Michael Adair (@michaelthecanadian)

I haven’t been to Versailles since 2023, but my archive just is full of pictures which I never got around to posting. Here are three pictures from around the palace. Do you know where they are? #versailles #chateaudeversailles #france🇫🇷 #chateau

I‘ve been to the Bodemuseum in Berlin many times over the years, but for some reason never stopped to look at this hallway which you walk through immediately after going through security. What a stunner! I guess it goes to show there is always more to see 😍 #berlinberlin #bodemuseum #museumisland #germany🇩🇪

Not everything needs to be covered in gold to look elegant or be beautiful. I was, again, deep in my archive and found this picture of a staircase in Berlin located in the offices of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. It is not open to the public, but am glad to share it here. #gründerzeit #staircases #interiors #berlinberlin

I really love the editorial look of this picture I took at the El Jem Archeological Museum in Tunisia. I realized I forgot to post pictures of that trip which I took in February as an escape from Carnival in Cologne. Have you been to Tunisia? 🇹🇳

Postcards from a lazy weekend at @koenigshof_munich , with a room overlooking the Palace of Justice. I took a day trip to Zugspitze, the highest peak in Germany, and took a dip in the Eibsee Then back to the city for the Schloss Garten and took a break from the blazing heat with a swim in the Eisbach. A nature weekend in Munich is highly recommended!

Another favourite picture of mind from the archive is this shot of the monastery library in Wiblingen, Germany. This picture was taken on the library balcony, which is not open to the public, so please enjoy it here ;-) #library #librariesofinstagram #bookworm #klosterwiblingen #germany🇩🇪

A place that needs no introduction. I have been fortunate to be in the Hall of Mirrors twice in my life on private visits. The view is simply spectacular. Have you visited yet?

Perhaps one of my favorite pictures of all time. The Margravial Opera House in Bayreuth was built between 1744 and 1748 by Giuseppe Galli Bibiena for Margravine Wilhelmine, the sister of my favorite historical gay icon, Frederick the Great. Wilhelmine was almost Queen of England but instead lived as a countryside eccentric, soaking guests in her grotto with hidden fountains and laughing from her balcony — but I digress. Surprisingly, this stunning theater is entirely made of wood and has never caught fire. Restored in 2018, it’s one of the best-preserved Baroque theaters in the world and truly worthy of its UNESCO status.

Berlin’s state-run Gipsformerei is one of only a few institutions around the world dedicated to formally reproducing works of sculpture at the highest level. For the first print issue of @thegrandtouristpodcast, photographer @michaelthecanadian and writer @camille_freestone give readers a rare behind-the-scenes look at this incredible treasure trove. “Some of these originals are 5,000, even 6,000 years old. You don’t need to imitate only the material, you need to imitate all of the dirt layers or oxidation when it comes to metal objects,” says the Gipsformerei’s Marcin Korbanek. “We do it by using different binders. This is also part of what we are trying to research now, to find out what kind of binders our ancestors used to work with, trying to understand why objects age differently. Unfortunately, not all of the knowledge survived.” Order the first print issue online now, and read this story online. Links in bio.

Who ever did this tile really earned his wage 🥵 This is the Grand Vestibule or Salle des Colonnes of Chateau Compiegne just outside Paris. It is super easy to visit with public transport and is a great day trip from Paris. Next time you are near by, check it out 😇

I had the chance to visit Boston in May and was pleasantly surprised by the city’s beautiful and diverse architecture. From a striking Brutalist City Hall to one of the most stunning public libraries in America, Boston truly has it all. Federal, Renaissance Revival, Brutalism, and Venetian Gothic styles coexist within just a few blocks. 1 Acorn Street: a charming cobblestone street in historic Beacon Hill. 2–3 Massachusetts State House. An iconic gold-domed Federal-style landmark. 4 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. A Venetian inspired palace with a lush courtyard. 5–6 Boston Public Library. A Renaissance Revival masterpiece with grand interiors. 7 Boston City Hall. Bold 1960s Brutalist architecture. 8–9 Museum of Fine Arts. A Blend of neoclassical and modern wings. 10 Wang Theatre. A massive and Opulent 1920s theater with lavish details. Which is your favourite?

Today is Bastille Day in France, so it seems like a good day to post about the Assemblée Nationale library in Paris which reopened to the public on April 10, 2025, after a year of restoration. Originally established in 1796, the library is located within the Palais Bourbon and holds nearly 700,000 volumes, including important historical manuscripts including the death warrant of Joan of Arc. The ceiling of the library was created by Eugène Delacroix in the mid-19th century. These works feature allegorical and historical themes that reflect the ideals of the French Republic. It’s very easy to see the library in person, you just need to book a tour,