The castle of Chambord is situated in the town of Chambord, in the “département” of Loir-et-Cher and the Centre region. It was built on the order of François Ist  between 1519 and 1547. This castle is the biggest of the Loire castles. The castle was registered on the UNESCO world heritage in 1981 and it is also classified as “Historic Monument” since 1840.

FLORENCE JANY. 2005. Im@gine!

St Michel Mount is a French town situated in the “department” of La Manche and in the Basse-Normandie region. It is named after a rocky island dedicated to Saint Michel, island dominated by the Abbey of the St-Michel Mount. His inhabitants are called the Montois. The St-Michel Mount and its bay is the most visited place of interest in Normandy and the second in France with more than 3 000 000 visitors every year. A statue of Saint Michel can be seen at the top of the abbey. It was classified as “Historic Monument” in 1874 and the site appears since 1979 on the list of the world heritage of the UNESCO.

Photographie prise par Andim

The Arenae of Nîmes are Roman amphitheatre situated in the city of Nîmes, in France, in the Gard. It was built at the end of the I st century to entertain the population of Nimes. During the great invasions, it was transformed into a strengthened village where the population could take shelter. Then, in the Middle Ages, until the XIX th century, it became a district with its streets and its shops. In the XIX th century, the monument was reconverted to bullrings for bullfights. Everyday, they welcome about twenty bullfights and races that are typical of the Camargue as well as different cultural events, and the building also welcomes tourists all year long.

The Pont du Gard is a Roman aqueduct with three levels, situated in the town of Vers-Pont-du-Gard, in the “département” of the Gard in France. It is the highest aqueduct known during the Roman period. It steps over the Gardon and assures the continuity of the Roman aqueduct which drove the water of Uzès in Nîmes. The Pont du Gard is an historic monument since 1840 and it was registered on the UNESCO world heritage list in 1985. It is an important place of the region tourism during summer.

The palace of Versailles was the residence of French Kings. Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI lived there. This monument is considered as one of the most beautiful in France. It is situated in the city of Versailles in France. This palace became a symbol of the highlight of the French monarchy. It spreads out on 67 000 m ² and includes more than 2 000 rooms. The park of the palace of Versailles extends over 815 ha among which 93 ha of gardens. It includes many elements among which the young and the big Trianon, a menagerie, the hamlet of the Queen, the big and the small Channel, one orangery and the ornamental lake of the Swiss.

The Arc de Triomphe is situated in Paris, on the Place de l’Étoile, at the top of the « avenue des Champs-Élysées ». It is 55 metre high and 45 metre wide. Its construction began in 1806 but was abandoned during the Restoration before being finally taken back and finished between 1832 and 1836 under Louis-Philippe I. Under the Arc de Triomphe, we can see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the First World War and it shelters the eternal flame which commemorates the memory of the soldiers who died during the battles.

Notre-Dame de Strasbourg cathedral is a Roman catholic cathedral situated in Strasbourg, representative of the Gothic architecture. It is recognizable by its only bell tower surmounted by an arrow. It is 142 metre high and it was the highest building of the world from 1647 till 1874. Now, it is the second highest cathedral of France after that of Rouen which is 151 metres.

Notre-Dame de Reims is a cathedral of the XIII th century situated in Reims and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The cathedral was finished in the XIV th century. It is one of the major realizations of Gothic art in France, for its architecture and for its 2303 statues. It is registered on the UNESCO world heritage since 1991. Famous place of the “champenois” tourism, it welcomed 1 500 000 visitors in 2007.

Notre-Dame de Chartres cathedral is the most famous monument of Chartres. It is considered as one of the most perfect Gothic buildings. The current cathedral, of Gothic style, was built at the beginning of the XIII th century on the ruins of a previous Romanic cathedral, destroyed during a fire in 1194. It is a big place of pilgrimage. The cathedral was the first classified monument to the world heritage by the UNESCO in 1979.

Notre-Dame de Paris, or simply Notre-Dame, is the cathedral of the catholic archdiocese of Paris. Its construction began in 1163. It is not the biggest French cathedral, but it is one of the most remarkable that produced the Gothic architecture in France and in Europe. Notre-Dame is situated in the eastern extremity of the island of the City, right by the banks of the Seine, in the fourth district of Paris. After the revolutionary storm, from 1844 till 1864,  the cathedral underwent an important and sometimes debated restoration steered by the architect Viollet-le-Duc. Both rosettes which decorate each of the arms of the transept, are one of the biggest of Europe and measure each 13,1 metres in diameter.