Latest news with #Huguenot
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Mill from Bryan Adams' Robin Hood music video for sale
An old mill that features in the music video for Bryan Adams' song (Everything I Do) I Do It For You is up for sale with an asking price of £75, is featured performing the power ballad next to the silk mill, built 500 years ago near the village of Holford in Somerset, in the pop video from film maker Julien hit topped the charts for a record 16 weeks in 1990 and served as the theme for hit movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves."It's quite an unusual property but it's an incredible place, truly magical and it has a lot of local folklore around it," estate agent Ross Walls said. Mr Walls said the property would not be suitable for someone trying to turn it into a home, but would be ideal for someone who "wants to park up and go for a wander and escape".He added: "Within the music video, you can see the ruin directly behind where he [Adams] was singing." The main stipulation for where the music video would be filmed was that Mr Temple - who lived in the Quantocks - could "walk to work"."The producer didn't think it would be such a big hit. He lived locally and said it would need to be filmed close to where he lives," Mr Walls to the BBC in 2021, Mr Temple said: "Little did we know that it was going to be on Top of the Pops for months."I was kind of embarrassed by the length it [the video] went on, because it's not my finest hour as a film-maker."Founded by Huguenot refugees - protestants who fled France and Wallonia (southern Belgium) from the 16th to the 18th century - Holford's silk mills once buzzed with industry, powered by the Holford nestled in the Quantock Hills, the mill fell into disrepair in 1860 after two fires destroyed is now ivy-clad and close to woodlands purchased by Paul McCartney - donated to League against Cruel Sports - as a sanctuary for wildlife.
The Independent
28-04-2025
- The Independent
Batty Langley's, London hotel review
Location A portal to a bygone era, buzz the doorbell to see behind this brick façade tucked on a quietly quirky cobble of Spitalfields. The period building on Folgate Street stands out from the glossy skyscrapers of London 's financial district, steps from the East End's best eateries. From here, the bric-a-brac of Brick Lane and Old Spitalfields Market can be found on foot, with Liverpool Street Station a six-minute walk away and overground services from Shoreditch High Street an eight-minute stroll. Next door on Folgate Street, Dennis Severs' House is a must-visit. The frozen-in-time scene at number 18 displays what life would have looked like for a family of Spitalfields' Huguenot silk weavers in the 18th century with ticking clocks, crackling fires and the smell of woodsmoke. The vibe More private residence than hotel, Batty Langley's has the class of a museum without the stuffiness. Restored to reflect its original splendour, the space embraces original fittings and fixtures from its heyday with attention to detail in every crevice, from the communal rooms to corridors. Made for maximalists, playful décor risks being kitsch, but deep jewel tones, oil portraits and gilded mirrors are well balanced with touches of functional modernity. A bolthole in the Hazlitt's trio, the regal step back in time stands out from what can often be a clinical luxury scene – though the vintage vibe definitely works best in winter. Named after local innovator Bartholemew 'Batty' Langley, an 18th-century designer who published handbooks on planning grand Georgian homes and gardens, this hotel leans into the eccentricity of its namesake character from its throne loos to a bookshelf bathroom door. With period charm in spades, if you cross paths with other guests, they're likely creative types keen to embrace the lifestyle of a Georgian gentleman or star in a historical drama. The service You'll find old-fashioned hospitality that's unintrusive, with staff always on hand but out of sight. Left alone to revel in the witty regency, it's easy to explore every quiet recess with workers manning the door full of local knowledge should you need it. There is no coffee machine or kettle hidden in the rooms – call down, and a beverage tray can be brought up. Service is swift, with pre-selected breakfasts arriving at the bedroom bang on time once the sun is up. Bed and bath There's a cast of 29 opulent Batty boudoirs for those bedding down. Each commemorates an East London character, from politicians to petty thieves to Langley himself. The maze of hallways promises something different behind each door, but melty pillows, weighty drapes and dark wood panelling are a staple in all. Categories range from one single 'Box Room', formerly the home of trunks and hat boxes, to 'Club Doubles', emblazoned with silks and velvets, genuine antique frames and carved four poster beds. Living lavish? Some top suites, including Kitty Fisher and Earl of Bolingbroke, have private balconies and terraces. Rooms too, are full of surprises – working toilets transform into wood thrones, a minibar is tucked away, and bed-adjacent flat-screen TVs are hidden behind fold-out mirrors. The Georgians may not have had bathrooms, but restored roll-top baths, walk-in showers, land&water toiletries and a surround sound system are standard when freshening up. Food and drink There's no restaurant other than room service, a 24-hour menu of classic British bites. Breakfast in bed can be summoned to your chambers on wooden trays for those happy to hibernate in their room. Begin with a baker's basket of bread, pastries and preserves before a famed smoked salmon Brick Lane bagels or bacon-stuffed baguette. Forget crumb concerns, in summer breakfast can be taken in the courtyard with granola, yoghurt and fruit served on fine china for something fresh. For those worried about going hungry, six Michelin-star restaurants are also within walking distance. Downstairs, a well-stocked gin bar and honesty bar are kitted with a cocktail book to guide self-poured tipples and in-room cocktail trays are available to order. Facilities There are three characterful spaces, The Parlour, The Tapestry Room and The Library, to poke around outside of your room. Dens for drinks or diving into literature – the hotel houses a collection of over 3,500 books – the communal rooms are furnished with Victorian lanterns, open fireplaces and 17th-century tapestries, and The Tapestry Room leads out to a little courtyard. Accessibility There is one adapted double room available for wheelchair users on the fourth floor, which is lift-accessible and features specialist smoke alarms for visually and hearing-impaired guests. Pet policy Batty Langley's allows for pre-booked small pups only – in which case furry friends can stay free of charge. Check in/check out Check in from 3pm; check out by 12pm. Family-friendly? Yes. Some standard rooms can be interconnected for families, and each junior suite has a comfortable sofa bed, but the overall vibe is geared towards grown-ups. At a glance Best thing: Bedroom backstories, from Obadiah Shuttleworth to Kitty Fisher. Perfect for: History buffs. Not right for: Minimalists. Instagram from: The courtyard, for arched mirrors, flowerpots and a functioning period fountain.
Globe and Mail
16-04-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Still Burning Bright: Why Coal Remains a Cornerstone of Global Energy and Industry
Despite increasing momentum toward decarbonization and the adoption of renewable energy, coal continues to hold a central position in the global energy mix. According to data from coal currently generates approximately 37% of the world's electricity and is responsible for more than 70% of global steel production. These figures underscore coal's critical role in both energy security and industrial development, especially in rapidly growing economies. The International Energy Agency projects coal will provide around 22% of global electricity by 2040, with some regions—particularly in Southeast Asia—relying on it for up to 39% of their electricity needs. This sustained demand is reflected in market forecasts: the global coal market is expected to grow from $669.84 billion in 2025 to $726.06 billion by 2029, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.0%, according to a recent market report. Investment Opportunities in the Coal Sector For investors, coal presents a complex but potentially rewarding opportunity. One broad-based investment vehicle is the Range Global Coal Index ETF (NYSE ARCA: COAL). This exchange-traded fund provides diversified exposure to both thermal and metallurgical coal companies globally, making it an efficient way for investors to capture industry-wide trends. Micro-Cap Coal Companies Worth Watching For investors looking to explore individual opportunities within the coal sector, several micro-cap companies offer compelling value propositions and unique positioning. Colonial Coal International Corp. (TSX-Venture: CAD) is a pure-play metallurgical coal development company with a focus on British Columbia, Canada. The company holds a 100% interest in two resource-stage properties located in the Peace River Coalfield in northeastern B.C.: the Huguenot and Flatbed projects. With strong exposure to steelmaking coal, Colonial Coal offers long-term upside tied to global infrastructure demand. Another micro-cap name deserving attention is Morien Resources Corp. (TSX-Venture: MOX). Morien operates with a royalty-based business model, giving it exposure to coal and aggregate production without the operational risks of mining. Its primary assets include a royalty on coal sales from the Donkin Mine in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and a royalty on aggregate sales from the permitted Black Point Project in Guysborough County, Nova Scotia. This model allows Morien to generate revenue while maintaining a lean operational footprint. One micro-cap that has been turning heads is Forge Resources Corp. (CSE: FRG) (OTCQB: FRGGF) — and for good reason. Since early 2023, the company's stock has surged from $0.07 to $0.89, representing a remarkable gain of over 1,171% in just over two years. But the story goes beyond share price appreciation. Forge's rally is underpinned by strong fundamentals and significant project developments. The company holds a 60% interest in Aion Mining Corp., which is advancing the La Estrella coal project in Santander, Colombia. La Estrella is a fully permitted and licensed operation, hosting eight known seams of both metallurgical and thermal coal. With long-term mining rights, an environmental license in place, and signed LOIs from top-tier buyers for bulk sample and production, Forge Resources stands out as a rare, high-upside opportunity in the junior mining space. Production Capacity and Growth Potential The La Estrella project has received regulatory approval for the production of 180,000 metric tonnes (Mt) per year, allowing for an immediate entry into commercial-scale operations. However, this production threshold is not a cap—it's a starting point. The site holds the potential for scalable expansion, subject to future regulatory approval and market conditions. This flexibility ensures that La Estrella can adapt to increasing demand, making it suitable for both steady-state operations and aggressive growth strategies. Environmental License and Long-Term Mining Concession One of the project's most valuable attributes is its granted Environmental License, a crucial and often time-consuming requirement in the mining sector. The license not only validates the project's adherence to Colombia's rigorous environmental standards but also signals strong governmental support and community engagement—a major de-risking factor for stakeholders. In addition, La Estrella boasts a mining concession valid for more than 43 years, providing the long-term legal and operational certainty that institutional investors and major offtake partners seek. This extended horizon allows for strategic planning across multiple phases of production, infrastructure development, and even potential downstream processing. Offtake Agreements: Letters of Intent from Top-Tier Buyers Highlighting strong commercial interest, the La Estrella project has already secured Letters of Intent (LOIs) from major coal buyers to purchase 100% of the bulk sample as well as future production. These preliminary agreements are a strong indicator of market confidence in both the quality of La Estrella's coal and the reliability of its supply chain. By securing offtake interest at such an early stage, the project reduces marketing risk and positions itself for near-term revenue generation immediately following the completion of its bulk sampling phase. Forge Resources Corp. has made significant progress on its La Estrella coal project in Colombia as per a press release from April 10th, 2025, with the completion of main portal construction and ongoing underground development for a bulk sampling program. The company is also planning to build on-site housing facilities to support its workforce, emphasizing local labor and sustainable materials. Additionally, Forge Resources is exploring new coal project acquisitions in Colombia. Insider Confidence and Strategic Diversification Forge Resources' executive team is demonstrating serious conviction in the company's future—putting their money where their mouth is through substantial insider buying. CEO P.J. Murphy participated in the most recent private placement with a $500,000 investment and has since purchased an additional $150,000 worth of shares on the open market. Insider buying is often considered one of the strongest bullish indicators for any stock, reflecting management's confidence that their strategic direction will generate value not just for themselves, but for all shareholders. In addition to its flagship coal project, Forge Resources has diversified its asset base with an option on the Alotta Project, a porphyry copper-gold-molybdenum prospect. Located approximately 50 km southeast of the world-class Casino deposit—one of the largest undeveloped gold-copper projects globally—Alotta sits within the unglaciated section of Yukon's Dawson Range porphyry/epithermal belt, a region known for its mineral-rich geology. To date, Forge Resources has completed six widely spaced diamond drill holes at Alotta, totaling 2,659 metres. All holes encountered significant gold, copper, and molybdenum mineralization. Having more comprehensive and refined data in hand because of promising results from previous seasons exploration programs, the company just announced this morning a proposed diamond drill program comprised of up to 4,000 metres across approximately 12 drill holes with ranging from 300 to 350 metres. This initiative aims to test step-outs on previously identified mineralization in the Payoff Zone and explore untested coincident geophysical and geochemical anomalies across targeted areas. Beyond Micro-Caps: Large-Cap Coal Plays For investors who prefer more established names over high-growth micro-cap plays, several large-cap coal producers offer stability, scale, and global reach. Glencore (OTCPK: GLNCY) is a leading, diversified natural resource company and one of the world's largest producers and marketers of coal. The company operates across both the thermal coal segment, used primarily in power generation, and metallurgical coal, essential for steel production. Glencore is also the sole owner of Cerrejón, one of Colombia's most significant coal producers. Another noteworthy player is Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ: ARLP). Headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, ARLP is a major U.S. coal producer with seven underground mining complexes across the Illinois Basin and Appalachia. The company supplies both thermal and metallurgical coal to domestic and international markets, underpinned by long-term contracts and a consistent track record of profitability. Coal and Environmental Technology: A Balanced Perspective While coal continues to be a key part of the global energy mix, its environmental impact remains a central concern—particularly in light of international decarbonization efforts. However, the narrative around coal is evolving thanks to significant advancements in emissions control technologies. Modern systems such as coal cleaning, electrostatic precipitators (ESP), fabric filters, wet scrubbers, and hot gas filtration systems have dramatically improved environmental performance. These technologies are capable of reducing particulate emissions by more than 99.5% and are commonly used in both developed and developing countries. In addition to capturing particulates, many of these systems also contribute to removing sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and other harmful pollutants, supporting cleaner and more responsible coal use. Despite the global push toward renewable energy, coal remains deeply embedded in the fabric of modern industry and energy generation. As demand persists—particularly in emerging economies—investment opportunities within the coal sector continue to evolve, spanning both large-cap stalwarts and high-upside micro-cap players. Companies like Forge Resources, with fully permitted projects, insider confidence, and early offtake commitments, highlight the potential for value creation even in a transitioning energy landscape. When paired with advancing environmental technologies that mitigate coal's ecological impact, the sector presents a nuanced but compelling case for strategic, long-term investment. All opinions and information provided above are intended for educational and research purposes only. The information provided above should be used as a starting point for conducting any research on the public companies discussed. All readers should do their own due diligence and research when determining which investment strategies are best suited for them or seek the advice of an investment professional prior to making an investment decision. The profiles of the above discussed public companies are not in any way a solicitation or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold their securities. Forge Resources Corp. has initiated for digital media advertising valued at two thousand five hundred dollars. Any forward-looking statements set forth in the article above are based on expectations, estimates and projections at the time such statements are made that involve a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those presently anticipated. Forward looking statements may be identified through the use of words such as 'projects,' 'foresees' 'expects,' 'will,' 'anticipates,' 'estimates,' 'believes,' 'understands' or by statements indicating certain actions 'may,' 'could' or 'might' occur. There is no guarantee past performance will be indicative of future results or that any such forward-looking projections will occur. For a complete disclaimer, investors are encouraged to click here: View more of this article on About Media, Inc.: Founded in 1999, is one of North America's leading platforms for micro-cap insights. Catering to both Canadian and U.S. markets, we provide a wealth of resources and expert content designed for everyone—from beginner investors to seasoned traders. is rapidly gaining recognition as a leading authority in the micro-cap space, with our insightful content prominently featured across numerous top-tier financial platforms, reaching a broad audience of investors and industry professionals. Want to showcase your company's story to a powerful network of investors? We can help you elevate your message and make a lasting impact. Contact us today. Contact: Media, Inc.
Telegraph
16-04-2025
- Telegraph
‘Buildings can have wonderful new uses': Celebrating 60 years of The Landmark Trust
The visitors' book at 13, Princelet Street, East London, is a thing of wonder. For a start it is bound in smart green cloth and weighs about five pounds. As for the actual visitors, we turned the pages with mounting envy and alarm: who were these people? There was a stunning full-page watercolour of the house; a flat-fronted, dark-brick, four-storey dwelling in a grid of Spitalfields streets largely completed by 1720. There was a hand-made pop-up house in stiff paper. There were vignettes and poems and childish scribbles and faintly competitive visit tallies ('Our second!/fifth!/tenth!'). The Landmark Trust celebrates 60 years as a heritage charity next month and over the years its portfolio of distinctive holiday lets has delighted an equally distinctive type of customer. Landmarkers, as they are known, are engaged, appreciative, lovers of history and architecture, and largely indifferent to the absence of TV and Wi-Fi in properties. Some have been coming since the charity was founded in 1965 by banker Sir John Smith and his wife, Christian, who was involved until her death in 2018. Their idea was simple: to rescue fading properties too insignificant to be scooped up by the National Trust or English Heritage, from Britain's most elegant pigsty in North Yorkshire to a stone pineapple in Falkirk. Then turn them into holiday lets, comfortably but not opulently furnished, and stock them with relevant books and maps. Then use the income to rescue and restore more buildings at risk, and so on. The fact that over half a century later those aims and values have changed relatively little make the Landmark Trust, rather like Stonehenge, a mirror to the zeitgeist. 'The world is almost unrecognisable from 10 years ago,' said the charity's director, Dr Anna Keay, who joined in the run-up to the last big anniversary. 'When we turned 50, we'd just started online bookings (today, 85 per cent of bookings are online), newspapers were still the primary source of information and we were all using high-street shops.' I've been to loads of Landmarks. We used to book one each year for a break with my mother, usually in Dorset, and friends have booked them for celebrations. But this was my first in London, where there are four. It was weirdly peaceful. Sirens sounded like distant tropical birds. No noise floated over from Brick Lane, packed with people before Eid. The next-door neighbour, resident for 30 years, told us about his art exhibition. We went to a tiny cinema, a huge museum, an art gallery, a flower market, a pub, grocery shops, churches and a great Vietnamese restaurant, all on foot. We read books about the East End and a forensic property history, written by an architectural historian, telling the story of the house from its late 18th-century zenith, when it was probably owned by Huguenot silk merchants, to its nadir in the 1970s, when development threatened. Its saviour, Peter Lerwill, spent money and love on bringing it back to life and, on his death, he left it to the Landmark Trust. Its survival seems incredible, but as Dr Keay pointed out, upheaval is nothing new. In turbulent periods, one example being the Industrial Revolution, buildings used for a specific purpose became suddenly redundant, and the landscape changed forever. 'What the Landmark Trust has demonstrated over 60 years,' she added. 'Is that buildings can have new uses, and these can be wonderful and uplifting, and all that care and trouble taken on them can find a new life. We just stick at doing what we do and that has a simplicity to it that holds up well.' Not that the last decade has been a doddle. Airbnb, for example, has added 30 per cent more inventory into the broad arena in which the Trust operates. English Heritage started its 'Heritage Lets' programme in 2006, the National Trust has let holiday cottages since the 1940s and many private historic properties, from estate cottages to former lighthouse keepers' cottages, are available for rental. It's highly competitive. During Covid, properties were offered as accommodation to emergency NHS staff, and when lockdowns ended the Trust was in one way sitting pretty, with most of its properties rural, stand-alone and on the British mainland (there are a few abroad). At one point, occupancy was almost 100 per cent. On the other hand, they had the same staffing issues as anyone else, at a time when cleaning, for instance, was critical. And when 'abroad' opened up again, occupancy slid back to a more normal 80-85 per cent. On the plus side they are adding to their 111,000+ followers on Instagram and other social media platforms, which has increased awareness not just with over-55s but with elusive 18-to-24-year-olds. A 15 per cent booking discount within 28 days of rental is particularly aimed at the latter; a new, more flexible, pre-children demographic. An apprenticeship scheme at the furniture-making workshops in Honeybourne has run successfully for 10 years and a focus on the environment has seen 30 Landmarks fitted with sustainable heating systems. All new properties will be supplied with ground source heat pumps or equivalent, helped by the solid walls, hefty curtains and chunky doors of a pre-central heating world. The kicker? EV (electric vehicle) charging points are becoming a necessity and that means… whisper it softly ... Wi-Fi. Will they keep it separate somehow? Put it in a lead cupboard? Down a locked well? One thing is certain: Landmarkers will have an opinion and will state it trenchantly. As part of their 60th celebrations, the Trust have added, just for 2025, an extra 10 free stays to the 'Fifty for Free' offer they started ten years ago, when charities can apply for free stays in properties during the November low season. It has been taken up by elderly carers, victims of domestic violence and young widows, among others. As for the future, they are choosy about which properties to take on, perhaps two a year, and next up are a 1720s politician's mansion south of Edinburgh and a flat in the former Mayor's Parlour, part of a huge Lottery-funded restoration of Dover Town Hall. Their attention is now turning to high streets and former industrial buildings. Meanwhile, back in Princelet Street, facing that spectacular book, we got visitors' block. I dumped my painting of a garden urn. Someone dutifully wrote the sort of thing you write in normal visitors' books. Then, with a wistful backward glance at our panelled interiors and our elegant garden surrounded by our neighbours' houses crested with clapboard-and-pantile weavers' garrets, we stepped back into reality. Ten quirky Landmarks for rent All with 2025 availability at the time of writing 1. Music Room, Lancashire A glorious Baroque fantasy of a garden pavilion, built around 1730 for a prosperous lawyer in the centre of Lancaster. Its royal icing walls are covered in plaster images of Apollo and the Muses (including Amorous Poetry), there's a baby grand piano to play, and it's right in the middle of all the fun. Sleeps two, four nights from £332. 2. The Semaphore Tower, Surrey Relatively newly opened, Britain's only remaining semaphore tower, built after the Napoleonic Wars to house the pre-telegraph signalling system used to send messages between the Admiralty in London and Portsmouth. The system is demonstrated on open days. The tower is surrounded by 800 acres of heathland, great for walking, cycling and birdwatching from the roof. Sleep four, four nights from £524. 3. Sant' Antonio, near Rome A former Franciscan monastery built around 850 AD that includes part of a Roman villa, possibly home to the poet Horace. It has a monastic simplicity, with thick walls and little decoration inside or out, and sits in terraced gardens overlooking Tivoli's waterfall and up at the tiny church above. Sleeps 12, four nights from £1176. 4. Methwold Old Vicarage, Norfolk Showy architecture seems slightly shocking in a vicarage, but who cares when you've got a dazzling late fifteenth-century gable end, timber framing and decorated upper rooms, all opposite a Grade-I listed church. Perfect for the dry chalk plateau of The Brecks, Ely Cathedral and Grimes Graves. Sleeps five, four nights from £536. 5. Lock Cottage, Worcestershire There's nothing like a no-nonsense building and this lock-keeper's cottage sits by the 30-mile-long Worcester & Birmingham Canal, which was completed in 1815 to 'lift' boats up to Birmingham via 58 locks. There is lots to do, including strolling along to the magnificent 30-lock Tardebigge Flight. Sleeps four, four nights from £344. 6. The Library, Devon Well of course you need a library and orangery (summer only) in your back garden, and these fine, redbrick, eighteenth-century pavilions with gabled roofs, pilasters and long windows make a perfect billet for four, two in each, separated by 100 yards of garden. The ruins of a later Victorian house and arboretum are nearby. 7. Iron Bridge House, Shropshire The top two floors of this sturdy house, built for a local grocer over his shop, look straight across the River Severn to the world's first complete iron bridge, symbol of the Industrial Revolution. Ironbridge Gorge is stuffed with museums and sights - so buy a pass and see them at your leisure. Sleeps four, four nights from £432. 8. Glenmallock Lodge, Dumfries & Galloway The Countess of Galloway built this cottage as a schoolroom in the early nineteenth century, and girls were taught the three Rs and how to ply their needles here for over 40 years. Now it sits at the end of a track in the middle of the glen, a mile from the Solway Firth and near the Wigton Peninsula. Sleeps two, four nights from £296. 9. West Blockhouse, Pembrokeshire Here's a view. This mid-Victorian fort housed around 40 men until after the Second World War, with a battery of heavy guns guarding the entrance to Milford Haven harbour. The walls are limestone, rooms are lined with pine and it sits high above the Atlantic with a spiral staircase up to a roof terrace. Sleeps eight, four nights from £628. 10. Culloden Tower, Yorkshire The local MP built himself this pepperpot tower in 1746 as a crow of triumph after the defeat of the Jacobites at the Battle of Culloden. It has two octagonal rooms, a light-filled sitting room and is brilliantly placed on the edge of the Dales, within easy reach of Richmond and its Georgian theatre. Sleeps four, four nights from £728. 13 Princelet Street (London E1) sleeps six in three rooms from £1,412 for four nights;
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Yahoo
Savannah ranked among top U.S. destinations with a ‘Foreign Feel'
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — To uncover the most sought-after U.S. destinations with a 'foreign feel,' Turn The Page Travel commissioned a survey of more than 3 thousand travelers to discover which of these towns they would most like to visit. And Savannah made the Top 5. 'Founded by British colonists in 1733, Savannah blends British and French influences. We can see it in its cobblestone streets, historic mansions, and elegant public squares. Designed by General James Oglethorpe, the city's grid layout mirrors European planning traditions. Landmarks like the Regency-style Owens-Thomas House and Telfair Academy showcase British architectural elegance, while French Huguenot influence adds to its charm. Visitors can stroll beneath Spanish moss-draped oaks, explore centuries-old homes, and dine in European-inspired cafés, making Savannah a picturesque Southern city with a distinctly European feel.' Helen, Georgia — nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains and renowned for its annual Oktoberfest — came in at Number 9 on the list, followed by Beaufort, S.C. at Number 11. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
