Architecture and the Monuments in France
There are thousands of landmarks
and monuments around France, and whether it is a
chateau, a landmark such as the Arc de Triomphe, or
a cathedral or other noted buildings, the
architectural styles go unsurpassed for the many types and styles of architecture, as well as the
noted details of the architecture of these
buildings. Dating from Roman times through the
nineteenth century [excludes the Abbeys, Basilicas &
Cathedrals that are noted above].
Exceptional Monuments and Fortifications
Amphitheatre |
Avignon |
Arc de Triomphe |
Carcassone |
Eiffel Tower |
Half Timbered Houses - Bourges |
Haut
Koenigsbourg |
Louvre |
Mont-Saint-Michel |
Pantheon |
Pont du Gard - Nimes
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Statue of Liberty
[there's 3 Statues]
The Roman Amphitheatre
in Nimes, is one of the best preserved arenas in
Europe. Built around the 1st or 2nd century
AD, it is of the Classical period, and was used
primarily for spectator sports.
Nimes arena's
capacity is 20,000; it is round in shape that
distinguishes the difference between an
'amphitheatre' and a 'theatre' [a theatre is
semi-circular], and was used for medieval housing
when the walls were being used as a fortification.
It is used today still...for bullfights and other
special events. The
Arles Roman Amphitheatre is another UNESCO World
Heritage site, another fine example of enduring
Roman construction and is still used today.
The Roman amphitheatre is just one of many fine
Roman riches that can be found in the city of Nimes.
Nearby is the famous
Pont du Gard
aqueduct, built in the 1st century, and carried
water from the springs near Uzes [the Roman
settlement town] to the city of Nimes. The most
spectacular point of the aqueduct of course is the
magnificent three story high Pont du Gard that
carried water over the Gardon river. This like
many of the other Roman buildings and projects are
distinguished and has earned the designation as a
World Heritage
UNESCO
site.
Another fine example of Roman architecture is that
of Maison Carrée, a temple that
was built in the period of 19-16 BC, and
one of the finest preserved temple from the
period of the Roman Empire. Please visit the
other Roman sites while in Nimes - the Temple Diana,
the Jardins de la Fontaine or the Fountain
Gardens and the Tour Magne [great tower] set on 374
foot high Mont Cavalier, is the only remaining tower
of 30 towers, that defended Nimes during the 1st
c.
Nimes is located in the Departement of Gard, in
the
Region of Languedoc-Roussillon. Nimes
history dates back to 4000 BC, and actually became a
Roman colony about 50 BC.
The walled city of Avignon
has an extraordinary history, and should definitely
be a must see if you're visiting Provence. It's located in the Departement of Gard, in the Region
of Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur.
Avignon history dates to Celtic times, and one
of the most flourishing cities under Roman
rule, and the first Transalpine province of
the Roman Empire. It has been ruled,
destroyed, rebuilt and forged forward.
It was
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the Papal seat for seven Popes
instead of Rome - from March 1309 until 1377.
It remained the Papal seat until the French
Revolution. Avignon had belonged to the Papacy
[until 1791], but became a part of France after the
revolution. For more information on Avignon, and to
visit the
Pope's Palace, and other references to the
great walled cities [fortresses] of France,
click
here.
A great 3 night 4 day trip 'The
Charms of Provence' shows you several UNESCO
World Heritage sites. Visiting Aix-en-Provence, Le
Luberon, Avignon, Saint Remy-de-Provence and the
Pont du Gard!
The Arc de Triomphe
Sits at
Place Charles de Gaulle, was commissioned by
Napoleon who had decided to build an arch of triumph
in 1806 after his victory at Austerlitz. This
would be a memorial to his war efforts, so that his
troops could march through in victorious manor for
his people to cheer. However, this wasn't to
be with his defeat at Waterloo by Gen. Wellington.
The Arc de Triomphe construction started in
1911-1914, and was halted after the defeat of
Napoleon. The work on Arc de Triomphe was
started again in 1833 and was completed in 1836.
The arch of triumph stands on a hill, where a dozen
avenues start [rather like a starburst with the Arc
its center], that include the Champs Elysees, the
Avenue Foch, the Avenue de Grande Armee and nine
other avenues.
The Arc de Triomphe is a magnificent architectural
work, with some spectacular views from the top of
the Arc de Triomphe. They include the Champs
Elysées heading towards the Louvre, Place de la
Concorde, the Tuileries Gardens, and in the opposite
direction, you can view the much larger and
modernistic La Grande Arche de la Défense. The Arc de Triomphe contains
all the names of those killed in WWI, and is the
burial place with an eternal burning flame for the
unknown soldier. The Official Site and visitor
information can be found here:
Arc de Triomphe.
Carcassonne
Is a much larger
walled city than Avignon, and is located in the Region of Languedoc Roussillon,
and the Departement of Aude. With two
thousand years of history, this medieval
walled town lies on the right bank of the River Aude.
It has fifty two towers and doubled town walls
making a total of 3 km of battlements. Official site
of the ville of
Carcassonne, and
in English, and the
official UNESCO information site. There is no
restriction to access to the town of Carcassonne.
It is home to one hundred twenty persons today, and
offers a great selection of boutiques, artisans and
craftsmen. For more
information on this World Heritage
Walled Town of Carcassonne.
Eiffel Tower
The Tour Eiffel was built for the World's Fair
of 1889 by Gustave Eiffel.
Once the structure was begun and built, the people
of Paris were appalled, and didn't like it one bit.
It was an architectural new and bold design at that
time. Now, it is the one of the most visited
monuments in the world. For a detailed
article on the Eiffel Tower, with photos of
construction along the way, and the final tower
just click here. For those of you visiting
Paris, be sure and book your day tours before
leaving home and a list of all the
tours with the Eiffel Tower included. Or
you can book the
Eiffel Tower directly now, and this is one
monument you need to book before your travel, the
lines can be two hours or more and why waste your
precious vacation time waiting in line to buy a
ticket when you can go in a separate entrance take
the elevator up and view Paris!
Half Timbered
Houses in Bourges
are
found in the town of Bourges that is located on the
northern edge of the Massif Central, almost in the
center of France. The town became the
important Roman settlement of Avaricum [town of abundant
water], with a river port, consisting of a harbor
and wharves. Avaricum also had a vast Roman
amphitheater.
Bourges half timbered houses
and the
Bourges Cathedrale became a World Heritage UNESCO
site in 1992.
Half timbered houses are found in abundance in
Strasbourg as you can view in
Petit France. These can be viewed in
person, on a one hour river cruise through
Petit France, and also cruises around the Parliament
building, and the cruise showcases many of these delightful
and European headquarters buildings. You can
buy the
Strasbourg France Pass Here, it is the best deal
for all city transportation and admissions to
monuments and museums, and free river cruise along
Petit France! And the
Alsace Christmas Market in Strasbourg is one of
the oldest and with noted traditions.
Haut Koenigsbourg
The fortress [and a
Royal Castle] sitting on
a mountain top in the Region of Alsace. This
is a typical example of what a chateau was, and that
was a fortress. This is one of the best
examples of a fortification is such good condition
considering all the wars and fighting, the
rebuilding of the castle, and a part of France now,
this eastern Alsatian area was under German rule for
more than 800 years. This is a very interesting
history
READ. And this site is a great
medieval castle site. And an Alsace
Tourisme website with
Castle information.
Louvre
Is one of the most
magnificent art museums in the world, and is the
most visited.
It was a Royal Palace to the French Kings, that
was built around the 12th century, and now the most
magnificent and largest art museum in the world. It
also has a long wait to purchase a ticket to get
into the museum, and it is advised to book a tour
with the Louvre included in that tour, or
for groups you can pre-book directly with the
Louvre. More information on the
Louvre's history, and
here's a virtual tour, and then we've provided
links for
tours that include the Louvre in a half or all day
tour, and then how to book your
school groups, and about the free day to
visit the Louvre. and information here, and
when you pre-book you bypass the long lines and go
into a separate entrance of the Louvre. It is
also advised to make the most of your time and be
able to view and see exactly what you would like to,
and here's a
Louvre map, to view the floor plans and where
Mona Lisa is, or Venus de Milo is or perhaps a
special or private tour, since there's no way
possible to view all the permanent exhibits, and
everything else in the Louvre in one day or even
two. It would take at least a week to view all
the major exhibits. Plan your time ahead to enjoy
the Louvre, it's spectacular!
The
Abbey of
Mont-Saint-Michel
Is built on a rocky hill sitting
in the middle of sand flats, where a surging tide
rises more than 80 feet. We have more information on
this one of the top five France attractions
right
here. The abbey is spectacular with over
600 steps to climb, so you have to be in somewhat
good condition to climb up to the top, but what a
spectacular view once you get there. The abbey
also has the most dangerous tides too, so please be
sure to review the information and details and don't
tempt to walk out on the flats, unless you're with a
guide! Here are several day(s) tours from Paris that
include
Mont Saint Michel, and some will include the
WWII Normandy beaches.
The Pantheon
Is one
of the most visited sites in Paris is that of . The
Pantheon is located in the 5th district or arrondissement,
that is more
widely known as the Latin Quarter. The church
was built by a vow from King Louis XV in 1744, after
an extensive illness, that he would replace the
church of Sainte-Genevieve that had been destructed,
if he survived his illness. He did survive the
illness, and installed architect Jacques-Germain
Soufflot to head the project of constructing the
Pantheon. Here is the
Official
site for the Pantheon, and images of this great
Neoclassical monument.
The Pantheon is of Neoclassical design, has a huge
portico with massive Corinthian columns, and was
completed by a pupil of Soufflot's after his death
in 1789. Right in time for the French
Revolution. The Revolutionary government
changed the Pantheon into a burial place for great
French people of France. The Pantheon twice more
became a church, and finally a temple, and the final
resting place of these great people of France.
Some of the more noted French people buried in the
Pantheon's necropolis are: Voltaire, Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Émile Zola,
Pierre and Marie Curie [the 2nd woman buried
here], Louis Braille, Jean Moulin, Marat and
Jacques-Germain Soufflot, its architect.
Here is a
full list of persons interred in the Pantheon.
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