Main content

Weekend Edition 26 Oct 2013: Building Blocks of History

French prisons, Madagascan schools, the ancient Afghan city of Balkh, Tajikistan's building spree, Romania's lost elegance - and golf courses and gated developments in St Kitts

Tales of construction, commerce and identity from around the world. Christian Fraser goes inside to see some grim French prison conditions for himself, while Emilie Filou learns why political stalemate has spelled decline for Madagascan schools. There are monuments to leaders, ancient and modern: Lynne O Donnell's been exploring the archaeological treasurehouse which is Afghanistan's Bactrian plain, James Coomarasamy is dwarfed by the high points of Tajikistan's presidential building spree, and Tessa Dunlop meets a Romanian photographer who managed to capture the lost elegance of Bucharest - before Ceacescu levelled swathes of its historic neighbourhoods. And amid the stunning scenery of St Kitts and Nevis, Orin Gordon asks whether golf courses and gated developments are the future face of the Caribbean.

Available now

25 minutes

Last on

Sun 27 Oct 2013 22:06GMT

Broadcasts

  • Sat 26 Oct 2013 08:06GMT
  • Sun 27 Oct 2013 02:06GMT
  • Sun 27 Oct 2013 09:06GMT
  • Sun 27 Oct 2013 22:06GMT