On a bike tour through the Charente, we discover the perfect photo motif – perfect for our Tellerrandstories magazine. In a front garden, porcelain plates on poles rise up as far as the eye can see. Whether they serve as scarecrows or are simply there for decoration, we couldn’t find out, but the picture is a wonderful opportunity to take a closer look at the phrase “über den Tellerrand blicken” (translates to: looking over the rim of the plate). Where does it come from? What does it mean? And are there similar expressions in other languages?
Change your perspective more often
The phrase “über den Tellerrand blicken” is comparatively young. It first appeared in the 1950s and became popular in the 1970s thanks to the politician Karl Schiller. It describes an open, curious attitude: the willingness to overcome one’s own boundaries and discover new things. It often stands for cosmopolitanism, a change of perspective or innovation – and therefore fits perfectly with our travel magazine Tellerrandstories.
And what do the others say?
In English it means “thinking outside the box” or “thinking outside the square” – an invitation to think creatively and leave familiar patterns behind. “Broaden your horizon” comes closest to the German “über den Tellerrand schauen”. The French put it more playfully: “voir plus loin que le bout de son nez” – see further than the end of your nose. They advise you not to limit yourself to the obvious. The Spanish remain sober and talk about opening the mind “abrir la mente” or looking further “mirar más allá”. The Chinese provide the most original comparison: “Jing Di Zhi Wa” – the frog in the well. He only sees the narrow section of his sky, similar to the edge of a plate in German.
Highlights along the Charente
The Charente winds its way through the French region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine for 380 kilometers. Its course leads from the mountainous headwaters over rolling hills and vineyards to the maritime floodplains at the estuary. From Angoulême, the river is navigable all the way to the Atlantic at Rochefort. It was once the main transport route for cognac production. Today, cognac houses and winegrowers invite you to spirit tourism, while cycle paths such as the Flow Vélo take you past picturesque villages, old stone bridges, a rare transporter bridge, watermills, castles and the old town of Angoulême. The Charente is still considered an insider tip, as it is one of the most pristine river landscapes in France: hardly any mass tourism, but plenty of nature, tranquillity and enjoyment. The small island of Aix was once a bulwark to protect the Charente estuary from enemy fleets and is now popular for a day trip to the sea.
