Next month is the centenary of the birth of James Bond author Ian Fleming. To mark the event, a new 007 novel by Sebastian Faulks, Devil May Care, will be published. With the new film Quantum of Solace due later this year, Clive Morris tours the top Bond movie locations on the Brussels Airlines routes
LONDON
Admire the MI6 building from Tate Britain, then, from Millbank Millennium Pier, take a river boat to the Millennium Dome (now known as the 02 Arena), seen in The World Is Not Enough (1999). Opposite, the Radisson Edwardian New Providence Wharf (5 Fairmont Avenue, Canary Wharf, tel. +44
(0)20 7987 2050) offers fine views from the River Room (pictured). The five-star Dukes Hotel (dukeshotel.com) offers a ‘Bond About Town’ package for two, including a weekend overnight stay in a Classic Double and Martini Master Class, for £450 per person.
BILBAO
In The World Is Not Enough (1999), Pierce Brosnan’s 007 escapes a shoot-out in a bank by using the elastic from a window blind. On his way in, we catch a glimpse of Frank Gehry’s iconic Guggenheim Museum (2 Avenida Abandolbarra, guggenheim-bilbao.es), then only two years old. The five-star Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao (61 Alameda de Mazarredo, granhoteldominobilbao.com) is a conceptual wonder, with no less than 14 suites, six of them on the 10th floor, offering superb views of its silver neighbour.
Lisbon
In On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969), George Lazenby’s 007 courts the future Mrs Bond, Teresa Di Vicenzo, among the white statues and manicured hedges of the 17th-century Fronteira Palace. Book ahead for a guided tour. The pair bonded at the Palácio Estoril Hotel (Rua Particular, palacioestorilhotel.com), 20 minutes outside Lisbon. Since the 1930s this five-star hotel has offered elegant environs overlooking magnificent white sandy beaches.
GENEVA
In the novel Goldfinger, Bond stays at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues (33 Quai des Bergues, fourseasons/geneva).
Its 103 rooms, with Louis Philippe furnishings, are light, airy and offer a variety of lake, courtyard and city views. In the 1964 film, Connery’s Bond tails the eponymous villain from Geneva to Canton Lucerne via the Furka Pass in Andermatt, Uri.
NICE
In Never Say Never Again (1983), Sean Connery’s 007 chases assassin Fatima Blush on motorbike to Port de la Darse in Villefranche-sur-Mer. The Hotel Negresco (37 Promenade des Anglais, hotel-negresco-nice.com) epitomises the glamour of 1930s Nice. Built in 1912 and overlooking the Baide des Anges, it has one foot in the belle époque era, and boasts five centuries of art, collected by private owner Madame Augier. For a 360° panoramic view, try the roof terrace of Musée d’Art Moderne (Promenade des Arts, www.mamac-nice.org).
BERLIN
In Octopussy (1983), 007 heads to West Berlin to head off a plot by a mad renegade Russian general. The Brandenburger Hof hotel (14 Eislebener Strasse, tel. (0)30 214050, brandenburger-hof.com) is very handy for the Kurfürstendamm. With 14 suites, and 850 wines to sample at Die Quadriga restaurant, this five-star hotel offers a Prussian and Mediterranean vibe in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. Bar Helmut Newton (57 Charlottenstrasse, tel. (0)30 2061 2990), with risqué prints adorning the walls, raises an eyebrow.
HAMBURG
In Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), Pierce Brosnan’s 007 visits Hamburg to investigate media mogul Elliot Carver. After wrecking the launch of the 24-hour news channel, Bond returns to Hotel Kempinski Atlantic (72-79 An de Alster, kempinski.atlantic.de) in the heart of the city, alongside Lake Alster. Its BMW Suite is designed after the classic marque – great if hand-made leather panels and silver-grey velour are your thing. The car rental showroom into which Bond’s BMW later crashes is the Kaufhof department store in Monckebergstrasse.
LAKE GARDA
Quantum of Solace includes a high-speed car chase in the village of Tremosine (once dubbed by Winston Churchill “the eighth wonder of the world”) and around the banks of Lake Garda. Villa Feltrinelli (38-40 Via Rimembranza, villafeltrinelli.com) in the nearby village of Gargnano is by far the area’s most exclusive resort. Built in 1892, its gardens feature olive groves and tiered lemon trees, while the interior, renovated as a hotel 10 years ago, blends antique elegance with modern comfort.
VENICE
In 1979’s Moonraker, Bond meets CIA agent Holly Goodhead at Hotel Danieli (luxurycollection.com/danieli), which has overlooked the lagoon since the 14th century. Originally built as a palace to symbolise the power of the Venetian Republic, it became a hotel in 1840, attracting visitors as diverse as Charles Dickens, King William of Prussia, Greta Garbo and Charlie Chaplin. The most sumptuous room is the Doge’s Suite (pictured), where 007 and Ms Goodhead agree to “pool their resources”.
STOCKHOLM
James Bond won his ‘00’ status in the Swedish capital with his second kill, recalled in the 1953 novel Casino Royale. Today, the newly-minted 007 could calm his nerves with a cigarette on the terrace of Nox (30 Grev Turegatan, nox.se) in Östermalm. Inside (pictured), the black leather sofas and illuminated green bar make for a classy evening ambience. Since 1874, the five-star Grand Hotel (grandhotel.se) has enjoyed regular refurbishments and quality custom. Astonishingly, in over 40 years, Scandinavia has yet to feature in a Bond film.
Moscow
Where the Bond’s Cold War foes ponder their next move. In The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Russian agent Anya Amasova, aka Triple X, joins forces with Roger Moore’s 007 to hunt for hijacked nuclear submarines. Bond has never actually visited the Russian capital, but the five-star Hotel Baltschug Kempinski (1 Ul, Balchug, kempinski-moscow.com) should tempt him where Major Amasova failed. The Kremlin Suite (pictured) offers a king-size bed, two large plasma screens and a cosy marble bathroom and, like many of the rooms, offers a stunning view of St Basil’s Cathedral.
VIENNA
In Timothy Dalton’s 1987 debut The Living Daylights, Bond stays with Kara Milovy at Hotel im Palais Schwarzenberg (currently closed for refurbishment), takes a flaker (or horse-drawn carriage), and visits Wurschtiprater amusement park for a ride on the giant Ferris wheel. On his 1961 visit to Vienna, Ian Fleming recommended five-star Hotel Sacher Vien (4 Philharmonkierstrasse, sacher.com) for the old Habsburg style.
PRAGUE
In Casino Royale (2006), Daniel Craig’s Bond kills an English double agent in his Prague office, earning his ‘00’ status. (This event occurs in Stockholm in the novel.) 007 could drown his sorrows at Nils Jebens’ flagship restaurant Kampa Park (86 Na Kampa, kampapark.com), where he could gaze out across the water at the Charles Bridge (pictured). For an overnight stay, the new, boutique Hotel U Tri Capu (20 Tomasska, utricapu.cz), in a 14th-century building, belies its status as a former brewery.
FR L’itinéraire ‘Bond’ de choc
Stockholm C’est ici que James Bond a remporté son statut de ‘00’, évoqué dans le roman de 1953 Casino Royale. Aujourd’hui, 007 pourrait se reposer au Grand Hôtel (S. Blasieholmshamnen 8).
Moscou Dans L’Espion qui m’aimait, l’agent russe Anya Amasova unit ses forces à Roger Moore, alias 007. Bond n’a jamais visité Moscou mais l’Hôtel Baltschug Kempinski (Ul, Balchug 1) serait susceptible de le tenter.
Bilbao Dans Le monde ne suffit pas (1999), l’on voit le Musée Guggenheim (2 Avenida Abandolbarra). A coté se trouve le Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao (Alameda de Mazarredo 61), une énigme conceptuelle.
Lisbonne Dans Au service secret de sa Majesté, 007 courtisait la future Madame Bond, au Fronteira Palace (Largo Sao Domingos de Benfica).
Hambourg Dans Demain ne meurt jamais, Pierce Brosnan, alias 007, visite le luxueux Hôtel Kempinski Atlantic (An de Alster 72-79).
Berlin Dans Octopussy, 007 devance un complot mené par un général russe dans la ville. L’ hôtel Brandenburger Hof (Eislebener Strasse 14) offre une vibration à la fois prusse et méditerranéenne.
Nice Dans le Jamais plus jamais en 1983, Sean Connery poursuit Fatima Blush dans une course en moto. Pour un luxe à l’ancienne, essayez l’Hôtel Negresco (37 Promenade des Anglais).
Genève Comme 007 dans le roman Goldfinger, vous pouvez séjourner à l’Hôtel Four Seasons des Bergues (33, Quai des Bergues), une référence depuis 1834.
Prague Dans Casino Royale, James Bond, tue un agent double dans son bureau de Prague. 007 pourrait se remonter au restaurant Kampa Park (Na Kampa 86).
Venise Dans Moonraker, Bond rencontre l’agent de la CIA Holly Goodhead à l’Hôtel Danieli (Castello 4196).
Vienne apparaît dans Tuer n’est pas jouer. Vous pouvez monter dans un Flaker, ou un attelage tiré par des chevaux, avant de visiter le parc d’attractions Wurstelprater (Leopoldstadt).
Londres Admirez l’immeuble représentatif MI6, depuis la rive nord de la Tamise à côté de la Tate Britain (Millbank).
NL De ultieme Bondtrip
Stockholm Hier verwierf James Bond zijn “00” -status, zo leert ons de roman Casino Royale uit 1953. Vandaag zou 007 relaxen in het Grand Hotel
(S. Blasieholmshamnen 8).
Moskou In The Spy Who Loved Me bundelt de Russische agente Anya Amasova haar krachten met 007 Roger Moore. Bond heeft Moskou nooit bezocht, maar het Hotel Baltschug Kempinski (Ul. Balchug 1) zou hem zeker bevallen.
Bilbao In The World Is Not Enough (1999) zien we het iconische Guggenheim Museum (Avenida Abandolbarra 2). Ernaast ligt het Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao (Alameda de Mazarredo 61), een conceptueel mirakel.
Lissabon In On Her Majesty’s Secret Service maakt 007 George Lazenby de toekomstige mevrouw Bond het hof in het Fronteira Palace (Largo Sao Domingos de Benfica). Reserveer vooraf een geleid bezoek.
Hamburg In Tomorrow Never Dies bezoekt 007 Pierce Brosnan het luxueuze Hotel Kempinski Atlantic (An de Alster 72-79).
Berlijn Hier verijdelt 007 een complot van een Russische generaal in Octopussy. In het Brandenburger Hof-hotel (Eislebener Strasse
14) ontmoeten het Pruisische en mediterrane element elkaar.
Nice In Never Say Never Again van 1983 achtervolgt Sean Connery hier Fatima Blush op de motorfiets. Probeer voor klassieke luxe het Hotel Negresco (Promenade des Anglais 37).
Genève Verblijf net als 007 in de roman Goldfinger in het Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues (Quai des Bergues 33), dit monument uit 1834.
Praag Bondacteur Daniel Craig doodt in Casino Royale een dubbelagent in zijn Praags kantoor. Voor een hapje trekt 007 naar het Kampa Park-restaurant (Na Kampa 86).
Venetië In Moonraker ontmoet Bond CIA-agente Holly Goodhead in het Hotel Danieli (Castello 4196). De stad duikt ook op in de recentere film Casino Royale.
Wenen De hoofdstad van Oostenrijk figureert in The Living Daylights. Ook jij kan een flaker, een koets met paard, nemen voor je bezoek aan het Wurstelpraterpretpark (Leopoldstadt).
Londen Bewonder het iconische gebouw van MI6, dat te zien is in de Bondfilms vanaf het debuut van Pierce Brosnan in GoldenEye, vanop de noordelijke oever van de Thames bij Tate Britain (Millbank).
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