A nunnery or love? Love or money? Money or death? – On her way to the monastery, the young Manon is wooed by men. When Chevalier Des Grieux turns up, they fall in love and decide to escape. They live in Paris, money is scarce, family honour injured. And so Manon agrees to have Des Grieux abducted at his father's command, and begins a new life with a rich man. While she lives in the lap of luxury, ...

It shines bright white on Hamburg's Inner Alster: the façade of the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten has been freshly painted to mark the 125th anniversary of the world-class luxury hotel. The whole of Hamburg has come to celebrate the legendary hotel's birthday. On February 24, 1897, the Swabian Friedrich Haerlin bought the bankrupt, narrow hotel with eleven rooms on the Alsterbassin at auction. Thanks to...