The most famous sights of France. The main attractions of France Famous architectural monuments in France

France is a multifaceted and multifaceted country. It’s not for nothing that the French themselves call it Hexagon. I have visited several regions, and each is different from the other. Each has its own flavor, its own charm, its own culture, its own traditions and customs. Just because you've only visited France doesn't mean you know France. and France are two different worlds, just like Russia.

To get to know the real France, travel through its provinces, visit small towns, and try local wine. You need to absorb its taste, smells and aromas, then perhaps it will reveal its true face to you.

Visa and border crossing

If you think that only in Russia there is a terrible bureaucracy, then I can assure you: in France it blooms no less magnificently. Therefore, when applying for a visa, I advise you to carefully and accurately fill out and collect them.

To travel to France you need a Schengen visa. List of documents:

1. Visa application completed in French or English;
2. Two photographs 35 mm x 45 mm, taken no later than 6 months before filing documents, on a light blue or light gray background;
3. A foreign passport valid for at least 3 months from the date of intended departure from the country and with at least two blank pages;
4. Confirmation of accommodation (hotel reservation, voucher from a travel agency, etc.);
5. Route confirmation (air tickets, train tickets, etc.);
6. Confirmation of availability of financial resources (bank statement, certificate of employment);
7. Medical insurance (in the amount of at least 30,000 EUR);
8. Photocopies of all pages of the internal passport (no need to notarize);
9. If you previously had old passports with Schengen visas, you need to provide them.

Of course, you will also need to pay fees:

• at the consulate - 35 EUR (if the visa is refused, the visa will not be returned);
• at the Visa Center - 25 EUR + consular fee 35 EUR (in case of refusal to issue a visa, they will not be returned).

Also, when applying for a Schengen visa for the first time, you need to undergo the procedure of dactyloscopy (fingerprinting) and digital photography. This can be done at one of the visa centers or the French consulate. The data is stored for 5 years, and during this time the procedure does not need to be repeated. After this period, it must be re-taken. Therefore, if you are applying for a visa for the first time, your personal presence when submitting documents is required.

Submission of documents takes place only by appointment. The period for their consideration is from 10 to 30 working days. If you need to urgently apply for a visa, then this can be done in 3 days, but the cost of fees increases and can cost 100 EUR. The visa application must be submitted no earlier than 3 months before the start of the trip.

A short-term visa of category C (the purpose of the visit is tourism) is issued for 3–6 months with a stay in the country itself of 90 days and is valid throughout the Schengen territory. If you have previously received a visa valid for six months, then they can issue you a multiple visa for 1 year. With previously issued visas for a period of 1 year or more, you can request a multiple visa for both 3 years and 5 years, but at the same time having an ideal package of documents.

More details about the documents, the process of obtaining a French visa and other subtleties are written sensibly.

What can be imported and exported

As for customs rules when crossing the border, they are as follows.

Allowed to import:

1. Up to 10,000 EUR without declaration. Larger amounts must be declared;
2. 200 cigarettes / 100 cigarillos / 250 cigars / 250 grams of smoking tobacco for persons over 17 years of age;
3. 1 liter of alcoholic drinks with a strength of more than 22% / 2 liters of alcoholic drinks with a strength of less than 22% / 4 liters of still wine / 16 liters of beer - for citizens over 17 years of age;
4. Medicines necessary for the duration of your stay in the country (no more than 3 months);
5. Personal items worth up to 430 EUR, for citizens under 15 years old - up to 150 EUR (for air travelers).

All goods and things not intended for personal use and the quantity of which exceeds the above norms must be included in the customs declaration. Items that are prohibited for import without declaration or have import restrictions must also be declared.

Prohibited for import:

1. Products that violate intellectual property rights;
2. Meat and dairy products;
3. Psychotropic and narcotic substances;
4. Weapons and other items that pose a threat to the lives of citizens.

In my experience, French customs officers are quite loyal, but you still shouldn’t tempt fate and follow all the rules.

How to get there

Below I will list the main ways to get to beautiful France. You can choose any of these methods according to your budget and intentions.

The most convenient and fastest, but quite expensive, is by plane. Flights to France are operated from many Russian cities.

You can go by train or bus, but it takes longer (you will spend about 2 days on the way) and is cheaper.

The option of going by car is also not cheap, given that you have to pay for gasoline, stays in hotels or campsites, food and travel on highways, but here you plan your trip yourself.

You can also get to France by water: along the Mediterranean Sea to the Cote d'Azur, but this pleasure is not cheap.

Tourist regions

Here they are, all on the map.

It’s worth starting, of course, with the region Ile-de-France, whose heart is . Of course, in Paris itself there are many attractions that should be discussed separately, but in the Ile-de-France itself there is something to see. For example, the famous Disneyland, Versailles and many small castles scattered throughout the region, but impressive with their architecture and parks. Some of them are still inhabited.

In second place, of course, Cote d'Azur. Cities and Cannes, where the likelihood of meeting French celebrities and not only increases sharply. In addition to the incredible atmosphere of the Mediterranean with its warm sea and wonderful beaches, here you can enjoy the spirit and comfort of the French Riviera.

Further notorious DOlina Loire. Here, on the banks of a picturesque river, there are about 60 castles built in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. I visited only two of them, but I saw two more while passing through and I can say that it’s worth visiting. The architectural elegance of this area is matched by its natural charm.

Lovers of active recreation will love the region Rona-Alps. Here, at the foot of the Alps, are located
major ski resorts with incredibly picturesque chalets. Exactly here
French families come to relax in the winter and go skiing.

In addition, here you can try a variety of extreme activities: kayaking or paddle boarding along the rapids of the Rhone, try your hand at rock climbing in the Alps, go hiking and explore mountain lakes and rivers.

Top cities

Here, as anyone would guess, the leader is Paris. So much has been written about this city and by such wonderful writers as Nabokov, Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas that I have nothing special to add. I will say one thing: paradoxically, I never loved Paris until I lived there for a year. And even now I don’t really miss it, because coming there as a tourist is one thing, but living there is completely different. You encounter many problems there that are typical for megacities, but that’s not what we’re talking about now. Towards the end of my period of life in the beautiful capital of France, I still realized that “Paris loves me, and I love it.” You can read more about Paris

Cozyly located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, with the famous Promenade des Anglais, the Matisse and Marc Chagall museums, Nice, as before, attracts tourists from all over the world. And not only with fashionable beaches and comfortable hotels in the style of the French Riviera, but also with an indescribable atmosphere of grace and elegance.

The neighboring city Cannes known throughout the world for the famous Cannes Film Festival. It is not for nothing that most tourists who come to this city consider it their duty to take photos on the red carpet, along which so many famous actors and actresses walk. This is one of the most popular resorts on the Cote d'Azur, where you can relax on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and plunge into the world of art.

Another equally popular city in France is. It is better to start visiting Lyon from the Old Town, where traboules are still preserved - narrow medieval streets where one person can hardly pass. In this city you can see both perfectly preserved monuments of the Middle Ages (Saint-Jean Cathedral) and buildings from the Roman Empire (the Ancient Roman Theater on Fourvière Hill).

The world-famous French resort remains where they filmed the famous epic about the adventures of the gendarmes with Louis de Funes in the title role, the film “And God Created Woman” with the beautiful Brigitte Bardot, who, by the way, still lives here, and the film “Swimming Pool” with the participation of Alain Delon. By the way, it was Brigitte Bardot who contributed to considerable popularity, now one of the most prestigious vacation spots.

Islands

Corsica

The closest island to France and the most obstinate is Corsica(Corsica, in fact, never wanted to become part of France, which did not bother the latter at all. That is why the island has a special status: Territorial Community of Corsica). The birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, sunny Corsica will delight you with its welcoming Mediterranean landscapes, a huge abundance of beaches and delicious cuisine.

I only advise you to take care of renting a car in advance, since this is the best way to get around the island. You can get to Corsica by plane or ferry from Italy or France. You can rent a car in Corsica itself (from 70 EUR per day) or take the ferry with it (from 250 EUR for 2 people with a car).

Former colonies

Like other former colonial powers, France has retained some of its “colonies” to this day, but now they have different statuses and a more expanded range of rights and freedoms. Most of these possessions are islands (except Guiana), which are located in three oceans: the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian.

In the Pacific Ocean there are two islands popular with tourists - Martinique and Guadeloupe.

Martinique- a beautiful island that France can be proud of. It once inspired the work of Paul Gauguin himself, whose museum is located there. This is also where Napoleon Bonaparte's first wife, Josephine Beauharnais, came from. “Land of Flowers” ​​is how the name of the island is translated, and it fully justifies it. Fans of beach and relaxing holidays will love the postcard beaches of Martinique and the warm Caribbean Sea.

From France you can also get to the island by plane. The flight is operated by Air France, Air Caraibes, Corsair. Return ticket price starts from 400 EUR. Airplanes also fly from Russia, but the travel time will be about 13 hours.

There is an island not far from Martinique Guadeloupe. Divided into two parts, Large and Lower, the island is interesting with tropical forests, magnificent beaches, an active volcano and waterfalls.

You can get from Martinique to Guadeloupe in 40 minutes by plane, so it's convenient to visit both islands in one go.

In the Indian Ocean there is a whole necklace of 5 island groups called French Polynesia.

The most popular island of the group is Tahiti. He is both the largest and the most important among the rest. Like Guadeloupe, it consists of two parts - North and South. Here you can find everything for a perfect holiday: coral reefs, luxurious beaches, magnificent views of small mountains covered entirely with jungle. It was not for nothing that Paul Gauguin fled to this island.

The flight from France will last approximately 21 hours. Flights are only with transfers. The price of a round-trip ticket is from 1,000 EUR and above. As is quite obvious, you can get to Tahiti from Russia by plane, and also with transfers.

In the Pacific Ocean is located one of the most beautiful island groups on planet Earth - New Caledonia. Its main island is Grande Terre. The large amount of natural resources makes this island chain extremely important for France. Here you can also find magnificent beaches and stunning landscapes.

By the way, the islanders here adopted a lot from the Europeans, and even the capital of New Caledonia, the city of Noumea, is more similar to a typical small European town than an aboriginal settlement.

There are indirect flights from France. The price of a round-trip ticket is from 1,500 EUR and above. From Russia you will have to fly for two or three days with transfers.

Top attractions

When it comes to France, everyone immediately remembers Eiffel Tower. Probably the top question for me about France is: “Have you been to the Eiffel Tower?” Answer: “Yes, it was.”

Get ready for:

1. The lines are incredibly long. During the time spent in line, I managed to read a book, listen to music and discuss a lot of things with my friend.
2. At the very top, everything is covered with a dense iron mesh, so it’s not very convenient to take pictures.
3. It is on the tower that they like to rob naive tourists - do not take particularly valuable things or a lot of money with you there.

Another equally famous landmark of France is Disneyland. What child, adult or teenager has not dreamed of being there? I also managed to visit Disneyland. It is divided into two parks: an amusement park and the Walt Disney studio, where they show how cartoons are created. I advise you to arrive early and, again, prepare for a giant queue, stock up on a player or book. The amusement park itself has a well-developed system: you can go around all the most popular attractions in advance and buy tickets for them indicating the time when you will arrive there, and during breaks you can walk around the park.

France, like any former feudal medieval European country, is rich in castles and palaces. The most popular of them Versailles. I visited there too. You are guaranteed a huge queue with several bends (by the way, you will have to wait for it twice: at the ticket office and at the entrance to the palace). There are few open halls and rooms in the palace itself; you could go through them quickly enough if it weren’t for the crowds of tourists taking pictures with everything. If you don’t have the energy to visit the park (as happened to me), you can take a ticket for the train that runs through it.

Since we are talking about castles, another undoubted attraction of France is Castles of Loire. To have an idea of ​​what it is and what it is eaten with, visit at least 2-3 of them. I went to two of them: Amboise and Chambord. Amboise is a very beautiful and perfectly preserved Renaissance monument. The chapel contains the tomb of Leonardo da Vinci. He lived in this castle for the last years of his life. The interior is also in excellent condition. Chambord is beautiful only on the outside; inside, most of the halls and rooms are empty and unfurnished.

Louvre also comes to mind for everyone who talks about France. The famous museum with a glass pyramid can be seen on many souvenirs that are brought from there. It is located in the center of Paris, near the Tuileries Garden. The central entrance is through a large pyramid.

The Louvre has 3 wings: Richelieu, Denon and Sully. It’s impossible to get around all 3 in one go. I explored the museum in several visits. If you want, like many, to find Mona Lisa first, then go towards the Denon wing. There you will immediately recognize it by the huge crowd of people taking selfies next to Leonardo’s great work. Read about what else you need to see in the Louvre.

Another emblem of both Paris and France is. In my humble opinion, Victor Hugo wrote about the cathedral best of all travel observers in his book of the same name.

It is located on the islet of Cité. Nearby, by the way, there is a wonderful square where you can relax, stand in line and enjoy the magnificent stained glass windows and gargoyles of Notre Dame de Paris.

The majestic Alps, stretching in the southeast of the country. Highest point in the French Alps - Mont Blanc mountain- the cherished mecca of many European climbers. At the western foot of the mountain there is just a resort, which I wrote about above. Fans of active tourism, especially mountain tourism, will really like it here. Stunning mountain scenery makes everyone hold their breath.

How can one not mention the famous ones in the list of attractions in France? Champs Elysees, about which Joe Dassin sang so beautifully? To be honest, I didn’t find anything special there except crowds of tourists, very expensive shops and the same cafes and restaurants. In fact, this is an ordinary wide avenue connecting the Arc de Triomphe with the Place de la Concorde. If you want to feel like the Angry Birds, then this is the place for you. In the huge crowd spreading on both sides of the fields, you will certainly run into someone. Again, advice: keep an eye on your bag or things. Happy in the knowledge that they are in Paris, tourists sometimes do not notice how they are deprived of money or expensive things.

The author sees the Champs Elysees somewhat differently.

I already wrote above about monastery Saint Michel in the province of Normandy. It reminded me of the gloomy castle of some evil witch from children's fairy tales. Getting there is somewhat difficult, since the monastery is located on a rock island in the center of the shallow waters of the bay of the same name. The tides occur at specific times, so to get there you have to wait for the tide to go out. In the evening they turn on the lights, and the abbey takes on a darkly beautiful appearance.

Who hasn't watched the Fort Boyard program before? No less famous than other attractions in France, Fort Boyar is located close to the city, comfortably located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean (I advise you to go there too, a very pleasant city with a well-preserved medieval central part and unusual modern buildings around). Boats go there and go around it. Unfortunately, you can’t get inside, as games are still taking place there.

Weather

The climate of France varies depending on the region. In general, 5 climatic zones can be distinguished:

• The Côte d'Azur and Corsica have a classic Mediterranean climate: summers are hot and long, and winters are short and warm. There may be thunderstorms in the summer and cool and windy weather in the spring due to the mistral wind that blows across the country. The average temperature in summer is +27 °C, in winter - +13 °C.
• In mountainous regions (Rhône-Alpes) winters are long and very snowy. Prolonged snowfalls are possible. The average temperature in summer is +15 °C, in winter about –10 °C;
• In central France the climate is continental: summers are hot and winters are colder. The rainfall here is much less than in coastal areas. The average temperature in summer is from +15 °C to +25 °C, in winter - from –5 °C to +6 °C.
• In the north of the country, in the coastal regions, summers are warm and winters are mild. But rainy weather is often possible. The average temperature in summer is +20 °C, in winter - +5 °C;
• In the southwest of the country, summers are reasonably hot, but thunderstorms are possible, and winters are mild. The average temperature in summer is +25 °C, in winter - +10 °C.

The best time to visit France is the beginning of spring (May, April) and the beginning of autumn (September, beginning of October), since it is during these periods that it is not yet very hot, but not cold either, and at the same time you can safely go explore the main attractions of the country without wasting time in giant queues.

Money

The official currency of France, like other European countries, is the euro. Only Visa or Mastercard bank cards are accepted for payment. It is worth considering that Russian international cards are not accepted in all stores in France, and when paying there is a commission from some banks plus the conversion of euros into rubles at the rate of the Central Bank of the payment system. It is better to take part of the amount in cash and leave part on the card.

In Paris, I do not recommend carrying large sums of money with you, as pickpockets act quickly and skillfully. I usually took 10–20 EUR with me for small expenses and a bank card. The card can be restored, but the cash is gone.

Moving around the country

By train

There are two types of trains:

By car

You can rent a car. On average it will cost you from 25 to 70 EUR per day. This type of transportation is convenient if you want to visit the Loire Valley or the Cote d'Azur, where the distances between settlements are quite significant.

In order to rent a car, you must be over 21 years old and have at least 1 year of driving experience. You can rent a car using various specialized services, for example, in the Travelask section.

Let me remind you that in Europe (including France) gasoline is more expensive, there are toll highways (they cost from 2 to 50 EUR). Payment for travel on a toll road depends on the category of the vehicle and the distance already traveled. You will also need to pay for travel through some tunnels and bridges.

Another popular way to travel today is to hitch a ride in other people's cars. In Paris, advertisements from the BlaBlaСar website are posted everywhere, thanks to which people are looking for travel companions or drivers heading to a particular city. Of course, it will be much cheaper (in agreement with the driver), but no one will give a complete guarantee of your safety.

I would like to add that in France there are a variety of well-maintained campsites and motels. Prices range from 10 to 50 EUR per day depending on the type of camping.

By plane

Comparable to train prices, flying around France is one of the most comfortable travel options.

Low-cost airlines offer more than reasonable prices (100 EUR round trip), and it will take much less time (1-2 hours) than traveling by train or car.

By bus

This option has not been canceled either. Moreover, here they are much more comfortable than in Russia. SNCF has its own bus network. Disadvantages of this method of travel: the journey will take longer, and most flights depart early in the morning, since the bus schedule is adjusted to approximate working hours, start and end times of school classes, etc. Plus - low prices (from 20 to 50 EUR ).

I mostly traveled around France by bus, but it was always as part of organized excursions offered by the private school where I studied in Paris. Such excursions cost from 80 to 300 EUR. The buses were very comfortable, and from the windows you could see the changing landscapes of France. So, when we took a bus on an excursion to the castles of Amboise and Chambord, we saw other Loire castles along the way.

Connection

There are no problems with the Internet in France. It works great and fast here. Almost all hotels, bars, cafes have free Wi-Fi. An hour in an Internet cafe costs from 4 to 10 EUR. In hotels - from 10 to 20 EUR.

Cellular service is also excellent. Main operators in France:

• Bouygues Telecom,
• Orange France,
• SFR GSM.

I had Orange because I lived in Paris for a long time and needed a local SIM card. It cost me 20 EUR per month with the number of minutes for calls, SMS and Internet determined according to my tariff.

You can top up your account in two ways:

• Buy a card for the amount you need with a special code, which is covered with a protective film. You erase the film, there is a code under it. You need to enter it together with the appropriate combination (depending on the operator), and the amount will be credited to your account. Such cards are bought in tobacco shops.
• Go to a mobile phone store and pay directly there.

If you are going to France for a short time, then you don’t have to buy a local SIM card, but use a Russian one. The operator should automatically switch to French, but you need to find out in advance the rates for international calls and messages from your specific operator.

Language and communication

The French don't like to speak English. This is a generally accepted fact. And if they do, it is with obvious reluctance. In Paris, I met many Russians among store saleswomen or cafe waiters, because there you can speak Russian. In other cities of France you may not be so lucky, although in one souvenir shop in Reims I accidentally met a Russian saleswoman.

Below are some simple phrases for communication:

• Bonjour, est-ce que vous pouvez m'aider? - Hello, could you help me?? - Bonjour, esko vu puve made?
• Ou se trouve la station de metro / l’arret de bus / la station de RER / la gare? - Where is the metro station / bus stop / RER station / train station? - U se trouve la station de metro / la re de bus / la station ereer / la gard?
• Je voudrais acheter cette chose. - I would like to buy this item. - Zhe vudre ashte set shoz la.
• Combien coute cette chose-la? - How much does this item cost? - Kombyan kut set shoz la?
• C'est loin/prés d'ici? - Is it far/near from here? - Se luan/pre disi?
• Déposez–moi à l’aéroport. - Take me to the airport. - Depoze mua a la eropor.
• Quelle heure est-il? / Il est quelle heure? - What time is it now?- Kal er ethyl? / Ile kel er?
• Arretez ici, s’il vous plait. - Stop here, please. - Arete isi, sil wu ple.
• Conduise-moi à cette adresse, s’il vous plait. - Take me to this address, please. - Conduize mua a set address, sil vu ple.
• Montrez-moi cela, s’il vous plait. - Show me this please. - Montre mua sela sil vu ple.

Features of mentality

Food and drink

French cuisine is refined and amazing. Let's start with foie gras, ratatouille, quiche Laurent, etc., not to mention the huge variety of wines. For the most part, all these dishes can be found in restaurants. As for the famous frog legs, I have never tried them because I couldn’t find them anywhere. The fact is that with the increase in environmental and fauna rights activists, frog legs have become a rarity in restaurants.

The same goes for foie gras. After all, to prepare this delicacy you need an enlarged duck liver, and in order for it to grow faster and larger, many farmers and factories feed poor birds with large amounts of chemicals.

Conventionally, French cuisine can be divided into regional and aristocratic (what is usually served in restaurants). Each region of France has different dishes, methods of preparation and wines.

For example, on the Cote d'Azur, Mediterranean cuisine is widespread, which uses fish, seafood, etc. A striking example is the famous bouillabaisse soup.

In Genoa you can go to the Doge's Palace, which combines elements of different styles and eras, and to Piazza Ferrari. In Turin - the Supergo Monastery and the Egyptian Museum of Turin - the only museum in Europe specializing only in the history of Ancient Egypt. - a paradise for shopaholics and opera lovers, the famous La Scala theater is located in Milan, but tickets there should be booked many months in advance.

I won’t write about Rome here: that’s something that goes without saying. You should visit the Eternal City at least once in your life.

By the way, it is located next to France. Go there during the famous Venice Carnival! The riot of colors and costumes here is something incredible.

Andorra

In Andorra you will find an amazing mixture of Catalan, Pyrenean and Spanish cultures, which is reflected in the country itself. If we start the list of attractions of this small country, it would require a separate article.

I will list only the most unusual: Comic Book Museum, Russian Matryoshka Museum, Tobacco Museum, Electricity Museum. There is also a very beautiful reserve “La Cortinada”, where you can see stunning mountain landscapes.

Spain

A bright and amazing country.

Of course, it is worth mentioning here Barcelona, ​​Granada and Seville as simply mandatory cities to visit. What can we say about Spanish cuisine and wines! I advise you to go to a bullfight - it’s not for the faint of heart, of course, but it’s an unchanging part of Spanish culture.

England

Russians will need a visa to go to England, since the Schengen visa is no longer valid there. You can go to the land of the Angles and Saxons:

• On a ferryboat. The journey takes 1.5 hours, price - 223 EUR.
• By train through the Channel Tunnel. The price is the same, but the time is 2.5 hours.
• Low-cost airlines. From 100 EUR per ticket.

If we talk about England, then - all tourists in England. Westminster Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, the Tower - the list of things to see in London is simply endless.

In England itself you can go to the famous Stonehenge; to the city, where there is a good Viking Museum and a huge number of medieval monuments; Sherwood Forest; cities and with famous universities.

Ireland

You can easily go to Ireland with an English visa or get an Irish one, since it is also not included in Schengen. You can go to the “emerald island” by ferry (the journey takes about 2 hours, ticket price starts from 150 euros) or by low-cost airline.

A stunning picturesque country where natural beauty harmoniously combines with the majesty of medieval buildings. Interesting museums and places include the Guinness Brewery Museum, the Leprechaun Museum, Newgrange (analogous to the English Stonehenge), Lough Corrib (a peat reservoir and the second largest lake in Ireland), two-meter steep cliffs (cliffs), and of course, a wide variety of different medieval castles.

Anything to add?

One of the oldest states in Western Europe has a rich history and culture. From the Middle Ages until the 20th century, France was the center of political, military and cultural events in Europe. She set fashion and tone, shaped public tastes and tried to assert her power.

For more than the last 20 years, France has been one of the undisputed leaders in the list of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. This popularity is due to the wealth of historical and artistic heritage, natural beauty and a huge number of attractions. Among them are numerous architectural monuments - palaces, castles, majestic Gothic cathedrals, fortresses, as well as modern boutiques and shops, amusement parks, museums, galleries and exhibitions, famous resorts and picturesque natural places of recreation and recreation.

A well-developed tourism infrastructure is considered an important component of France's great attractiveness. Any department or region of this country will offer guests not only a lot of interesting places, but will also easily satisfy the tastes of the most capricious travelers with high-quality service, convenient transport links, and exquisite hotels and restaurants.

Sights of France - PHOTO

The Louvre is the most popular museum in the world. It is located in the center. The museum building is an old royal palace. The Louvre was opened on August 10, 1793. Since then, he has managed to collect a magnificent collection of exhibits reflecting the culture of ancient (Greece, Rome, Egypt) and modern (Islamic, European) civilizations.

Nearest hotels: Louvre Museum

The Papal Palace in Avignon is a unique architectural monument. Built in the 14th century, it served for a long time as a residence for popes who fled to calm France from unsafe Rome. The Papal Palace stands on a hill located on the northern outskirts of the city. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the National Museum has been operating there.

Hotels: Avignon city

Formed about eight thousand years ago, the Pyla dune is the largest sand formation in Europe. Every year it moves five meters deep into French soil, sweeping away centuries-old coniferous forests under the weight of snow-white sands. From the height of the dune, amazing views open up, attracting a lot of local and foreign tourists.

Nearest hotels: Arcachon

Galeries Lafayette is located on Boulevard Haussmann, in the center of the shopping district of Paris. The seven-story department store, built in Art Nouveau style, was opened at the end of the 19th century. Today, Galeries Lafayette consists of three buildings: the Main (it sells mainly women's and children's goods), the Men's and the Home Store. The central building "Lafayette Coupole" has nine levels (seven regular, zero and minus the first floor).

Nearest hotels: Galeries Lafayette

Founded in the first half of the 16th century, Chambord Castle is part of the system of the longest and most beautiful French river. There is a version that the magnificent architectural palace in the Renaissance style was created according to the design of Leonardo da Vinci himself. The Chateau de Chambord consists of 426 rooms, 77 staircases and 282 fireplaces.

Nearest hotels:

The Verdon Gorge is the deepest in Europe. With a length of nineteen kilometers, its depth is seven hundred meters. The Verdon Gorge is located in Provence, near the town of Castellane. The river of the same name flowing through it is fed by waters from the surrounding mountains. The edges of the gorge are formed by majestic rocks covered with green vegetation.

Nearest hotels:

The fortified island of Mont Saint-Michel is located on the northwestern coast of France. The abbey located on it appeared thanks to Archangel Michael, who appeared in 708 to Bishop Saint Aubert and ordered the construction of a church on this site. Occupying an area of ​​55 thousand square meters, the architectural structure has the appearance of a classic medieval French fortified monastery.

Nearest hotels: Mont Saint Michel

The palace and park ensemble of Versailles has long been the favorite residence of French kings. The majestic architecture of the palace, made in the style of classicism, is a symbol of the era of Louis XIV, known as the “Sun King”. The park around the palace was created by the famous landscape designer Andre Le Nôtre.

Nearest hotels: Palace of Versailles

Built for the 1889 World Exhibition, the three-hundred-meter tower by engineer Gustave Eiffel did not immediately take root in Paris. The local intelligentsia was outraged by the ugly design for a long time. It was assumed that after the exhibition the tower would be dismantled, but it began to enjoy such love from tourists that no one raised their hand to deprive Paris of its new symbol.

Nearest hotels: Eiffel Tower

Located in Haute-Savoie, Lake Annecy is the second largest lake in the country. It was formed about eighteen thousand years ago. The area of ​​the lake is 27.59 square kilometers, the greatest depth is 82 meters. Annecy is surrounded to the east and west by the De Born and Bauges mountain ranges. On the northern shore of the lake is the city of Annecy.

Hotels: Lake Annecy

Standing in the center of Paris, on the Seine River, the Ile de la Cité is the oldest district of the French capital. It is divided into two parts by the Boulevard du Palais and is connected to the neighboring Ile Saint-Louis and the main part of the city by nine bridges. In the east is the Cité, in the west is the Palace of Justice.

Nearest hotels: Cité metro station

Chenonceau Castle was built in the 15th century on the Cher River. The palace-like structure received its second name “Ladies' Castle” thanks to its beautiful owners - Diane de Poitiers, Catherine de Medici, Louise Dupin. Today the castle is privately owned, but is open to tourist visits. It houses the Wax Museum and contains great works of painting.

Hotels:

Since the 12th century, the forest in the vicinity of Fontainebleau belonged to the French crown. Under Francis I, a magnificent palace in the Renaissance style was erected here. Over time, a city of the same name was formed around the royal residence. There are three beautiful gardens around the Fontainebleau Palace - the English Garden, the Grand Parterre and the Garden of Diana.

Nearest hotels:

The bridge over the Gardon River (the ancient name is Gar) is the highest of the Roman aqueducts that have survived to this day. Its length is 275, height – 47 meters. The Pont du Gard aqueduct was built in the middle of the 1st century. AD Consisting of three tiers and a large number of arches, increasing vertically, it was part of a fifty-kilometer water pipeline connecting Uzès with Nimes.

Nearest hotels:

Disneyland Paris opened on April 12, 1992. The children's entertainment complex consists of five theme parks located around the Sleeping Beauty Castle: pirate Adventureland, Frontierland, made in the spirit of the Wild West, Julierne's Land of Discovery, fairytale Land of Fantasy and the adult part of Disneyland - Disney Village.

Nearest hotels: Disneyland Paris

Situated in a limestone hill on the left bank of the Vézère River, the Lascaux Cave is the oldest historical monument in France. The rock paintings covering its walls date back to the late Paleolithic era: it was made 18-15 thousand years BC. The small size of the cave (250 meters in length) is compensated by unique drawings and ancient objects found on its territory.

Hotels: Lascaux

One of the most famous cemeteries in the world is located in the east of Paris. Buried on an area of ​​48 hectares are: philosopher Auguste Comte, writers - Honore de Balzac, Marcel Proust, Oscar Wilde, poets - Guillaume Apollinaire, Paul Eluard, singer Edith Piaf, actresses - Sarah Bernhardt, Annie Girardot, ballerina - Isadora Duncan.

Nearest hotels: Pere Lachaise metro station

18. Reims Cathedral

Built in the 13th century, Reims Cathedral is a prime example of Gothic “lanceolate” style architecture. Its towers reach a height of 80 meters, its lancet windows and portals are decorated with openwork finials made of stone. On the central portal there is a traditional Gothic rose - a large round window in the shape of a flower.

Hotels: city of Paris

The Carcassonne fortress has a history of two and a half thousand years. Initially it was a primitive site, then a Gallo-Roman city, then a fortress of the ancient Germanic Visigoth tribe. The fortress standing on the right bank of the Aude River served as the basis for the formation of the French city of Carcassonne.

Hotels: Carcassonne

France is undoubtedly the most romantic country in the world, famous for its history, culture, cuisine, numerous attractions, ancient castles and excellent recreational opportunities.

You can come to France for various reasons. Newlyweds strive to spend here, if not the entire honeymoon, but at least one romantic weekend; couples with children - show their kids the wonderful world of Disneyland Paris; shopping lovers - visit numerous boutiques with a wide selection of designer items; and history buffs will appreciate the elegance of ancient castles and palaces.

What is included in the mandatory list of a tourist who decides to visit France? Of course, a trip to Paris, with its Eiffel Tower and Louvre. However, this is the most popular route, which many are already familiar with. It is worth visiting quiet provinces, for example, Bordeaux, famous for its vineyards, driving along the entire Cote d'Azur, seeing the picturesque Chamonix Valley and other corners of this beautiful country that are not yet so crowded with tourists.

Be sure to get to know French cuisine better! Start your breakfast with traditional croissants and coffee, for lunch try a light and very tasty onion soup with baguette or croutons, and complement your dinner with a mandatory glass of wine, without which the French do not sit down at the table, with snails, frog legs or oysters. Why not treat yourself, because French cuisine is truly the most popular and famous on our planet!

Believe me, France has something to surprise even the most spoiled and demanding tourist. We will try to tell you about its most famous attractions.

Popular hotels and inns at affordable prices.

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What to see in France?

The most interesting and beautiful places, photographs and brief descriptions.

This is one of the best holiday destinations in the world. The Cote d'Azur or French Riviera stretches from the border with Italy to the city of Toulon and is known throughout the world for its incredibly beautiful beaches, pleasant climate and comfortable conditions for relaxation. The only disadvantage of this 300-kilometer-long Mediterranean coastline is the very high prices for vacations and real estate.

Describing this cathedral, glorified in the novel and musical Notre Dame de Paris, as well as in dozens of films and cartoons, is a thankless task. It is better to visit the most famous temple in France once and see its luxurious stained glass windows, bright vaults and the main relic - the Crown of Thorns of Jesus Christ. You will be one of the 14 million people who visit Notre Dame Cathedral every year.

Symbol of royal power, luxury and wealth. These are the associations that Versailles evokes, without any doubt - the most popular and famous palace in the whole world. It is perfectly preserved, along with its French park, fountains, chic stucco moldings and elegant furniture. It seems that now Marie Antoinette with her ladies-in-waiting will come out from around the bend in the alley, and the retinue of Louis the Sixteenth will burst into the huge hall.

This small town, where only about 50 thousand people live, is located very close, 60 kilometers south of Geneva. It is famous for its lake, on the shore of which it is located, as well as for its medieval castle, which was turned into a museum right in the city center. Annecy also has a Gothic church and a palace on an island in the middle of the lake.

Yes, yes, France has its own Colosseum! This arena, built in the first century AD, is located in the city of Nîmes, which is famous for the huge number of ancient buildings preserved from the times of Ancient Rome. The amphitheater in Nîmes is well preserved and is still used as a stage for concerts and other events.

This medieval ensemble is included in the UNESCO list. Behind the powerful walls, on a rocky hill, there is a real bastion with towers and old houses, which, however, are perfectly preserved and are still used for their intended purpose. Getting around the narrow streets of old Carcassonne is difficult, and some of them are completely pedestrian.

The largest sand dune in Europe. From above it looks like a huge sand wave rushing onto the green shore. Dune is located in Pyla, in Aquitaine, on the shores of the Arcachon Bay. It is noteworthy that this gigantic shaft of sand moves five meters deeper into the continent every year, displacing houses, trees and roads.

The pearl of the Cote d'Azur, the favorite place for exercise of all vacationers in Nice. This embankment received its name due to its popularity among tourists from England. Known for its luxury hotels, Mediterranean Palace, local university and wide beach. A walk along the Promenade des Anglais in Nice is a mandatory end to the day of every visitor to Nice.

The small town of Giverny in Upper Normandy became famous thanks to one of its natives - the artist Claude Monet. He lived here for more than 40 years, created a beautiful garden with a pond on which lilies float and Japanese bridges. Today, Giverny hosts several festivals dedicated to painting and art, and the house and garden has become a Claude Monet museum.

Fans of snowboarding and alpine skiing are eager to get to the Chamonix Valley. This is a relatively affordable holiday destination among picturesque Alpine peaks. In addition, Mont Blanc is nearby, so the Chamonix Valley is also popular among mountaineers and rock climbers. A great place to relax, almost on the border with Italy.

This monument immortalized the victories of Napoleon Bonaparte's army. The Arc de Triomphe is located on Place Charles de Gaulle and is one of the hallmarks of Paris. The arch is decorated with numerous bas-reliefs depicting winged maidens with fanfares. There are four sculptural groups installed in the lower part on both sides.

Initially, Parisians reacted with hostility to this too brutal, too metal, too modern structure. They said that the Eiffel Tower simply disfigures the appearance of the city. And where are these critics now? But the tower stands in the center of the city, and has managed to become a symbol of Paris, the most photographed object in the world, the heroine of films and television shows.

This is the highest of all surviving ancient Roman aqueducts, spanning the Gardon River. Included in the UNESCO list, it consists of three tiers with an increasing number of arches. It is assumed that the aqueduct was previously used to supply the city of Nîmes with water, and today it is an interesting historical site that attracts crowds of tourists.

One of the most recognizable castles in France, a true masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. It is unknown who exactly became the chief architect of the Chambord Castle, but it has been proven that Leonardo da Vinci himself took part in the development of the project. Today, on the second floor of the castle there is a Museum of Hunting and Nature. The park around Chambord, surrounded by the longest wall in the country, is also perfectly preserved.

One of the largest European castles, which today has become the venue for a theater festival. Today, tourists can walk through almost all the numerous rooms of this castle, declared a national museum. In addition, there is an archive of the local department and a completely modern conference room.

Another of the Loire castles. This elegant building rightfully bears the second name “Ladies’ Castle”, as it is distinguished by a very romantic aura and elegant turrets. In addition, Henry II gave this castle to his favorite Diana de Poitiers, and after the death of the king, his widow Catherine de Medici settled here, so there are enough famous housewives at the castle. All rooms of the Chenonceau Castle are perfectly preserved and are accessible to tourists.

This is a very picturesque abbey located on an islet off the northwestern coast of France. Mont Saint-Michel is a real fortress city, perched on the rocks of a small island. Today, several dozen people live here, but the number of visitors reaches 3.5 million a year. This area is also known for the highest tides in Europe.

One of the largest, famous, oldest and famous museums in the world. The Louvre houses a rich collection of masterpieces of art, both historical, from Antiquity, and more modern ones. It is almost impossible to visit all the halls of the Louvre in one day, especially if you stop near every interesting exhibit.

In fact, these are not fields at all, but the central street of Paris, one of the most beautiful, green and, of course, famous in the city. The Champs Elysees is traditionally divided into two parts - the shopping part, with boutiques, offices, banks, publishing houses of large newspapers, car dealerships and retail outlets, and the walking part, the park part.

At the same time, it is the longest and deepest gorge in France. Located in the Alps, in the southeastern part of the country. Usually people go to the Verdon Gorge by car to take a photo against the backdrop of an incredibly beautiful view, walk along tourist paths with a backpack to the river of the same name flowing along its bottom.

Medieval Paris left magnificent examples of Romanesque architecture (X-XII centuries), in which the foundations borrowed by the Franks in Roman architecture were revived, albeit in a somewhat revised form. The Romanesque style was characterized by heavy proportions, powerful walls, load-bearing semicircular vaults and arched ceilings openings.

One of the most notable Parisian architectural monuments of this period is the church Saint-Germain-des-Prés , founded in the middle of the 6th century by King Childebert I to store the tunic of St. Vincent of Saragossa and now located in a busy part of the Latin Quarter (since in ancient times it was surrounded by meadows, this is reflected in the name: French pré - meadow).

This first Christian monastery soon became an abbey in the fields outside the city. It was managed by a certain Father Germain,

This is how the name Saint-Germain des Pres appeared.

A Christian preacher, the Parisian Bishop Germain, who after his death in 576 was classified as a Catholic saint, as well as the first kings of the Merovingian dynasty, were buried in this temple, but in the 9th century the church was burned by the Normans.

In the 11th century, a bell tower was built, which now stands out for its height among later buildings, and in the 12th century, the main volume of the church with the altar part (in the 17th century, the temple was rebuilt again, but the bell tower and the altar part retained their strict features of early medieval architecture )

Vincennes castle
Romanesque architecture, with all its elaboration of architectural forms and compositions, became only a harbinger of the formation of a new architectural style - Gothic, which originated in France. And since Paris was the capital, it inevitably turned into the main “construction laboratory” of new architectural thinking.

In the eastern Parisian suburb of Vincennes, a structure founded in the early Middle Ages and formed in the Gothic era has been preserved in a slightly modified form - Vincennes Castle, which at one time was a royal residence. By 1370, construction of the castle, which began in the 11th century, was completed.

On the territory surrounded by a powerful wall and moat, there is a residential tower - a donjon. The 52-meter-long donjon, almost square in plan, is flanked by four corner round turrets. It was possible to get into the castle only through a drawbridge thrown over a moat and a fortress gate in a wall with nine towers.

Along the top of the powerful walls there was a military passage, which was covered by hinged loopholes (machiculi). Here, somewhat away from the center of Paris, a closed court world was created, which even had its own small chapel. In its modern form, the entire complex, converted into a historical museum, is a characteristic monument of medieval architecture of the 14th century

Gothic architecture was brought to life by the rapid growth of cities and the need to have more spacious temples - in fact, the main public buildings of the medieval era. The accumulation of construction experience and technical knowledge led to a qualitative leap in the construction of spans, vaults and supports.

A pointed arch began to be used, and vaulted coverings began to be built on a frame base of stone ribs (ribs), made from especially durable stone. Now the external walls, which had long served as supports, had lost their constructive meaning, and the vaults were supported by a system of open semi-arches (flying buttresses) and external supports (buttresses). This allowed the entire surface between the buttresses to be made of glass in a stone frame, laying the foundation for the famous medieval stained glass windows made of multi-colored glass on lead spacers

A brilliant example of Gothic architecture is Notre Dame Cathedral (Notre Dame de Paris), rising in the eastern part of the island of Cité. Around 550, on the site of the ancient Temple of Jupiter, at the behest of the Frankish king Childebert I, the Basilica of Saint-Etienne was built, adjacent to which was the baptistery dedicated to John the Baptist and the Church of Our Lady (here was also the residence of Bishop Herman of Paris).

In the middle of the 12th century, it was decided to rebuild them and actually build a new, more spacious temple. Construction, which began on the initiative of the Parisian bishop Maurice de Sully in 1163, took a long time and was completed only in 1343 (it was then that the chapels between the buttresses and the crown of chapels around the choir were created).

The cathedral, grandiose for those times, capable of accommodating about 10 thousand people at a time (length - 130 m, width - 108 m, tower height - 69 m, vault height - 39 m), became a kind of model for all medieval church building in France. Around the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris there was the monastery of Our Lady, cathedral schools and houses of canons

The entire process of Gothic development was reflected in the architecture of the cathedral. The horizontal divisions and heavy lower tier of the western façade are echoes of the Romanesque style, while the system of wide flying buttresses, the strongly dissected and pointed through gallery at the foot of the towers and the round roses are a vivid embodiment of Gothic architecture.

Above the portals stretches a gallery of stone statues of kings from the Old Testament (previously there were statues of kings in the niches), figures of gargoyles are placed on the ledges of the cornices, and the choir fence with bas-reliefs and the statue of the Mother of God on the northern portal are real examples of the art of medieval sculptors (the cathedral sculptures were once painted and even partly gilded). Among the polychrome stained glass windows, the large roses on the axis of the western facade and on the ends of the transverse nave (transept) are especially noteworthy. In the 18th century, most of the colored stained glass windows were replaced by white glazing; stained glass windows remained only in roses (and only stained glass in the northern rose dates back to the 13th century)

Conciergerie
The western part of the Ile de la Cité is occupied by the huge complex of the Palace of Justice. Its northern façade, facing the right tributary of the Seine, gives a vivid impression of the austere royal castle with a prison and a treasury where the treasury was kept.

Three of the surviving towers date back to the 13th century, and the corner tower was built a century later (it featured a bell that announced the birth of the royal heir throughout Paris, and the city's first tower clock).

After King Charles V moved to the more spacious Louvre in the 14th century, the parliament, the Chamber of Auditors and other government bodies remained in the old residence of the monarch.

In 1417, the Chancellor of France was appointed to the position of concierge, that is, the gatekeeper of the royal residence, which is why the castle received the name Conciergerie. In the 19th century, the building was significantly expanded, and at the same time the façade facing Dauphine Square was designed.

Chapel Sainte-Chapelle

The most outstanding object in the Conciergerie Palace is the Sainte-Chapelle - the Holy or Royal Chapel, located in the south-eastern courtyard of the complex (part of the facade of the chapel overlooks the Palace Boulevard, which crosses the Cité between the Pont de Change and the Pont Saint-Michel).

It was built in 1246-1248 by order of the pious King Louis IX the Saint to store numerous sacred relics, and above all the highly revered Crown of Thorns, acquired by the monarch for a huge sum at that time from Venetian moneylenders. The name of the architect is not known for certain; the construction of the chapel is usually attributed to Pierre de Montreuil.

The elongated high volume of the Sainte-Chapelle contains two halls located one above the other. In the lower hall, two rows of columns support bundles of ribs that carry the vaults. The upper hall, which is actually the Royal Chapel, has a 10-meter span and is free from internal supports (one gets the impression that the vaults raised to a height of seven meters are floating in the air).

The hall is surrounded by colored stained glass windows, between which there are thin stone pillars, branching under the arches into several ribs. The rose at the end above the entrance, with its complex interweaving of the stone base, symbolizes the flaming Gothic style of the 15th century (the bell tower was also built at the same time).

The blue-painted pillars and vaults of the chapel are decorated with repeating gilded inserts in the form of a stylized lily flower in the upper hall and a silhouette of a castle in the lower hall (a golden lily on a blue background symbolizes the royal coat of arms of France). In the mid-19th century, the Sainte-Chapelle building underwent restoration, during which Viollet-le-Duc recreated the spire and a significant part of the stained glass windows, while managing to preserve the specificity of the Gothic style of its heyday

Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois

Opposite the eastern facade of the Louvre is the Gothic temple of Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois, founded in the 12th century (since then only the tall Romanesque bell tower has survived).

The 13th-century choir is early Gothic, the main body of the 15th-century church is Flamboyant Gothic, and the side portal is Renaissance. Like most medieval buildings in Paris, this temple was later reconstructed, but the unique rib vaults, lace rose, valuable stained glass windows, and numerous sculptural completions of cornices, gutters and turrets were preserved.

Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois was the parish church of the royal court, located in the nearby Louvre castle, so many artists, sculptors, architects and scientists who worked and lived at the court are buried there. The bell on the tower of this church announced the beginning of the massacre of the Huguenots on St. Bartholomew's Night (August 24, 1572)

Saint-Julien-le-Pauvres

Saint-Etienne-du-Mont

Among other buildings that appeared in Paris during the Middle Ages, today there are the churches of Saint-Julien-le-Pauvres, Saint-Etienne-du-Mont, Saint-Severin, Saint-Médard and Saints-Archangels, the tower of Clovis (or Clovis) and other buildings preserved from the Abbey of Sainte-Geneviève and now belonging to the Lycée Henry IV, the Bernardine College, now occupied by the French Catholic Academy, and the Hotel de Cluny (V arrondissement), the churches of Saint-Gervais, Saint-Merri and Billette, the archaeological crypt of the porch of the Cathedral of Notre- Dame and Hotel de Sens (IV arrondissement), churches of Saint-Martin-des-Champs and Saint-Nicolas-des-Champs, Hotel de Soubise,

The Lycée Henry IV, one of the most prestigious educational institutions in France, is located on the site of the former Abbey of Sainte-Genevieve, which was founded by Clovis in honor of Saints Peter and Paul after the Battle of Vouillet at the request of his wife Queen Clotilde. On the Days of Cultural Heritage, the lyceum opened its doors to everyone.

Hotel de Clisson, a fragment of a fortress tower, formerly part of the Templar fortress Temple, and the house of Nicolas Flamel (III arrondissement), the refectory of the Cordeliers monastery, now occupied by the medical school of the University of Paris Descartes (VI arrondissement), the Church of Saint-Leu-Saint-Gilles (I district), the Church of Saint-Pierre de Montmartre (XVIII arrondissement), the tower of Jean the Fearless, formerly part of the palace of the Dukes of Burgundy (II arrondissement)


Church of Saint-Gervais,

Hotel de Cluny

Church of Saint-Martin-des-Champs

Hotel Soubise

Tower of Jean the Fearless

Two dozen surviving fragments of the fortress wall from the era of Philip II Augustus were classified as historical monuments in 1889. Now they are located on the streets of Jour, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Louvre and Saint-Honoré (1st arrondissement), on the streets of Etienne Marcel and Tiketon (2nd arrondissement), on the rue Temple (III arrondissement), on the streets of Ave Maria, Charlemagne, Franc -Bourgeois, Jardin-Saint-Paul and Rosier (IV arrondissement), on the streets d'Arras, Cardinal Lemoine, Fosse-Saint-Bernard, Clovie, Descartes and Thouin (V arrondissement), in the courtyards of Commerce-Saint-André and Rohan, on the Quai de Conti, rue Dauphine, Mazarin, Nelle and Guénégo, in the Nevers cul-de-sac (VI arrondissement)

Place de la Bastille

Fragments of the walls, towers, underground chambers and moats of the famous Bastille, destroyed in 1791, remain around the modern Place de la Bastille: on the boulevards Bourdon and Henry IV, rue Saint-Antoine, the Bastille metro station and in the port of Arsenal on the Canal Saint-Martin

Former monastery of the Cordeliers, XIV century

Church of Saint-Merri, XIV-XVII centuries

Church of Saint-Nicolas-des-Champs,

XII-XVII century Church of Saint-Severin,

XIII-XV centuries Hotel de Clisson

XIV century Hotel de Sens

XV-XVI century Church of Saint-Pierre de Montmartre, XII century

The first Parisian schools, which were purely clerical in nature, arose in the 12th century near the walls of Notre-Dame de Paris. Soon, wanting to leave the tutelage of the bishop, some of the teachers and their students moved to the left bank under the auspices of the more liberal abbeys of Sainte-Genevieve and Saint-Victor, where they founded a university

Abbey of Saint-Victor in a painting from 1655

The first royal privilege, which legitimized his rights and freedoms (and also removed schools from the jurisdiction of the royal provost), the union of masters and students of the Parisian school received in the charter of 1200, the union of scholars appeared in the episcopal act of 1207, and the union of teachers in the papal act of 1208 (the University of Paris officially received its name only in 1217, faculties were first mentioned in 1219).

Baroque facade of the Sorbonne (architect Jacques Lemercier, 1642)

The theologian Robert de Sorbon, confessor of King Louis IX, founded a college in 1253 on Coupe-Gel Street, from which the entire university received its second name. Later, a printing house was organized at the Sorbonne, where the first book in Paris was published in 1469

Collège de France

The Latin Quarter developed actively throughout the 13th century, displacing the old cathedral schools located on the Cité and near the Petit Bridge. Colleges or colleges at the initial stage were small and rather unprepossessing buildings, where about 10 thousand young men lived and studied in a noisy atmosphere of fun, games, drunkenness and fights (according to other sources, in 75 colleges, which were crowded between Place Maubert and the Hill of Sainte -Genevieve, financed by wealthy aristocrats and religious orders, educated about 40 thousand people)

The Latin Quarter is one of the most famous areas of Paris in the world. It extends over the 5th and 6th arrondissements, centered around the Sorbonne and Mount Sainte-Geneviève. It crosses the "cardo de Paris", the north-south axis corresponding to the current Rue Saint-Jacques and Boulevard Saint-Michel

This area is still popular among students and professors due to the presence of many scientific institutions there

Lycée Louis the Great, located in the center of the Latin Quarter on the site of the medieval University of Paris

The area also has many colleges and lyceums, often prestigious and historical: Louis-le-Grand, Fenelon, Henry IV, Saint-Louis, Notre-Dame de Sion, Stanislaus, Ecole, Alsatian, Montaigne, Lycée Lavoisier. Consequently, many bookstores specializing in literature, science, history, medicine, politics, philosophy, law are found in the area, even if they tend to disappear

Hospitals of the Hotel-Dieu in Paris, France. The Hotel-Dieu de Paris "Parisian Hospital of God" is the oldest hospital in Paris,

Marais Quarter

The Marais is one of the oldest quarters of Paris, which is considered the most extraordinary and unique place in the city. Why, you ask me? It’s simple, the “hand of Baron Haussmann,” the author of the reconstruction of Paris at the end of the 19th century, did not reach him. Therefore, the features of a typical medieval city have been preserved here with a labyrinth of narrow streets, without sidewalks, encased in the walls of ancient mansions of the 17th-18th centuries.

Mare, translated, means a swamp that once existed in this very place, drained at the behest of the Master of the Templar Order, already in the 13th century. It was with his light hand that the history of this quarter began, which became a shelter for the monks of this mysterious Order. Subsequently, under Henry IV, the Place Royale appeared here (now the Place des Vosges - the oldest square in Paris) which became the heart of this quarter. And this is not the only attraction of the Mare.

Here is one of the most interesting museums in France - the Carnavalet, which contains unique exhibits that tell the history of life in Paris over many centuries. And I will tell you about those people (Marquise de Brenvilliers, Princess Rogan, Madame de Sevigne, Duke of Orleans) who once owned these mansions and created the history of this beautiful country. ... And believe me, there is something to gossip about.

On Rue des Franc-Bourgeois there is a wonderful mansion with a turret. This is the house of Jean Herouet (treasurer of Louis XII), built around 1510.

The Hotel de Angoulême-Lamoignon first belonged to the illegitimate daughter of Henry II, the Duchess of Angoulême, and then passed to Lamoignon, a representative of a famous French family. Nowadays there is a historical library here.

There is the Carnavalet Museum (actually it is located in two mansions - the Hotel Carnavalet and the Hotel le Pelletier de Saint Fargeau). The Hotel Carnavalet is famous for the fact that in 1677 it was rented by Marie de Rabutin (aka Marquise de Sevigne). She became famous for the letters she wrote to her relatives and friends. “Letters of Madame de Sevigne” was published 30 years after her death and created a real sensation in Paris

Place des Vosges, Arcades du Côté Est - Paris

The oldest house in Paris is the house of Nicolas Flamel, which dates back to 1407. Located at 51 rue de Montmorency

On François Miron Street (rue François-Miron) there are two houses - 11 and 13, which date back to the 15th century

On rue des Barres there is house number 12, which belonged to Maubuisson Abbey and was reconstructed in 1540

And finally, house No. 3, which was built in 1644, has been preserved on rue Volta

Houses 44-46 Rue François Miron. They served the Cistercian abbey (XIII century). Now on the ground floor there is a wonderful store on the history of Paris and an organization that deals with historical monuments of Paris

If you enter the store, on the right there are steps to the basement, where the Gothic vaults of a 13th-century Cistercian abbey have been preserved.

11-13 rue du Louvre

rue des Jardins-Saint-Paul

remains of old walls

By the way, a small piece of ancient Paris can be seen at the beginning of the exhibition in the Louvre (at the underground level) - a piece of the first Louvre is on display. But somehow it wasn’t inserted in the best way (maybe all that’s left), just a piece of a tub-tower

Sources
Defourno M. Everyday life during the times of Joan of Arc. - Moscow: Eurasia, 2003. - 320 p.
Dubnov S. M. A Brief History of the Jews. - Rostov-on-Don: Phoenix, 2003. - 576 p.
Combo I. History of Paris. - Moscow: The whole world, 2002. - 176 p.
Kosminsky E. A. History of the Middle Ages. - Moscow: State Publishing House of Political Literature, 1952. - 748 p.
Lusher A. French society during the times of Philip-Augustus. - Moscow: Eurasia, 1999. - 414 p.
Pilyavsky V.I. and Leiboshits N.Ya. Paris. - Leningrad: Publishing House of Construction Literature, 1968. - 112 p.
Ru S. Everyday life of Paris in the Middle Ages. - Moscow: Young Guard, 2008. - 252 p.

Travelers from all over the world dream of visiting a country at least once in their lives, glorified by numerous poets and artists as one of the most beautiful and romantic places in the world, which has preserved the richest culture and centuries-old traditions. We are talking about France - a country that has become a symbol of love, beauty, sophistication and a unique historical heritage. Paris is the historical center of the country, where the most famous attractions of France are located in large numbers. Don't know what to see in France? Be sure to read this review of the most interesting places in this delightful country.

What to see in France first

A responsible approach to organizing an excursion program will help you preserve exceptionally pleasant memories of your trip to the most romantic country in the world. They are extremely polite, professional and self-aware, so you can try planning your own, using our list of attractions as a basis.

1. Eiffel Tower (Paris)

If you are still wondering what to see in France, immediately go to its capital, because there are so many attractions of Paris that even a partial study of them will not fit into one trip. The symbol of Paris, as you already guessed, has become the main attraction of France - one of the most visited and recognizable architectural sites in the world.

It is now the Eiffel Tower that has gained worldwide fame, but once upon a time it caused a controversial reaction among Parisians. While city guests admired the monumentality of this structure, many residents, shocked by the size of the tower, were against its presence in the city and more than once demanded that the authorities dismantle this structure.

This architectural creation was saved from demolition only thanks to the advent of the era of radio frequency waves, when the Eiffel Tower became an ideal structure for installing radio antennas.

The history of the world-famous building began in 1886, when a competition was organized to select the best engineering and architectural projects. The best of them were to be presented at the world exhibition dedicated to the centenary of the French Revolution. At the exhibition, most of the projects presented were identical and represented a variation of the Eiffel Tower. Only the designer Gustave Eiffel was able to make such changes to his project that allowed him to win permission to build his architectural masterpiece.

2. Louvre (Paris)

Louvre Museum

A former fortress, once a palace, and now a museum - the Louvre in Paris has experienced all these transformations in its lifetime, becoming the most visited museum, where millions of people from all over the world come every year. The most distant past and present are intertwined here into a single whole in hundreds of thousands of exhibits, of which only 35 thousand we can see with our own eyes. The thing is that there is not enough exhibition space to display all these valuables, and many exhibits also require special storage conditions.

The history of this popular landmark in France dates back to the 12th century, when King Philip Augustus ordered the construction of a defensive fortress. From century to century, with the accession of new monarchs to the throne, this structure underwent numerous changes. For example, in the 16th century, King Francis I decided to make the Louvre his residence, ordering the construction of a palace and decorating it in the spirit of the Renaissance, and by the end of this century, under King Henry IV, they expanded the courtyard and also connected the Louvre and Tuileries palaces. Later, for almost a century, the Louvre was abandoned and fell into disrepair. During the French Revolution of 1789, due to the change of power, the National Assembly decided that the Louvre should become a national museum.

And only at the beginning of the 19th century did the Louvre itself breathe new life into Napoleon, who ordered the resumption of construction work. He made the first significant contribution to the replenishment of the museum’s collection, demanding from each conquered nation a kind of ransom in the form of numerous works of art.

3. Palace of Versailles (Paris)

Palace of Versailles

When wondering what to see in France, without hesitation, go to one of the most respectable cities, located 20 km from the capital. After all, here is a luxurious and relatively young palace and park complex, which once served as the residence of French kings, and today has also become a famous landmark of France . This is the Palace of Versailles - an outstanding masterpiece in the history of world architecture. The layout of the park of the Palace of Versailles also represents the highest achievement in French park art.

Magnificent compositions of gardens and alleys, exquisite greenhouses full of varied vegetation, picturesque fountains of the Palace of Versailles - all this became a real standard in European architecture in the 18th century.

The palace itself, also called the House of the French Kings, is the main building, which can be entered through the gilded Royal Gate. The first floor of the palace was intended for royal subjects, and the second floor was inhabited by the royal family themselves. The Throne Hall was used for balls and performances, and the Gallery of Mirrors became the venue for the most magnificent and luxurious events of the royal court.

In addition to the palace itself, you can visit a lot of remarkable places in the park:

• Opposite the palace is the Armory Square, from which there are three alleys, separated by two stables, where up to 2,500 horses were housed;
• Just outside the palace fence is the first courtyard, in which there is a monument to Louis XIV. Next comes the second courtyard, through which the royal carriages entered. And from the third courtyard there is access to a beautiful park;
• The Versailles gardens deserve special attention - their area is about 100 hectares. Numerous ponds, pools, grottoes, fountains, sculptures here miraculously united into a single excellent composition, representing an amazing fusion of nature and art.

4. Cote d'Azur or French Riviera

Cote d'Azur

And a separate category of guests goes to France to soak up the sea beach, enjoy the magnificent views of nature, that is, to relax in the full sense of the word. But they also have something to visit in France . The French Riviera or the Cote d'Azur is an ideal place for these purposes. This resort area is famous throughout the world for its beaches, clear azure sea, high-class hotels, restaurants and a variety of entertainment.

The Cote d'Azur is not just a favorite tourist attraction in France and a great holiday destination, but also a land of amazing contrasts. For example, the warm, sunny beaches here contrast with the snow-capped Maritime Alps, located just 2 hours away from the coast. This resort area is also a very noisy place where millions of tourists come, but in the small villages located near the cliffs, silence and serenity reign.

The climate of the Cote d'Azur is very mild. There is neither scorching heat nor frosty cold here. Vacationers are provided with a lot of entertainment for every taste. Gambling fans can visit the local casino, horse lovers will definitely visit the hippodrome, where horse races are regularly held, and for vacationers with children there is a large selection of amusement parks, water parks, and zoos. In a word, real freedom for everyone.

5. Dune Pyla (Arcachon Bay)

Sand Dune Pila

In the area of ​​the town of Arcachon, on the shores of the Arcachon Bay, there is a “living” natural landmark of France - the Pyla Dune. The tallest dune in Europe is a huge sand mountain that is constantly moving and slowly growing in height. For example. Back in 1855, the height of the dune was recorded as 35 meters, and today its height already reaches 130 meters! Plus, according to research, this mountain of sand also moves towards the shore by about 5 meters per year. The process of formation of the sand mountain began about 8 thousand years ago and continues incessantly to this day, this is facilitated by constant winds, sea ebbs and flows.

Today, Dune Pyla has become a popular tourist attraction, so the corresponding infrastructure is located around the mountain. Not far from the mountain, right among the pine trees, there is a car park, there are also souvenir shops, a cafe where you can taste oysters or mussels, and even a hotel. And a long staircase leads to the top of the mountain - however, those who wish can easily conquer the mountain on their own.

Be sure to watch this beautiful video about France!

6. Chamonix Mont Blanc (Alps, Mont Blanc)

Chamonix Mont Blanc

Chamonix Mont Blanc is a valley in the Alps that has become an iconic place for skiing. The oldest ski resort, whose history goes back more than 200 years, has become the most important attraction in France for alpine skiing enthusiasts. After all, here you can not only enjoy the unique views of the mountain panorama, but also have a great, and to a certain extent even extreme, time.

The history of the valley began in 1741, when two Englishmen went here on an expedition, and shared their impressions of the trip in periodical publications. Since then, a widespread fascination with the Chamonix Valley began throughout Europe.

The resort is located at an altitude of 1035 meters, but almost all ski slopes are located at an altitude above 2 thousand meters, and the highest point, from where the most difficult routes follow, is 3842 meters above sea level.

Over the many years of the existence of Chamonix Mont-Blanc, an extensive, very diverse infrastructure has been organized here. The entire valley, 16 kilometers long and covering an area of ​​3,000 hectares, has prepared slopes along which there are 69 ski runs, divided according to the degree of difficulty into several separate areas. To visit the valley there is a train and free buses.

7. Fontainebleau Palace (50 km from Paris)

Palace of Fontainebleau

When wondering what to see in France, one cannot help but include the Fontainebleau Palace - one of the largest and most beautiful royal palaces in the country - in the list of architectural monuments. It is located 50 km southeast of the capital, among a vast forest. The structure includes both graceful turrets and squat buildings, so the residence is often compared to wine glasses of different shapes and heights.

The name of the palace itself translates as “beautiful fountain” and comes from the name of the spring from which Napoleon Bonaparte himself once drew strength by drinking a glass of the purest spring water in the morning.

The history of the palace began at the beginning of the 12th century, when King Louis VII decided to build his residence in these picturesque areas. Initially, the current palace was more reminiscent of a medieval fortress, which was typical for that era. And only in the 16th century, under the reign of King Francis I, the fortress took on the appearance of a real palace. The most famous Italian masters are involved in the construction, who decorate the palace in the style of mannerism. Under King Henry II's heir, the interior and exterior decoration of the palace continues to be brought to perfection. The ballroom is decorated with elaborate monograms, and the large hall, which is also called the gallery, is decorated with amazingly beautiful frescoes. The sunlight penetrating through the large window openings of the hall seems to fill it with gold.

8. Old town of Carcassonne (Languedoc - Roussillon region)

Walled city of Carcassonne

In the French province of Languedoc there is a unique landmark of France - the fortified city of Carcassonne. This ancient city attracts thousands of tourists with its impressive size and rich history. This is a real medieval city, perfectly preserved to this day.

As a fortified point, Carcassonne existed in ancient times - it was erected in the 2nd century BC, when there were Gaul settlements on this site. Later, power over it passed to the Romans, Visigoths, Saracens, Saracens, and Franks. In 1355, by order of the Prince of Wales, known as Edward the Black Prince, one of the city's districts, Bastide, was burned. But already in 1359 the city was rebuilt again, and the appearance of that fortress has been preserved to this day.

Carcassonne gained world fame only in the 19th century, when it was restored by the chief architect Violet de Duc, on the orders of Napoleon III.

The whole city is divided into 2 parts: the old and the new city. So, upon arrival at the train station, you find yourself in a new city. Here you can find an information kiosk where you can purchase a city map and ask any questions regarding visiting the attraction.

9. Disneyland Paris (35 km from Paris)

Disneyland Paris

Traveling with children will not have to think about what to visit in France with the whole family, because both children and their parents dream of getting into a real Parisian fairy tale called Disneyland. This gigantic entertainment complex, which has gained worldwide fame, includes parks, hotels, fairy-tale “countries” and entire residential areas. In terms of attendance, Disneyland surpasses all tourist sites in the countries of the Old World.

The total area of ​​the grandiose fairy-tale complex is 1,943 hectares, and more than 12.5 million visitors relax and have fun on its territory every year.

The territory of the Disneyland complex includes 2 theme parks - a classic one, which has existed since its opening, and a park dedicated to the history and process of creating famous Disney cartoons.

The entire park, which includes 49 attractions, is divided into 5 fabulous “countries”:

• Main Street is the main street of the complex, designed like American streets of the early 20th century;
• Frontierland is a theme park that recreates the atmosphere of the Wild West, as it is depicted in famous Westerns;
• Adventureland is an exotic part of the complex, where the oriental flavor, the atmosphere of adventurism of Indiana Jones stories, and the spirit of adventure on a desert island with Robinson Crusoe are reproduced;
• Fantasyland is a vibrant fantasy land for the youngest visitors, based on the most famous and beloved Disney cartoons;
• Discoveryland is an adventure world based on the works of famous science fiction writers of the 20th century.

10. Amphitheater in Nimes

Roman amphitheater in Nimes

On the border of Provence, 35 kilometers north of the coast, at the foot of the Garrigues plateau, in the city of Nimes is located the Amphitheater - one of the surviving historical monuments of the Roman era. In ancient times, on the site of Nîmes there was a settlement of Gallic tribes, which were later conquered by the Romans. Emperor Augustine founded the city of Nîmes here, which became the largest in southern France.

The amphitheater, erected in Nîmes at the end of the 1st century AD, has become one of the most recognizable landmarks in France. The amphitheater has the shape of an ellipse. Its dimensions are 131 m by 101 m, and the height of the walls reaches 20 meters. The dimensions of the arena itself are 69 m by 38 m. Surprisingly, even at that time, communications were connected to the structure: sewerage and water supply. And for greater convenience, an awning was stretched over the arena.

In ancient times, when Nimes had its own gladiator school, the Amphitheater often became the venue for brutal competitions, during which gladiators fought not only with each other, but also with dangerous animals.

At the beginning of the 5th century, brutal combat was prohibited. The amphitheater, after some time, began to serve as a fortress. The arches were partially filled with stone, and the arena was surrounded by a moat. Only by the 18th century did the Amphitheater begin to return to its original appearance. In the 19th century it began to serve as a bullfight, and in the 20th century it became a favorite place for rock music performers. And if initially this colossal structure could accommodate up to 24 thousand spectators, now the number of spectators has decreased by about 3 times.

Sights of France: what else to visit while in France

Many stunning places that tourists will be delighted with are located in small towns across the country. Very popular for the variety of castles built many centuries ago. There is something to see for connoisseurs of natural beauty, as well as for those who are interested in French literature or want to feel the greatness of the monarchy.

11. Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel (northern France, border with Brittany)

Abbey of Mont Saint Michel

The city of Mont Saint-Michel, founded in 709, is located on an island surrounded by the sea and a fortress wall. This is one of the most common tourist attractions in France. Every year the famous island-fortress attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the planet. In 1979, the abbey was included in the UNESCO heritage list.

In addition to its favorable location and very interesting ancient architecture, Mont Saint-Michel is known for the strongest tides in Europe, which occur every 24 hours and 50 minutes. Thus, water can flow 18 kilometers from the coast of the island, and also spread as much as 20 kilometers into the interior of the island. The tide height can reach 14 meters.

The history of this attraction dates back to 709, when a small chapel was erected on the island and an abbey was founded. In the 11th century, a Romanesque church and monastery were built on the mountain, and in the 12th century, a tower was built on the northern slope.

Since the 13th century, the abbey has suffered many losses. First due to the capture of Normandy by France, then in the 14th and 15th centuries there was an attack by the English army, and finally in the 18th century as a result of the revolution, when the territory of the abbey was turned into a prison.

With Napoleon III coming to power, the prison was abolished and the abbey regained its former glory. The monastery is restored, and it becomes a national treasure of the country. In the mid-20th century, monks returned to the island again. Today, in addition to the Benedictine monks, about 70 people live on the island, it even has its own police, hospital, city hall and hotel.

12. Chateau d'If (Marseille)

Chateau d'If

Being in Marseille and having 2-3 hours of free time at your disposal, you can rest assured that you have something to see in France . After all, 3.5 kilometers from the Old Port of Marseille, on a small island washed by the sea waters of the Mediterranean Sea, there is a place covered with real legends. This is the Chateau d'If, the phenomenon of its popularity lies in the famous stories of the famous writer Alexandre Dumas, whose characters were prisoners of this castle. While walking through dark interior spaces and narrow staircases, visiting cramped and gloomy cells, a feeling of fear, hopelessness and the inevitability of fate involuntarily arises. The spirit of anxiety and danger, the menacing and mysterious nature of the castle’s strong structures again and again attracts numerous visitors.

Of course, first of all, a visit to the castle is of interest to fans of Dumas’ works. For everyone who is familiar with his work, a visit to the island, which contains tragic, albeit fictional, stories of famous book characters being imprisoned, will bring truly strong impressions. The cells in which the Count of Monte Cristo, Abbot Faria, and the mysterious prisoner Iron Mask whiled away their imprisonment are marked with signs. There are also apartments in which real historical figures spent their time. Once you enter the narrow courtyard-well, along the perimeter you will see terraces with cells, near each of which there is a sign with the name of the prisoner and the dates of imprisonment. And by going to the observation deck, you can admire beautiful views of Marseille and the Frioul Islands.

13. Saint-Tropez (70 km from Nice)

Resort town of Saint-Tropez

A small town in the south of France, Saint-Tropez, located on the Cote d'Azur near such prestigious holiday centers as Cannes and Nice, has become one of the most popular seaside resorts in Europe and has acquired the status of a landmark in France. The popularity of this fashionable town came back in the 19th century, thanks to the works of the artist Fields of Signac, glorifying the beauty of these places.

In a small area of ​​the town, a varied infrastructure is organized for vacationers.

lovers of wildlife can visit the butterfly museum, which displays about 4.5 thousand representatives of these beautiful insects of different species;

You can get into the spirit of these places and feel their flavor by visiting the Old Port - a very lively place, with a lot of chic shops, restaurants and expensive yachts left at the pier;

history buffs should see the ancient Suffren Castle, founded in the 10th century, located directly above the port;

For those wishing to relax body and soul, this seaside town has beautiful beaches - wild and private, equipped for various sports.

Saint-Tropez has also become famous for a series of magnificent French films shot here. Among the famous actors who starred in these films over the years were Brigitte Bardot, Louis de Funes, Romy Schneider and Alain Delon.

14. Champs Elysees (Paris)

Central street of Paris Champs Elysees

Rue Champs-Elise, known to everyone as the Champs-Elysees, stretches 1.9 kilometers in length in the heart of Paris. A visit to this landmark of France has already become a must for guests of the capital, because no one will believe that you visited Paris and did not see the famous street with your own eyes.

The walking alley is divided into several squares:

Ambassadors' Square, which includes hotels for diplomats;

Elysee Square, where the residence of the French President is located;

Marigny - a square with a theater and philatelist market;

Ledoyen - a square in which the restaurant of the same name is located;

a large square including the Small and Great Palaces.

It is difficult to imagine that once in the 16th century there was a swamp on the site of the Champs Elysees, until Marie de Medici ordered the drainage of the territory and the creation of alleys, planting trees and strengthening the road.

In the 18th century the street was extended up to the hill now known as the square Charles de Gaulle, and its design resembled a picturesque forest with flowers, meadows and houses. It was then that the street acquired its current name.

By the beginning of the 19th century, the French government gave an order to the city authorities to improve the street; it was from this moment that large-scale construction began in these territories; the Arc de Triomphe was erected in honor of Napoleon's victory in the Battle of Austerlitz. And starting from the 20th century, the Champs Elysees became the venue for national holidays.

15. Notre Dame Cathedral (Paris)

Notre Dame Cathedral in the center of Paris

Each country carefully preserves sights on its lands that become their calling card. Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the first places to visit in France on your excursion plan.

Over the centuries, the majestic Catholic church has witnessed wars, revolutions, destruction and restoration, but to this day it has retained the flavor of Gothic architecture intertwined with the Romanesque style. The iconic building is visited annually by millions of tourists from all over the world to see this recognizable Gothic silhouette with their own eyes. In addition, it is on the site of the cathedral that the so-called “Zero Kilometer” is located, from which all distances in the country are measured.

On the site where Notre-Dame de Paris is located, churches have been located since time immemorial - old ones were demolished, new ones were built. Finally, in 1163, the first stone of the future Notre-Dame Cathedral was laid, and its construction lasted for two centuries - until 1345.

Thus, in 1177 the walls of the structure were built, in 1182 the altar was installed, and the construction of the eastern part of the temple was completed. In 1200, construction began on the western facade, which is crowned by two high towers, and a spire was erected. Construction of the side chapels continued until the 14th century, and formal completion dates back to 1351. The cathedral existed in this form until the 18th century, when the French Revolution destroyed its centuries-old shrines. The revolutionaries did not spare the architecture of the cathedral - stained glass windows and expensive utensils were destroyed, and the temple itself was recognized as the center of the Cult of the Supreme Being. Later, the cathedral premises were used as a warehouse, and then were completely abandoned.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Napoleon returned the temple to its former glory - the architect Viollet-de-Duc, whom he hired, literally breathed new life into the cathedral. Since then, the building has remained untouched, with only minor cosmetic work periodically carried out to restore its façade.

In the south of France there is a country famous for bullfighting, Flamengo dancing, Puella, as well as beautiful beaches - Spain. While in France, think about visiting this country. Read about and be inspired for your further journey through European countries!