France is a magnificent country with beautiful landscapes and historic cities, building and monuments. There is so much history in France that it is difficult to describe in a brief article.
Paris, in particular, is a favorite tourist destination, with beauty around every corner. The River Seine offers a view of several magnificent sights. A great way to get a feel for the texture of Paris is to take one of the River Seine cruises, which are available dung daylight and in the evening.
The evening cruises are especially romantic, with the buildings and monuments dramatically lighted up, showing off their beauty.
There is a whole countryside, outside of the City of Paris, with beautiful landscapes, and history of its own.
The United Nations, UNESCO, has developed and maintained a list of significant places in the world, known as the World Heritage List, which is selected by a committee. Of the 851 world wide properties selected by the World Heritage List for their outstanding universal value, 30 are in France.
Of the 30 selected UNESCO sites 23 are the palaces, cities and locales listed below. The seven churches, cathedrals and abbeys are described in a separate article. Following are the outstanding significant historic places in France.
Travelers to France find it rewarding to add the historic places of France to their vacation itinerary.
Paris, Banks of the Seine: Paris has a number of significant sites including the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Place de la Concorde, Grand and Petit Palais, The Cathedral of Notre-Dame and the Sainte Chapelle. Architectural masterpieces can be seen from the banks of the River Seine.
Palace and Park of Versailles. The principal residence of French kings from Louis XIV to Louis XVI. The Baroque palace was built in 1624 by Louis XIII. Several generations of architects, sculptors, decorators sand landscape architects embellished the palace over the generations. It was initially used as a hunting lodge and a secret hideaway for romantic trysts. A Fairytale garden was built around the refuge. Eventually Versailles became enlarged and the gardens game more extensive, befitting a residence of Kings. Versailles contains the famous Hall of Mirrors.
Palace and Park of Fontainebleau: Kings of France have used this palace since the 2th century. The medieval royal hunting lodge stands at the heart of a vast forest in the Ile-de-France Fontainebleau has transformed, enlarged and embellished by Francois I in the 16th century. Francois I wanted to make a “new Rome of Fontainebleau. The palace is surrounded by an immense park. Fontainebleau is an Italianate palace with Renaissance and French artistry.
Historic Centre of Avignon: Papal Palace, Episcopal Ensemble and Avignon Bridge. This city in the south of France was the seat of the papacy in the 14th century. Palais des Papes is an austere looking fortress which is lavishly decorated. The palace dominate the cit. The palace is surrounded by ramparts and the remains of a 12th century bridge.
Mont-Saint-Michel and its Bay. Gothic style Benedictine abbey is perched on a rocky islet exposed to powerful tides from Brittany and Normandy. The Benedictine abbey is dedicated to archangel st. Michael. The abbey was built between the 11th and 16th centuries.
Place Stanislas, Place De la Carriere and Place Alliance in Nancy: Stanislas Leszcynyski, who later became Duke of Lorraine, was a king without a kingdom. Nancy was his temporary residence. The capitol was built between 1752 and 1756 and a functional capital. The capital was brilliantly conceived by the monarch and team of architects that were sensitive to the needs of the public.
Strasbourg – Grande ile: The historic center of the Alsatian capital is surrounded by two arms of the River Ill on the Grande Ile (Big Island). The capital has an outstanding complex of monuments, consisting of a cathedral, four ancient churches and the Palais Rohan. The Palais Rohan was the former residence of prince bishops. Strasbourg is a district with characteristics of a medieval town which evolved from the 15th to the 18th century.
Pyrenees – Mont Perdu:Mountain landscape spans contemporary national borders of France and Spain. The center of the landscape is the peak of Mount Perdu. The site contains the larges, deepest canyons on the Spanish side. Provides insights into past European society through landscape of villages, farms, fields, pastures and mountain roads.
Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes: The Loire Valle is a landscape of great beauty with historic towns, villages, monuments and cultivated lands. The cultural landscape of the Loire Valley illustrate the ideals of the Renaissance and the Age of Enlightenment.
Provins, Town of Medieval Fairs: Fortified medieval town located in the territory of the Counts of champagne. Provins was specifically built to host trading fairs and related activities. Selected as a great medieval fair town.
Le Havre, City Rebuilt b Auguste Perret:: City on the English Channel in Normandy was bombed during World War II and severely damages. A team headed by Auguste Perret rebuilt the town from 1945 to 1964. Selected as an outstanding example of post war reconstruction.
Bordeaux, Port of the Moon: Port city of south west France is an inhabited historic city. Bordeaux has more protected building than any other French city, except Paris.
Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vezere Valley
Roman Theatre and its Surrounding and the Triumphal Arch” of Orange.
Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans: The Royal Saltworks were built starting in 1773. It was the first major achievement of industrial architecture. The semicircular was designed to become an ideal city, but the project was never realized.
Gulf of Porto: Calanche of Piana, Gulf of Girolate, Scandola Reserve
Pont du Gaur (Roman Aqueduct)
Canal du Midi: Navigable waterways link the Mediterranean and Atlantic through 328 structures (aqueducts, bridges, locks, tunnels)
Historic Fortified City of Carcassonne
Historic Site of Lyons: Lyons was founded by the Romans in the 2st century BC.
Belfries of Belgium and France
Routes of Santiago DE Compostela in France; Pilgrimage route during the Middle Ages.
Visitng the historic places of France is rewarding for travelers who vacation in Europe.
