Country: France | Type: Cultural | Theme: Christian, Religious Structure Introduction to Chartres Cathedral Located in north-central France in the city of the same name, Chartres Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral considered among the best examples of High Gothic architecture in France. Built between 1193 and 1250, it is lauded by secular tourists for its architecture and by Christian pilgrims who travel …
Country: France | Type: Cultural | Theme: Archaeological, Medieval, Urban Landscape Introduction to Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments The name “Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments” refers to a collection of notable monuments in the city of Arles, which is located in the far south central region of France. Spread over approximately 65 hectares (160 acres), the site includes an amphitheatre that dates back to …
Country: France | Type: Cultural | Theme: Archaeological, Rock Art Introduction to Prehistoric Sites of the Vezere Valley Located in southwestern France, the Vezere Valley is famous for its 147 Paleolithic sites and 25 caves decorated with prehistoric art, including the famed Lascaux cave. Indeed, the natural formations of this river valley contain some of the best preserved early artworks ever discovered, and …
Country: France | Type: Cultural | Theme: Post Medieval, Urban Landscape Introduction to Paris, Banks of the Seine Paris is a river city, its history and commerce largely affected by the River Seine and what emerged through the centuries on the banks of that river. Indeed, the Seine has played both an economic and defensive role in the city, particularly between the 16th …
Country: France | Type: Cultural | Theme: Cultural Landscape, Human Activity Introduction to The Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes France’s Loire Valley, particularly the portion between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes, has been honored for its rich cultural landscape which includes fairytale villages, historic small towns, and breathtaking monuments and other structures, particularly beautiful castles. Its also home to bustling urban settlements, hunting forests, …
Country: France | Type: Cultural | Theme: Palace, Secular Structure Introduction to the Palace and Park of Fontainebleau One of the grandest and largest of all the French royal chateaus, the Palace of Fontainebleau and its accompanying park are situated about 55 kilometers (34 miles) from Paris in the north central region of France. The building of this magnificent structure began in the …
Country: France, Spain | Type: Mixed | Theme: Cultural Landscape, Mountain, Natural Landscape Introduction to Pyrénées – Mont Perdu Rising to 3,352 meters (almost 11,000 feet), Mont-Perdu is a calcareous massif (a compact group of mountains forming an independent portion of a range) that spans the borders of France and Spain, part of the mid-Pyrenees Mountains. One of two naturalUNESCO World Heritage Sites in France, …
Country: France | Type: Cultural | Theme: Fortifications, Secular Structure Introduction to Fortifications of Vauban A collection of 12 groups of fortified buildings and other sites, located along the northern, eastern, and western borders of France, the Fortifications of Vauban are named for the military engineer who designed them. Sebastian Le Prestre de Vauban (1633-1707) was considered the best designer of fortifications of …
Country: France | Type: Cultural | Theme: Christian, Religious Structure Introduction to Vezelay Church and Hill The largest Romanesque church in France and nearly the same size as the famed Notre Dame Cathedral, the Vezelay Church – officially Basilique Ste-Madeleine/Basilica Church of St. Mary Magdalene – sits on a hilltop on the highest point of the village of Vezelay in the department of …
Country: France | Type: Cultural | Theme: Ancient Rome, Archaeological Introduction to Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct) Located about 25 km (15 miles) from the city of Nimes, the Pont du Gard is an ancient Roman aqueduct bridge that was built around the year 50 A.D. It served as part of a system that transported water from the Eure spring, located near Uzes, …
