How does good architecture impact our cities and our lives and what solutions do modern architects have for the urban problems of today? We visit the most fascinating buildings in nine European megacities and meet visionary planners who offer us answers to these questions.
In Costa Rica locals greet each other by saying “pura vida” – pure zest for life. This sums the country up. A lush natural environment, the best coffee and a “rich coast” on two oceans. We present fascinating landscapes in impressive aerial shots and on the ground people and their stories that allow us an insight into everyday life in Costa Rica.
A small country and a big canal and a cosmos brimming with surprises – that’s Panama. Panamanians are among the world’s happiest people and among the longest living. What is their secret? We take you on a journey into the fascinating country caught between the Atlantic and the Pacific.
Fantastic underwater world and a crazy carnival – we showcase an unusual spectacle, the Jember Fashion Carnival in East Java, which fascinates Indonesians with the beauty of its underwater world and sensitises them to the urgent need to protect it.
We hitchhike along Europe’s waterways, from the canals of Holland to the Black Sea. Aboard river barges and pleasure boats, on a river fisherman’s rowing boat, police boat, catamaran or historical clipper: a road movie on water, 2500 km of adventure in the middle of Europe!
It is one of the finest and oldest sailing ships in the world. Built in the 1930s at the Germania shipyard in Kiel, the legendary Sea Cloud still sails the seas today after an adventurous and incredible career. We accompany the ship on its long journey across the Atlantic and study the history of this floating legend.
Two Iranians set off on a unique journey to their home country. The two women from Berlin and Paris spend five weeks travelling across the Islamic republic, with its magnificent palaces, mosques and parks. They offer us a unique and personal view of the country, avoiding the usual clichés and prejudices.
Heinrich Böll’s Ireland, Hans Christian Andersen’s Orient, Erika and Klaus Mann’s French Riviera and Uwe Johnson’s New York – great authors on tour. We go time-travelling with four of the most fascinating authors in literary history and revisit the countries they wrote about – intertwining both past and present.
One route – one continent: the world’s longest direct bus service runs on the Transocéanica between Rio de Janeiro and Lima. This road movie allows us to delve deep into South American soul. Along the wayside and in the bus itself, we immerse ourselves in fascinating stories that demonstrate the continent in all its ambivalence.
Eternal youth has long been a dream of mankind. These days there is less focus on taking off the years than on living a longer and healthier life, maintaining fitness and youthfulness. Where do people live the longest? We have identified five different regions in the world where remarkable numbers of centenarians are leading busy and active lives.
Once nothing but a sleepy fishing village, today one of the most famous beaches in the world.
The palaces that line Venice’s Grand Canal are a treasure trove of secrets, stories and eccentric inhabitants. This series of documentaries takes a look behind the fine facades and presents a magnificent, flamboyant and luxurious side of Venice that remains hidden from the eyes of tourists. If these palaces could talk, what would they tell us of raucous parties, grand receptions and secret scandals? We delve into the millennia-old history of the lagoon city and encounter some unusual characters. With a keen eye for special events and the unique beauty of the palaces, the series tells of the clash between the old treasures and modern life.
