Old Town Luzern

Restaurant Fritschi : Luzern, CH

Just a couple of pictures of some cool buildings in Old Town Luzern.

Some seriously tromp l'oeil going on on the façade of that building : Luzern, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 4/2012

Castle Krumlov

Krumlov Castle Tower and surrounding wall : Český Krumlov, CZ

Tromp l'oeil in the castle grounds : Castle Krumlov : Český Krumlov, CZ

The must-see site in Krumlov is its castle. Built in the 13th century, the castle has been beautifully preserved and maintained. Ticket prices for tours inside the castle seemed a bit steep, so we didn't go inside, but the frescoes, sgraffito, and tromp l'oeil on the outside walls, as well as the gardens and courtyards, were lovely enough. For a few Czech crowns, you can go up to the top of the castle's dominant tower and enjoy a beautiful view of Krumlov and the surrounding countryside, complete with Soviet-style block housing on the outskirts! The weather wasn't that great while we were there, so these pictures are a little dull.

Jar-Jar Binx a la Krumlov?! : Český Krumlov, CZ

Sgraffito and tromp l'oeil : Castle Krumlov : Český Krumlov, CZ

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 4/11

Maison du Village?

Real or imagined? : Tromp l'oeil : St. Genis-Pouilly, FR

Is this a narrow townhouse on the end of that building or does the eye deceive again? Another tromp l'oeil in St. Genis. This one, across the street from the one featured in yesterday's post.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 7/10

The Paintbrush is Mightier than the Eye...

Magie/Image : Tromp l'oeil : St. Genis-Pouilly, FR

I love tromp l'oeil and Europe is full of it. The great thing about that is, you don't have to go to a museum to see it. A lot of the time, all you have to do is drive to a neighboring village and there, against the wall of a building, is a painting meant to deceive your eye into thinking it's depicting a real-life scene. This is the case in the village of St. Genis-Pouilly in France. Everytime I go to France's finest bakery, Sebastian Brocard, I pass this mural that shows us the magic of images.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 7/10

Tromp L'oeil Lyon

 Tromp L'oeil Bookstore : Lyon, FR

Apparently one of Lyon's delightful characteristics are its tromp l'oeil. Not far from the Hôtel de Ville and the Café des Fédérations was a tromp l'oeil featuring books and a bookstore. There are a few pictures on my Picasa Web Albums.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 2/10

100 Strangers: The Team at Café des Fédérations

Riri, Sandra, and Patricia : The wait staff at Café des Fédérations : Lyon, FR

While we were in Lyon, we ate at Café des Fédérations. The fare was traditional Lyonnaise and featured things like pike souffle and salad made from cow snout. Eating all of that at the time unfazed me. A week later, I can't believe I ate cow nose. That said, it was all tasty. The best part of this Michelin three-star bistro was the wait staff--Patricia, Sandra, and Riri. Find more pictures of this lovely restaurant in Lyon in my Picasa Web Albums.

 A fun tromp l'oeil on the side of the Café des Fédérations : Lyon, FR

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 2/10