the tour would start and finish, a cart of headphones are wheeled out and we each receive a pair – standard practice for a silent disco. Passers-by were left a little perplexed (Image: NQ) We then embark on our journey through Newport city centre, spurred on by the sounds of Gloria Estefan's 'Conga' as we round the corner onto Cambrian Road. The punters enjoying the sun and a pint outside Fire & Ice are understandably perplexed. This is a place is where nothing is out of the ordinary, but a herd of people walking down the street salsa dancing feels a little odd – even for Newport. We take a sharp turn down into the arcade and make our way toward some of the city centre landmarks. Walking through a bustling Friar's Walk while belting out Dolly Parton is not for the faint of heart, but we're told to just 'strut with confidence' and, strangely, the advice works. During a session earlier in the day, passers-by were joining in with the YMCA – no music needed. Katy Arnell, who helps lead the tour, said: 'People always like to see other people not take themselves too seriously. 'There's a human connection in this and, even though people can't hear the music, it starts to act as collective karaoke." There are not many other tours through Newport that would attract such a vast range of people. This one event has anyone from 4-year-olds who are obsessed with Katy's infectious energy and her incredibly sparkly jacket, to an 80-year-old on a mobility scooter taking part. This simple concept has managed to bring so many people together and create a sense of community – all while bewildering the people of Newport.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Europe's best holiday city revealed - with incredible views, £1.30 pizza and cheap flights from the UK
Europe's best holiday city has been revealed, with voters praising the idyllic location for its incredible views, budget-friendly pizza and affordable flights from the UK. In a new survey conducted by luxury magazine Travel + Leisure, readers cast votes for their favourite worldwide city, with the Italian hotspot of Florence taking the crown as Europe's most loved. Frequented by between 10 and 16million holidaymakers each year, sunseekers eagerly flock to the Tuscan city due to its rich Renaissance art and architecture, walkable city center and delicious food. Described by Travel + Leisure as a 'must-see thanks to its 'artistic treasures', 'superlative shopping' and 'wide selection of hotels', Florence, often known simply as 'The Beautiful', gained an overall reader score of 90.08. Taking the top spot in Europe and 11th in the world, Florence even beat the popular European cities of Seville, Spain, Instanbul, Turkey and fellow Italian city of Rome. Once named by SerSace as 'the most beautiful city in the world', travellers seeking a romantic European getaway are in luck due to its historical charm and picturesque scenery. Visitors can gaze at some of the world's most gorgeous architecture, including the Duomo cathedral, which even contains its own piazza. Meanwhile, the Pagliazza Tower, which dates back to the sixth or seventh century, acts as one of Europe's most captivating squares. Florence is frequented by between 10 and 16million holidaymakers each year, with sunseekers eagerly flocking to the Tuscan city due to its rich Renaissance art and architecture, walkable city center and delicious food Once named by SerSace as 'the most beautiful city in the world', travellers seeking a romantic European getaway are in luck due to its historical charm and picturesque scenery For those looking to further indulge themselves in the Tuscan culture, the city is also home to some of the world's most iconic and historic artwork, including pieces by Michelangelo, Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci. The Galleria dell 'Accademia di Firenze, the location of Michelangelo's David, is a five-metre-high marble sculpture that serves as one the world's most famous artistic masterpieces. From the gallery, it is just a seven minute stroll to the city's 1200's cathedral, a major feature of Florence's skyline. The city's iconic medieval bridge - Ponte Vecchio, is one of Florence's most visited attractions. It was the only bridge in Florence to survive WWII and is famed for the shops that line its sides. Food lovers will also be surprised by how easily tourists can get their hands on a slice of authentic Italian pizza for just £1.50, while pasta dishes can also be bought for a mere £5. Famous for its gelato, signature local deliacies include the negroni cocktail and ribollita soup. Just last week, Florence was named the world's most walkable city due to its compact layout and pedestrian-friendly streets. Research undertaken by financial website Insider Monkey saw Florence race to the top spot, surpassing locations such as Madrid, Porto and Hamburg. Food lovers will also be surprised by how easily tourists can get their hands on a slice of authentic Italian pizza for just £1.50, while pasta dishes can also be bought for a mere £5. Flights from the UK run daily and from £44, with a flight time of just two hours With high praise awarded for its 'history and timeless architecture', the city was said to be explorable within just a two-hour window, as its hidden gems are easily accessible by foot. The study also spoke favourably about the city's good air quality and safety levels. Accessing the charming city from the UK could also not be easier, with daily flights from London's Heathrow Airport to Florence-Peretola Airport launching in 2023. With a flight time of just two hours and return fares starting from £44, there are up to 69 flights from the UK running a week, according to Skyscanner. Indeed, for those based outside of the capital, several other UK airports also offer direct routes to the nearby Italian city of Pisa, just an hour's train ride away. It is even possible to get to Florence by train from the UK. Simply hop on the Eurostar to Paris before making a change to Milan and then catching a final train to Florence.
