Sights of France. The main attractions of France The most famous monuments of France

Paris is a world-famous city of lovers, where the most famous sights of France are concentrated.

It is impossible to visit Paris and not see the magnificent Catholic Notre Dame Cathedral, the main “character” of Hugo’s novel of the same name. At the observation deck of Notre-Dame de Paris, you will be able to get a close-up look at the gargoyles and take a panoramic photograph of the city from a height of 45 meters.

Panoramic view of the Eiffel Tower in Paris from Airpano.com

Sights of French cities

France is not only Paris and the Western Alps. No less interesting are the sights of Provence, Brittany, Alsace, Normandy and other regions, where it is worth visiting not only large cities, but also historical villages against the backdrop of enchanting landscapes and fragrant herbs.

Nice

A fashionable resort city, the pearl of the Cote d'Azur, Nice attracts tourists not only with beaches and entertainment, leisurely walks along the Promenade des Anglais. In Nice there are museums of Chagall and Matisse, dedicated to ancient artifacts, an Archaeological Museum, and a park exhibition of objects of primitive art. And in order to have time to see everything

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 one 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 - a spectacle not for the faint of heart, of course, but it is 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?

Sights of France. The most important and interesting sights of French cities: photos and videos, descriptions and reviews, location, websites.

The most famous

The most famous landmark in France is undoubtedly. Built to grace the entrance to the 1889 World's Fair, the Eiffel Tower was to be dismantled twenty years later. However, with the advent of the radio era, it unexpectedly found itself in demand - radio antennas were installed on the top of the Eiffel Tower.

The Eiffel Tower was involved in one of the most notorious scams of the last century. In 1925, a certain Victor Lustrig, under cover of secrecy, convened a meeting of businessmen, at which he announced that the government intended to sell the Eiffel Tower for scrap metal. Andre Poisson bought the tower, paying a fantastic amount in cash. Even after recognizing the deception, he did not contact the police, fearing ridicule, which allowed Lustrig to sell the Eiffel Tower again.

The most ideal

They say that in France there are more than 40,000 castles of different ages, states of preservation and sizes. In France, there is even an association of hotels located in castles, with 525 members.

Ferdinand Cheval's Ideal Castle is considered one of the most intricate works of castle architecture. An ordinary French postman spent 33 years building his dream castle after retiring. In the Ideal Castle there was a place for the architectural traditions of China, India, the Middle East, and the crazy ideas of Antonio Gaudi. All the walls of the castle are covered with sayings of Buddha and Christ, and various fantastic figures. It is clear that the neighbors looked at the postman-architect as if he were crazy. Only after Cheval's death, his creation was appreciated by such luminaries as Pablo Picasso and Andre Breton and taken under protection by the French Ministry of Culture. The castle is located halfway between Lyon and Valence.

Most luxurious

22 kilometers from Paris is Versailles, a palace originally conceived as a modest hunting lodge for Louis XII and founded in 1634. Over the next fifty years, Versailles grew (and became the largest palace in Europe), and began to serve as the residence of French kings until the French Revolution.

One day Madame Maintenon, the favorite and later wife of Louis XIV, wanted to ride a sleigh in the middle of summer. To fulfill her whim, the paths of Versailles were sprinkled with a mixture of salt and sugar.

The size of the palace is amazing; it can simultaneously accommodate more than twenty thousand people; the length of the facade is 600 meters. In the famous Mirror Gallery, which is 70 meters long and has a ceiling height of 12, the walls are decorated with 17 luxurious mirrors and the same number of windows, creating an indescribable play of sunlight. The Palace of Versailles is surrounded by a park spread over an area of ​​100 hectares.

Versailles is on the list of historical monuments protected by UNESCO. About four million tourists visit Versailles every year.

The most sinister

The catacombs of Paris were formed as a result of the extraction of limestone for Parisian cathedrals and palaces. Steadily growing every year, the catacombs stretched from the center to the Parisian outskirts. The length of the tunnels is estimated at 300 kilometers.

In 1786, an Ossuary was established in the catacombs of Paris. The carefully disinfected remains of Parisians were brought here from mass graves; skulls and bones were carefully placed along the walls. Thus, more than 6 million people are buried in 800 meters of underground galleries. In the Osuaria you can see historical exhibits, altars, monuments, wall frescoes and drawings, bas-reliefs and sculptures. 2.5 km of underground tunnels are open to tourists. The entrance to the catacombs is located near the Denfer-Rochereau metro station.

It is customary to get acquainted with France from Paris - the city of romance and love, freedom and bohemia. Of course, the rest of France has many noteworthy attractions: the flowering fields of Provence, the splendor of the Alps, the luxurious castles of the Loire and Normandy, exquisite Bordeaux wines and amazing French cuisine. But this is only part of what makes it worth coming here. The list of the most visited places in France is compiled based on the number of visitors per year.

1. Notre Dame de Paris

Notre Dame Cathedral, located in the east of the Ile de la Cité, is the geographical center and heart of ancient Paris. Previously, in its place stood the first Christian church in Paris - St. Stephen's Basilica, and it was preceded by a Halo-Roman temple dedicated to Jupiter. 13.5 million people come to Notre Dame every year.

2. Palace and forest of Fontainebleau

50 kilometers south of Paris is the famous town of Fontainebleau, which, together with the castle of the same name, is surrounded by a large forest area occupying 25 thousand hectares. Wooded valleys and hills here alternate with cliffs and marshes covered with gorse and heather. The very first royal castle was built in Fontainebleau by Louis VII. The Fontainebleau Palace, built at the beginning of the 16th century, is one of the largest in the country. The forest surrounding it in former times served as royal hunting grounds for many French kings. The beauty of this place is so attractive that more than 13 million tourists come to Fontainebleau every year.

3. Disneyland

Europe's most famous Disneyland began life as a theme park in 1992, but underwent a major expansion in 2002. Tourists adore this huge park, which is one of the ten best Disneylands on the planet. It is located 32 kilometers east of Paris, in the town of Marne-la-Vallée. 12.8 million tourists come here every year.

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4. Flea market in the Parisian suburb of Saint-Ouen

This market appeared at the beginning of the 19th century, when junk dealers were forced to leave Paris to sell or exchange items found in piles of garbage. Even now, a lot of people come here every year to sell and buy unusual things: 11 million people a year.

5. Basilica of Sacré-Coeur

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart is the Catholic pearl of Paris. It was built in 1876-1910 according to Abadi's design on the top of Montmartre hill in a rare Roman-Byzantine style. This is the highest point in Paris (130 m). 10.5 million travelers climb here every year.

6. Louvre

This is one of the most significant art museums in the world, ranking third in area. The former royal palace stands in the center of Paris, in the 1st Parisian arrondissement, on the Rue de Rivoli, on the right bank of the Seine. The Louvre was erected in the 12th century, its building itself is an architectural masterpiece. The museum has such an abundance of exhibits that you can even briefly examine them only in a few days. Here is the famous “La Gioconda” by Leonardo da Vinci and many other world masterpieces. Every year 8.3 million people come to the Louvre.

7. Palace of Versailles

20 kilometers from the capital in the town of Versailles, the French kings built for themselves a luxurious palace and park complex. The first modest hunting lodge was built here in 1624 by Louis XIII. Later, right up to the revolution, Versailles remained a favorite royal residence. UNESCO included this palace and park complex on its World Heritage List. The luxurious layout and scale of the complex make it one of the most famous palaces in the world. Up to 7 million tourists come to Versailles every year.

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8. Eiffel Tower

This is still the tallest building in France with an openwork metal frame and has long become the most recognizable Parisian landmark. It was built in 1889 by the engineer Gustav Eiffel for the World Exhibition. Since then, the flow of tourists seeking to admire the tower from below or the panorama of Paris from its observation deck has not decreased. The height of this elegant structure is 324 meters. Over 6.7 million people come here every year.

9. Center Pompidou

In the 4th arrondissement of Paris, in the Beaubourg quarter, there is a fairly modern cultural center named after the former French President Georges Pompidou. It was he who initiated the opening of this center in 1977. There is a large library, the Museum of Modern Art, exhibition and concert halls, as well as the Institute for the Coordination and Research of Music and Acoustics. Every year 6.6 million people come to the center.

10. Verdon Gorge

800 kilometers south of Paris is the 25-kilometer Canyon du Verdon, the largest in Europe. This deep rocky gorge offers wonderful scenery and bright turquoise water. If you continue your journey a little further south, you can find yourself on the French Riviera. Along the bottom of the canyon, the bed of the Verdon River follows its bends. Not only tourists come to this natural attraction to see and admire the surrounding views, but also lovers of active recreation can be found here. People can raft and kayak along the river here, swim in calmer places, and rock climbers explore the local steep cliffs.

11. Mont Saint Michel

This is the name of a rocky island in northwestern France, connected to the mainland by a special dam. This island was turned into a fortress when a Benedictine abbey in the Gothic style was built on it, merging with the city and the island into a single landscape and architectural ensemble. The fortifications erected on the island date back to the 8th century. At the top of the island there is a beautiful medieval castle, which for a long time served as a dungeon, and now travelers from all over the world love to visit it. Below the monastery there is a medieval village.

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12. Cote d'Azur

The Cote d'Azur is the Mediterranean coastal strip stretching from the city of Saint-Tropez to Monaco. This place is strongly associated with elitism, fabulous wealth and luxury. Otherwise it is called the French Riviera, which then continues with the Italian Riviera. Since the 19th century, the Côte d'Azur gradually became a popular holiday and treatment destination in Europe. Thanks to the Russian tsars, Nice flourished, the film festival made Cannes famous, and it became fashionable to satisfy excitement in the Monte Carlo casino. Here everyone strives to show off their wealth, competing in the coolness of villas and yachts, and this is not considered shameful.

13. French Alps

The French Alps are home to many prestigious ski resorts. One of these is Annecy, which appeared next to a 14th-century castle. The town of Annecy has many canals, thanks to which it is called the “Venice of Savoy”.

14. Strasbourg

The subject of an eternal dispute between France and Germany is that after the last war, Strasbourg was assigned to the French. But passing from hand to hand over the centuries, it absorbed the culture of both countries - German solidity and French charm are visible in the lifestyle of the townspeople and in the architectural appearance of the city. It is especially pleasant to walk along the picturesque embankment, along rows of neat brick and wooden houses, and admire the flower beds and flowerpots that decorate the entire city.

15. Provence

This is a distinctive historical region of France, famous for its fields of blooming lavender, alluring with its enchanting aroma. Provence has many magnificent landscapes, lush green hills, on the tops of some of which ancient villages are nestled, and sharp cliffs. Provincial life in Provence is still measured and unhurried, so here you are drawn to enjoy the silence and beauty of nature.

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16. Courchevel

Deep in the French Alps lies a major ski resort catering to the cream of society. It has over a hundred descent routes with varying levels of difficulty, served by 60 lifts. The height difference of the slopes here reaches 1600 meters. In addition to the beautiful mountain scenery, here you can count on first-class service. It won’t surprise anyone here if you see a world movie or sports star in the queue for the lift. The area around Courchevel is one of the most beautiful areas in France.

17. Loire Valley

In the valley of this French river there are many magnificent castles and gardens, which are under the protection of UNESCO. Forests here alternate with rural landscapes, vineyards with mansions reflected in the mirrors of lakes. Particularly popular among tourists are castles such as Chambord, Chenonceau and Cheverny, which are not only fabulously beautiful, but also have an interesting history.

18. Marseille

Marseille is the main port of France. It has an incredibly rich history. Due to the fact that it is an international port, there has long been a multicultural atmosphere here. In 2013, it was its turn to become the cultural capital of the European Union. Historians, artists and poets happily wander through the ancient streets of Marseille. Tourists love to visit local museums and look at city architecture. Gourmets can enjoy the variety of Marseille cuisine in local restaurants.

19. Corsica

This island in the Mediterranean Sea now belongs to France and lies between it and Italy. On this unique island you can find many wild beaches, perfect for relaxing with your family. The most famous Corsican was Napoleon Bonaparte.

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20. Biarritz

On the shores of the Bay of Biscay in France is the city of Biarritz. Once upon a time, Emperor Napoleon III rested here, who built a villa here for Empress Eugenie in the style of architecture from the times of the Third Republic. In the 20th century, various presidents and celebrities vacationed at this resort. The famous opera bass Fyodor Chaliapin also had his own villa there. In recent years, the magnificent waves of the Atlantic have attracted surfers from all over the world to Biarritz.

21. Champagne

This region of France has become famous as the birthplace of sparkling wines, namely champagne. It is not surprising that the area is dominated by numerous vineyards. But in addition to these, there are also places where you can taste local wines such as Epernay, as well as the historical cities of Troyes and Reims.

22. Saint-Tropez

The small but very famous and revered town of Saint-Tropez, especially in Western Europe, is filled with crowds of vacationers every summer. But even in the off-season it’s worth a visit. It is here that numerous yachts compete in their luxury. Here you can leisurely stroll along the cobblestone streets, moving from beach to beach, admiring the surrounding scenery. It is interesting to at least look from the outside at the luxurious La Ponche hotel, where famous guests usually stay.

23. Chamonix

This alpine French city hosted the first Winter Olympic Games in 1924. Since then, winter sports have flourished there, among the magnificent mountains: cross-country and alpine skiing, snowboarding, and mountaineering. Professional athletes come to Chamonix; it is no coincidence that it has become the European capital of extreme entertainment. But even less daring slalom skiers or experienced climbers will find it interesting here, for example, to take a ride on the cable car and take in the magnificent landscape from a bird's eye view.

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24. Normandy

This historical region of France is located on its northern coast. It’s as if two worlds collide here: the stormy waters of the English Channel and the bright greenery of the coast. Normandy has a long and very interesting history, which is very interesting to study. It is here that the wonderful island city of Mont Saint-Michel, the Gothic temples of ancient Rouen are located, here you can taste real Neuchâtel and Norman Camembert. There are also consonant Channel Islands, but they belong to Great Britain.

25. Chateau de Chambord

Perhaps Chambord is the most recognizable castle in Europe. This unique building has features of Renaissance architecture. This castle was built during the time of Francis I. Some researchers suggest that Leonardo da Vinci himself, who at that time was at the court of the French monarch, could have taken part in the design of the castle. He designed a staircase that takes you to the very top of the castle, from where you can see all the details of the castle's roof and the surrounding estate.

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 the old days it was surrounded by meadows, this was 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
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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.