Lovely Lussan in Gard, southern France, is officially one of the prettiest villages in France (' Plus Beaux Villages '). This pastoral region in the heart of Occitanie has everything an ardent Francophile could desire - picturesque villages, castles, gardens, vineyards, rich in culture and history, and great gastronomy. What to see and do in Lussan in Gard The medieval village of Lussan is perched on a hill, surrounded by rocky aromatic scrubland peppered with rosemary, lavender, thyme, sage and juniper.
The Castle of Old Wick in northern Scotland has reopened to the public following a round of high-level masonry inspections and minor repairs completed by Historic Environment Scotland (HES). In October, specialist conservation teams carried out tactile inspections of the medieval ruin, examining its stonework by hand while using ropes and scaffolding to safely access difficult areas. These checks form part of HES's nationwide High-Level Masonry Programme, launched in April 2022, which assesses historic structures with masonry over 1.5 metres.
The reopening of Orchardton Tower highlights Scotland's unique architectural heritage, marking it as the only free-standing circular tower house still standing—a testament to 15th-century noble life.