The most extensive site in France, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000 in the category of cultural landscapes - Loire Valley . This delightful area, 280 km long and covering an area of ​​800 km2, is a unique universal asset.

The Loire Valley is memorial place history and art. It clearly shows how man, over time, managed to take his place along the entire length of the river, developed it and even defended himself from it, from the danger that it posed. The landscape of the Loire Valley, its numerous cultural monuments, clearly demonstrates the ideals of the Renaissance and Enlightenment regarding ideas and creation Western Europe. There is also a remarkable architectural heritage here - historical cities: Blois, Chinon, Orleans, Saumur, Tours, Nantes or Angers, and worldwide famous monuments: the castle of Chambord or Chenonceau, the Royal Castle Amboise, the gardens of the castle of Villandry, the castle of Clos-Lucé, as well as the royal abbey of Fontevraud. These castles are an excellent visual and historical chronicle of major and minor events in the history of France.

(Total 22 photos)

1. Chambord Castle, Loire Valley, France

2. Chateau de Saumur is located in the Loire Country region, on the historical road of the Valley of the Kings. Built at the end of the 11th century, the castle of Saumur was alternately a fortress, a pleasure residence, the residence of the city governors, a prison, and then a warehouse for weapons and ammunition. Towering over the city and the majestic Loire, the castle was bought from the state in 1906 by the city of Saumur and, after partial restoration, a municipal museum was opened in it.

4. The castle of Azay-le-Rideau is located in the Centre-Loire Valley region. Built on an island in the middle of the Indre River, the castle in its present form was built during the reign of Francis I by the wealthy financier Gilles Berthelot, who wanted to implement Italian innovations in French architecture. Surrounded by greenery, the castle is washed by the waters of the Indre, in which its walls are reflected. Castle of Azay-le-Rideau, recognized historical monument, is the embodiment of the sophistication characteristic of castles of the early French Renaissance.

6. Langeais Castle (Le chateau de Langeais) is located in the Center-Loire Valley region, on the border of Anjou and Touraine. There are two unique castles in the Langeai castle: the tower of Fulk Nerra and the castle of Louis XI. The first of them is the oldest donjon in France, and the second has two facades, medieval from the side of the city and Renaissance from the courtyard. The first castle, located on a hill above the Loire, was erected in 994 by the powerful and formidable Angevin Count Fulk Nerra. Today it is one of the oldest donjons in France: a significant part of it remains, dressed in our time with scaffolding recreating a medieval construction site. These scaffolds and lifting mechanisms take visitors back to the time of the tenth century builders. On the other side of the courtyard is the second royal castle, built by order of Louis XI at the end of the 15th century (in 1465). Louis XI wanted to be able to control the right bank of the Loire from the height of the towers of the castle and the sentinel path. Its majestic façade is thus equipped with a walkway, towers and a drawbridge from the side of the city. In courtyard the ornate façade windows underline the Renaissance sophistication of this pleasant, pleasing residence.

7. Historical wedding. Within these walls, on December 6, 1491, the fate of France and Brittany was decided at the marriage ceremony of Charles VIII with the Duchess Anne of Brittany. This marriage marked the accession of the duchy to the French crown, thus ending its independence. The spectacle, striking in its realism, will take the visitor to the center of this most important event in the history of France.

9. Chateau Chenonceau is located in the Center-Loire Valley region. A crown jewel, then a royal residence, the Château de Chenonceau is unique for its original location on the Cher River as well as for its destiny. He was loved, cherished and protected by women such as Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici. These days, Chenonceau Castle is the second most visited castle in France after Versailles.

12. The park and castle of Valence (Chateau de Valenсay) were built during the time of Louis XIII. The castle was built on the site of an ancient feudal fortress. Over time, it is rebuilt and harmoniously combines the style of the early Renaissance and classicism. In 1803, Napoleon bought this magnificent castle, which became the property of Prince de Talleyrand, Minister of Foreign Affairs. The latter, thanks to this, can receive important guests with appropriate luxury. Napoleon decides to purchase the castle of Valence for his famous foreign minister, Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, in 1803, so that he could receive European dignitaries in appropriate luxury. The castle is located in Berry and combines two architectural style– Renaissance and classicism. It is fully furnished and surrounded by superb French-style gardens and an English park.

15. Medieval fortress Amboise, located in the Center-Loire Valley region in the city of Amboise, becomes a royal residence during the reign of kings Charles VIII and Francis I (late 15th-early 16th centuries). Many European artists and writers live at the court in Amboise at the invitation of the kings, like Leonardo da Vinci, who rests in the chapel of the castle.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in France:

1. Roads to Santiago de Compostela
Historic buildings and monuments along the four roads leading pilgrims to Spain.

2. Mont Saint Michel Island
On the island there is a Benedictine abbey (XI-XVI centuries) in the Gothic style and a village.

3. Saint-Emilion
A wine region with a long history. Many churches and monasteries.

4. Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartan
Monastery since 811. The frescoes (XI-XII centuries) with scenes from the Pentateuch are perfectly preserved.

5. Paintings in the caves of the Weser River valley
25 caves from ancient times rock art. Several hundred drawings of animals.

6. Canal du Midi
328 hydraulic structures between Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic (1667-1694).

7. Historic fortified city of Carcassonne
Typical medieval city with an impressive defensive system around the castle and dwellings.

8. Chartres Cathedral
Built in 1145. An example of French Gothic. Sculptures from the mid-12th century, stained glass from the 12th-13th centuries.

9. Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonne
Landscapes of exclusively cultural significance: historical cities, villages, castles.

10. Cathedral in Bourges
A masterpiece of Gothic art of the 12th-13th centuries. Images of the Last Judgment and scenes from the life of St. Etienne.

11. Palace and park at Versailles
Laid down in 1624. Over time, the ensemble became a model of a royal residence.

12. Paris – banks of the Seine
Meeting architectural masterpieces, among which are Notre Dame, Louvre, Tuileries, Invalides.

13. Amiens Cathedral
The largest cathedral in the country. The three-nave basilica was built in 1220 on the site of a Romanesque temple.

14. Palace and park at Fontainebleau
A modest hunting castle was built in 1137. Later it grew and became the residence of kings.

15. Provins, medieval town of fairs
In the XII-XIII centuries. fairs were held here, which attracted traders from all over Europe.

16. Notre-Dame Cathedral, Saint-Rémy Abbey and To Palace in Reims
Gothic cathedral of the 13th century. The anointing vessel for the kings of France was kept in the Abbey of Saint-Rémy.

17. Church in Vezelay
The church in the city of Vézelay allegedly houses the remains of Mary Magdalene. Place of pilgrimage.

18. Fontaine Abbey
It was founded in 1118 by the Cistercians, and in the 15th century. received the status of a royal abbey.

19. Lyon
Founded by the Romans in the 1st century. BC e. Numerous monuments dating back to different eras.

20. Garsky Bridge
It is part of an aqueduct built by the Romans in 19 BC. e. Connects the banks of the Gardon River.

21. Ancient Roman monuments of Arles
The oldest monuments date back to the 1st century. BC e. Amphitheater, underground passages, Baths of Constantine.

22. Historical center of Avignon
In the XIV century. the city was the papal residence. Fortifications, Papal Palace, Notre-Dame de Dome Cathedral.

23. Ancient theater and triumphal arch in Orange
The large amphitheater (facade length 103 m) is perfectly preserved. Arch with bas-reliefs (10-25).

24. Ark-et-Senan: royal salt mines
The village of Ark-e-Senan near the salt mines was built in the 18th century. Director's house and factory buildings.

25. Place Stanislaus I, Quarry and Alliance in Nancy
The architectural ensemble of squares (1752-56) is an example of French Baroque.

26. Strasbourg. Grand Ile
The island of Grand Ile is the historical center of the Alsace capital. Cathedral, four churches, Roan Palace.

27. Cape Girolata, Cape Porto, Scandola and Piana Calanches Nature Reserve in Corsica
The reserve on the Scandola Peninsula covers 30,000 hectares. Seagulls, cormorants, sea eagles.

28. Mount Mante Perdido in the Pyrenees (France/Spain)
“Lost Mountain” is a massif with a height of 3,352 m. Nearby are the two largest canyons in Europe

29. Bell towers of cities in Belgium and France
23 bell towers in northern France, the bell tower in the city of Gembloux in Belgium, 30 Belgian city towers. Vivid symbols of emerging civil liberties.

30. Le Havre – a city restored by Auguste Perret
The heritage site includes administrative, commercial and Cultural Center Le Havre. An example of post-war urban planning and architecture.

31. Port of the Moon in Bordeaux
The historical center of the port city in southwest France is a unique urban and architectural ensemble Enlightenment

32. Lagoons of New Caledonia
The New Caledonia lagoon is home to the world's second largest coral reef.

33. Vauban's fortifications
Thirteen fortresses designed by Vauban.

Message quote World Heritage UNESCO: France. Palaces and parks of Versailles. Part 1

The UNESCO World Heritage List in the French Republic includes 37 items (as of 2011), this is 3.8% of the total (936 as of 2011). 33 objects are included in the list according to cultural criteria, and 17 of them are recognized as masterpieces of human genius (criterion i), 3 objects are included according to natural criteria, each of which is recognized natural phenomenon of exceptional beauty and aesthetic importance (criterion vii), as well as 1 mixed object, also falling under criterion vii. In addition, as of 2010, 33 sites in France are among the candidates for inclusion in the World Heritage List. French Republic ratified the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and natural heritage June 27, 1975.

UNESCO experts decided that French gastronomic culture, with its rituals and complex organization, is worthy of inclusion in the prestigious List of Intangibles cultural heritage. For the first time in the world this status was received National cuisine, which indicates “its widespread recognition.”
Experts of the Intergovernmental Committee of UNESCO satisfied the request of France in the art of Alençon lace - they were included in the List of Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
Food is part of the French national identity. Normandy, Provencal, Burgundian and Alsatian cuisines differ from each other as much as the inhabitants of these regions. “It must be said that French cuisine is subject to numerous influences, which allows it to create new dishes and new tastes. It is difficult to overestimate the importance of this openness, especially given the characteristics of modern society,” says Hubert de Canson, Deputy Permanent Representative of France to UNESCO.

Versailles Palace and Park

Versailles is a palace and park ensemble in France (French Parc et château de Versailles), the former residence of French kings in the city of Versailles, now a suburb of Paris; center of tourism of world importance.

Versailles was built under the leadership of Louis XIV from 1661, and became a kind of monument to the era of the "Sun King", an artistic and architectural expression of the idea of ​​absolutism. The leading architects are Louis Le Vaux and Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the creator of the park is Andre Le Nôtre. The ensemble of Versailles, the largest in Europe, is distinguished by a unique integrity of design and harmony of architectural forms and the transformed landscape. From the end of the 17th century, Versailles served as a model for the ceremonial country residences of European monarchs and aristocracy, but there are no direct imitations of it.

From 1666 to 1789, until the French Revolution, Versailles was the official royal residence. In 1801 it received the status of a museum and is open to the public; since 1830 the entire architectural complex Versailles; in 1837 royal palace The Museum of French History opened. In 1979, the Palace of Versailles and the park were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Many significant events in French and world history are associated with Versailles. So, in the 18th century, the royal residence became the site of the signing of many international treaties, including the treaty that ended the American War of Independence (1783). In 1789, the Constituent Assembly working in Versailles adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen.

Chapel_and_Gabriel_Wing_Palace_of_Versailles
Northern view

South facade. Versailles 2

In 1871, after the defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War, the creation of the German Empire was proclaimed in Versailles, occupied by German troops. Here in 1919 a peace treaty was signed, ending the First world war and laid the foundation for the so-called Versailles system - political system post-war international relations

View of the palace from the park

Versailles_-zicht_op_de_Écuries
The history of the Palace of Versailles begins in 1623 with a very modest hunting castle, similar to a feudal one, built at the request of Louis XIII from brick, stone and slate roofing on the territory purchased from Jean de Soisy, whose family owned the lands since the 14th century. The hunting castle was located in the place where the marble courtyard is now located. Its dimensions were 24 by 6 meters. In 1632, the territory was expanded through the purchase of the Versailles estate from the Archbishop of Paris from the Gondi family, and a two-year reconstruction was undertaken.

La Victoire sur l"Espagne Marcy Girardon Versailles

Louis XIV

Since 1661, the “Sun King” Louis XIV began to expand the palace in order to use it as his permanent residence, since after the Fronde uprising, living in the Louvre seemed unsafe to him. Architects Andre Le Nôtre and Charles Lebrun renovated and expanded the palace in the classicist style. The entire facade of the palace from the garden side occupies large gallery(Gallery of Mirrors, Gallery Louis XIV), which creates a stunning impression with its paintings, mirrors and columns. In addition to it, the Gallery of Battles, the palace chapel and the Royal Opera House also deserve mention.

Louis XV

After the death of Louis XIV in 1715, the five-year-old King Louis XV, his court, and the Council of Regency of Philippe d'Orléans returned to Paris. Russian Tsar Peter I, during his visit to France, stayed in May 1717 in the Grand Trianon. The 44-year-old tsar, while in Versailles, studied the structure of the Palace and parks, which served as a source of inspiration for him when creating Peterhof on the shore Gulf of Finland near St. Petersburg (Verlet, 1985).

Versailles changed during the reign of Louis XV, but not as extensively as it was under Louis XIV. In 1722 the king and his court returned to Versailles and the first project was the completion of the Salon of Hercules, the construction of which had begun in last years the reign of Louis XIV, but due to the death of the latter it was not completed.

The Small apartments of the King are recognized as a significant contribution of Louis XV to the development of Versailles; Chambers of Madame, Chambers of the Dauphin and his wife on the first floor of the Palace; as well as the private chambers of Louis XV - the small apartments of the King on the second floor (later rebuilt into the apartments of Madame Dubarry) and the small apartments of the King on the third floor - on the second and third floors of the Palace. The main achievement of Louis XV in the development of Versailles was the completion of the construction of the Opera House and the Petit Trianon Palace (Verlet, 1985).

Petit Trianon, palace

Small apartments of the king. Cabinet of golden service

Gaming salon of Louis 16th

Madame DuBarry
An equally significant contribution is the destruction of the Staircase of the Ambassadors, the only ceremonial route to the Grand Royal Apartments. This was done to build apartments for the daughters of Louis XV.

One of the gates

Inviolability of power. French royal court.

In the decoration of the gate there are symbols of the “sun” king

Golden Gate.

Palace of Versailles; Saint Leu stone,

There have been no significant changes in the Park compared to the times of Louis XIV; Louis XV's only legacy to the parks of Versailles is the completion of the Basin of Neptune between 1738 and 1741 (Verlet, 1985). In the last years of his reign, Louis XV, on the advice of the architect Gabriel, began reconstructing the facades of the courtyards of the Palace. According to another project, the Palace was to receive classical facades from the city side. This project of Louis XV also continued throughout the reign of Louis XVI, and was only completed in the twentieth century (Verlet, 1985).

Hall of Mirrors

All accounts related to the construction of the palace have survived to this day. The amount taking into account all expenses is 25,725,836 livres (1 livre corresponded to 409 g of silver), which in total amounted to 10,500 tons of silver or 456 million guilders for 243 g of silver / Conversion to modern value is practically impossible. Based on the price of silver at 250 euros per kg, the construction of the palace absorbed 2.6 billion euros / Based on the purchasing power of the then guilder as 80 euros, the construction cost 37 billion euros. Putting the cost of building the palace in relation to the state budget of France in the 17th century, the modern sum is 259.56 billion euros.

Palace facade. Clock of Louis 14.
Almost half of this amount was spent on creating interior decoration. The best masters of the era Jacob, Jean Joseph Chapuis created luxurious boiserie. [source not specified 859 days] These expenses were spread over 50 years, during which the construction of the Palace of Versailles, completed in 1710, took place.

Emperor Augustus

Roman busts

The site of the future construction required a huge amount of excavation work. Recruiting workers from surrounding villages was difficult. Peasants were forced to become “builders.” To increase the number of workers on the construction of the palace, the king banned all private construction in the surrounding area. Workers were often imported from Normandy and Flanders. Almost all orders were carried out through tenders; contractors' expenses exceeding those initially named were not paid. In times of peace, the army was also involved in the construction of the palace. Finance Minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert kept an eye on frugality. The forced presence of the aristocracy at court was an additional precaution on the part of Louis XIV, who thus ensured complete control over the activities of the aristocracy. Only at court was it possible to obtain ranks or posts, and those who left lost their privileges
Fountains of Versailles

On May 5, 1789, representatives of the nobility, clergy and bourgeoisie gathered at the Palace of Versailles. After the king, who by law was given the right to convene and dissolve such events, closed the meeting for political reasons, the deputies from the bourgeoisie declared themselves the National Assembly and retired to the Ball House. After 1789, it was possible to maintain the Palace of Versailles only with difficulty.

architectural elements palace decoration
On October 5-6, 1789, first a crowd from the Parisian suburbs, and then the National Guard under the command of Lafayette, came to Versailles demanding that the king and his family, as well as the National Assembly, move to Paris. Submitting to forceful pressure, Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, their relatives and deputies moved to the capital. After this, the importance of Versailles as the administrative and political center of France decreased and was not subsequently restored.
Since the time of Louis Philippe, many halls and premises began to be restored, and the palace itself became an outstanding national historical museum, in which busts, portraits, battle paintings and other works of art, mainly of historical value, were exhibited.

Proclamation of the German Empire in 1871

The Palace of Versailles was of great importance in German-French history. After the defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War, it was the residence of the main headquarters from October 5, 1870 to March 13, 1871 german army. On January 18, 1871, the German Empire was proclaimed in the Gallery of Mirrors, and its Kaiser was Wilhelm I. This place was deliberately chosen to humiliate the French.

A peace treaty with France was signed on February 26, also at Versailles. In March, the evacuated French government moved the capital from Bordeaux to Versailles, and only in 1879 again to Paris.

At the end of the First World War, a preliminary truce was concluded at the Palace of Versailles, as well as the Treaty of Versailles, which the defeated German Empire was forced to sign. This time, historical place was picked up by the French to humiliate the Germans.

The harsh conditions of the Treaty of Versailles (including huge indemnity payments and admission of sole guilt) fell heavily on the shoulders of the young Weimar Republic. Because of this, it is widely believed that the consequences of the Treaty of Versailles were the basis for the future rise of Nazism in Germany.

Marble Court of Versailles
After World War II, the Palace of Versailles became the site of German-French reconciliation. This is evidenced by the celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Elysee Treaty, which took place in 2003. Palace of Versailles

born in the palace

The following kings and members of their families were born in the Palace of Versailles: Philip V (King of Spain), Louis XV, Louis XVI,
Many palaces in Europe were built under the undoubted influence of Versailles. These include the Sanssouci castles in Potsdam, Schönbrunn in Vienna, the Great Palaces in Peterhof, the Rapti Estate in Luga, Gatchina and Rundale (Latvia), as well as other palaces in Germany, Austria and Italy.

Palace interiors
Busts and sculptures

Bust of Louis XIV by Gianlorenzo Bernini

Busts in the Hall of Mirrors

Buste de Louis XV, Jean-Baptiste II Lemoyne (1749), apartments of the Dauphin, Louis 15

Madame Clotilde

Buste de Charles X, 1825, François-Joseph Bosio

Marie Antoinette

François Paul Brueys

Mirror gallery

Salle des croisades

Sleeping Ariadne

Escalier Gabriel

Petit_appartment_du_roi

Ceiling of the lobby

Entrance from the lobby

Lobby

Salle des gardes de la reine

Salon Louis 14, medallion depicting a Roman legionnaire

Salon de Venus, Louis XIV en empereur romain, Jean Varin


Coat of arms of Louis Phillipe
Paintings


Reception of the Persian ambassadors by Louis XIV, COYPEL Antoine


Creator:Claude Guy Hallé (Français, 1652-1736)

Louis 14, author unknown


The Sun King, Jean-Léon Gérôme (Français, 1824-1904)


Ambassador Ladder Model


Staircase.ambassadors





lobby decor,

Marie Josephine of Saxony and the Count of Burgundy, Maurice Quentin de Latour (author)

La remise de l "Ordre du Saint-Esprit, Nicolas Lancret (1690-1743)
Apartment Louis 14

Apartments Dauphin

Allegories, ceiling paintings,







The birth of the Duke of Burgundy at Versailles on 6 August 1682 by Antoine Dieu



Royal bedchamber in gold.









Blue office


Chambers in the Grand Trianon



Marie Antoinette


Bed Madame Pompadour


Napoleon's chambers
Palace decor

Angels, ceiling of the reception room


Mirror gallery


Coat of arms of Louis 14
Chandeliers and candelabra










Dining rooms and fireplaces

Porcelain

Josse-François-Joseph Leriche, Queen's toilet

Coyau

There are 46 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in France. Most of them are religious buildings. Also included in the list are cities with a rich history (old towns in Paris, Strasbourg, the papal town in Avignon, and the episcopal town in Albi) and natural objects(Porto Bay, lagoons of New Caledonia, nature of the island of La Reunion).

(In addition to material objects, there is also)

Full list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in France:

The oldest remaining intact today is the Cistercian Abbey (built in 1118).

• Ancient Theater and the Arc de Triomphe of Orange (le Théâtre antique et l’Arc de Triomphe d’Orange)

The theater in Orange was built during the reign of Emperor Augustus, in the 1st century. BC, veterans of the 2nd legion of Julius Caesar. Today it is one of the best preserved Roman theaters in the world. The huge outer wall with the original elevator remains intact. The triumphal arch was built later - in the 1st century. AD

• The architectural heritage of Le Corbusier

These are 17 architectural structures created in the 20th century. Franco-Swiss master Le Corbusier on three continents (America, Asia, Europe). Most of them are located in France: the houses of La Roche and Genre in Paris, the Villa Savoye in Poissy, the chapel of Notre-Dame du Haut in Ronchamp, the monastery of Sainte-Marie de la Tourette in Eveux, etc.

residential building in Marseille

• Basilica and the hill of Vézelay (la basilique et la colline de Vézelay)

The basilica, built by 1150, was the largest pilgrimage center on the Way of St. James of Compostela. It is an example of Romanesque architecture.

Mont Saint-Michel is a rocky island located in the English Channel in northern France. Famous for the abbey and its buildings towering over the island. Is one of .

• Vineyards, houses and cellars of Champagne

Vineyards and wine-related sites in the Champagne region.

• Le Havre city center, built after World War II

The city center of Le Havre, restored after the war (1945 - 1964) by the architect Auguste Perret, is included in the World Heritage List. This architectural ensemble is located on an area of ​​150 hectares and unites more than 12 thousand buildings - residential buildings, commercial, administrative and religious buildings, built according to the principles of the School of Structural Classicism modern architecture mid 20th century

56 beffrois in France and Belgium are inscribed in the world cultural heritage. French towers are located in Picardy and Nord-Pas-de-Calais. Bell towers are an exceptional example of urban architecture adapted to the political and spiritual demands of the time. Built in the Middle Ages, they became a symbol of the cities' independence from the feudal regime.

• Wineries of Burgundy

One of the recently added UNESCO sites (since 2015), glorifying the winemaking traditions of the Burgundy region.

The Loire Valley is an exceptionally beautiful landscape of historical cities and villages, great architectural monuments — , - agricultural land and the river itself.

• Roads of St. James of Compostelle (les Chemins de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle en France)

Part of the pilgrimage route from the center of Europe to the Spanish city, where the Cathedral of St. James of Compostela is located, passes through France.

• Ancient Roman monuments in Arles (les monuments romains et romans à Arles)

The ensemble consists of 8 objects located within a perimeter of 65 hectares, and includes a Roman amphitheater, an ancient theater, a Roman forum, baths, a fortress wall, a temple, etc.

• Episcopal town in Albi (la Cité épiscopale d'Albi)

The architectural ensemble is mostly medieval, made of burnt red brick.

A bay in the Mediterranean Sea in the western part of Corsica. There is a nature reserve on the coast.

The castle is located near Paris in the town of Versailles. It was the residence of the French kings Louis XIV, XV, XVI. The kings and their courtiers lived there permanently from 1682 to 1789.

Fontainebleau Castle is one of the royal residences near Paris; many French kings lived here from Francis I to Napoleon III. The building is made in the Renaissance and Classicism styles.

• Historical center of Avignon (Palace of the Popes, episcopal complex, Avignon bridge) (le Palais des papes, ensemble épiscopal, le Pont d’Avignon)

In the 14th century The popes of the Roman Catholic Church lived in Avignon.

Old Lyon is located along the Saone River at the foot of Fourvière Hill. This is a rare example of medieval and Renaissance cities that have remained almost untouched to this day.

• Fortress of Carcassonne

This medieval architectural ensemble is located in the city of Carcassonne on the right bank of the Aude River. The history of the fort dates back to the Gallo-Roman period. The fortress became famous for its double wall, almost three kilometers long, with 52 towers. The count's castle and basilica are also located inside.

• Lagoons of New Caledonia (les lagons de Nouvelle-Calédonie)

The incredibly beautiful lagoons of New Caledonia are located in pacific ocean. Belongs to France. Bounded by the longest coral reef in the world.

• Sites of ancient sites and grottoes with prehistoric paintings in the Vézère Valley (la vallée de la Vézère)

Of interest are prehistoric drawings found in 25 caves in the Weser Valley, 147 Paleolithic sites in an area of ​​30 by 40 km and hundreds of thousands of Stone Age artifacts.

• Sites of ancient settlements in the Alps (les sites palafittiques préhistoriques autour des Alpes)

We are talking about the remains of prehistoric lake dwellings around the Alps, dating from 5000 to 500 BC. These are 111 places around lakes, along river banks and in swamps. Only a small amount has been excavated, but the finds there provide clues to life in Europe during the Neolithic and Bronze Ages.

• Monastery church in Saint-Savin sur Gartempe (l’abbatiale de Saint-Savin sur Gartempe)

Included in the World Heritage List thanks to its well-preserved, unique wall paintings from the 12th and 13th centuries. (era of Romanesque art).

A three-level aqueduct bridge built in the 1st century. AD It is considered the tallest aqueduct built by the Romans. It carried water from Uzès to the city of Nîmes. The aqueduct was used until the 6th century. Then the building began to be used as a bridge.

The UNESCO protected area is located between the Sully Bridge and the Jena Bridge (Bir Hakem Bridge for the left bank). On an area of ​​365 hectares there are 23 of the 37 Parisian bridges over the Seine, as well as two islands - Saint-Louis. In this area there are many monuments of the capital of France: , Place de la Concorde, …

Cave of Chauvet-Pont d'Arc

This is a Paleolithic cave discovered in 1994 in the Ardèche department. Named after its discoverer. About a thousand drawings and engravings, mostly depicting animals, were found in the cave.

• Plateaus of Causses et les Cévennes: cultural landscapes of Mediterranean pastoralism

The protected areas of the Grandes Causses and Cevennes are located in the south of the Massif Central between 5 cities - Mandes, Ales, Ganges, Lodève and Millau. Important importance is given to the history of the development of the region, the organization here since the 11th century. large abbeys and the connections between farmers and their biophysical environment.

• Pyrenees – Lost Mountain (les Pyrénées – Mont Perdu)

The Pyrenees-Lost Mountain is a vast mountainous area on the border of France and Spain. Natural and cultural landscapes are protected.

• Peaks, craters and earthworks of Reunion Island (Pitons, cirques et remparts de l’île de la Réunion)

Natural heritage of the French overseas department in the southwest Indian Ocean. The protected area makes up almost 40% of the island.

• Place Stanislas in Nancy (la place Stanislas, Nancy)

The square was built by the will of the Duke of Lorraine Stanislo Leszczynski in 1755 by the architect Emmanuel Eray. It is considered one of the most beautiful squares in France.

Port of Luna is the so-called port in the city of Bordeaux due to the characteristic curved shape of the coast on which the port is located. Trade port The city was of great importance in the development of Bordeaux in the 16th-20th centuries.

• Provins, town of the medieval fair (Provins)

Provins is the former capital of the county of Champagne. Famous for the medieval fortifications surrounding the city.

Wine region 35 km from the northern part of the Dordogne Valley. It extends over 7846 hectares and has a population of 6 thousand inhabitants.

• Notre-Dame Cathedral, Saint-Rémi Abbey and Teau Palace in Reims (la cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims, l’abbaye Saint-Rémi, le palais de Tau)

Notre Dame Cathedral in Reims was built in the 13th century. Suffered significant destruction during the First World War. But the statue of more than 2,300 statues has still been preserved intact.

The Basilica of the Abbey of Saint-Rémy is one of the ancient churches of France, built in the 9th century. It contains the relics of Saint Remy, the baptist of the first French king Clovis.

The Palace of To was the residence of the Archbishop of Reims and was also home to the French kings during their coronation. The palace got its name because of its shape - it is built like the letter T (Tau in Greek).

• Cathedral of Amiens (la cathédrale d'Amiens)

This is the most spacious French cathedral (200,000 m 3 ). One of the examples of the classic Gothic style. The cathedral has lost almost all of its original stained glass windows, but its western facade and portal are still decorated with sculptures from the 13th century.

• Cathedral of Bourges

Built between the end of the 12th and the end of the 13th centuries. Architecturally, it is remarkable for its harmonious proportions and the value of its tympanums, sculptures and stained glass windows.

• Chartres Cathedral

A masterpiece of Gothic architecture, its sculptures, stained glass windows and paneling have been preserved for the most part in their original form. The cathedral was built in the 13th century.

• Saltworks in Salins-les-Bains

An ensemble of two former saltworks. Salt production in these places has been carried out for 7 thousand years.

• Taputapuatea in Polynesia

Taputaputea is a commune on the island of Raiatea. French Polynesia. The UNESCO lists include places where ancient Polynesian cults were practiced.

• Fortifications of Vauban

Several cities (Arras, Besançon, Villefranche de Conflent, etc.) with fortifications by the military engineer Vauban.

• Strasbourg: c center (Grande-île) and German Quarter Neustadt (la Neustadt)

The old center of Strasbourg is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site as an example of a medieval city.

The German Quarter was built to the north and northeast of the Grand Ile, historical center, during the period when the city belonged to Germany (construction lasted from the 80s of the 19th century until the start of the First World War).

• Mines of Nord-Pas-de-Calais

It is an area in northern France in the departments of Nord and Pas-de-Calais, whose economic, social, environmental and cultural development is closely linked to intensive coal mining from the late 17th century. until the end of the 20th century.

The Canal du Canal connects Toulouse with the Mediterranean Sea. It was built in the 17th century. during the reign of Louis 14 and was called by contemporaries “the construction site of the century.” This is the oldest operating canal in Europe.

selection useful services and sites for the traveler.