Whether prehistoric caves, alignments of stones or intricate and ornate constructions, France counts so many sights and monuments that it would be impossible to see them all. This extraordinary rich legacy, from times immemorial to now, is one of the reasons France is the most popular destination in the world. Visitors, often attracted by the beauty and the contrasts of its landscape, as well as its fable art of living, are struck by the enormity of its well kept and time honoured architectural wealth. All attest to a tradition of building, protecting and passing on what was inherited. Be they local communities, the Church or various arms of an empowered state, all share in this common drive to respect and celebrate one of the most visible manifestation of a glorious creative spirit.
As is the case for museums, Paris is handed the lion's share, with such architectural beacons as the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Basilica of the Sacré Coeur, the Arc de triomphe, but also Louis IX's Holy Chapel with its resplendent Middle Ages stain glass works, the monumental set-up of Louis XV's Place de la Concorde, the military hospital les Invalides, the XVII century Place des Vosges or the banks of the Seine river, among so many. But in the contemplation of these landmarks one should not lose sight of the fact that the whole of Paris is the product of successive builders, its entirety planned like a huge monument, offering different faces to onlookers, be they curious visitors or oblivious lovers, through the vast perspectives of its wide avenues and open squares.
Recent constructions, such as the Grande Arche de la Défense, or the restoration and expansion of the Louvre Museum, continue this tradition and rejuvenate without distorting the many personalities and appearances of the City of Light.
From the small Romanesque church to the majestic cathedrals of Chartres, Bourges or Amiens... from the megalithic alignments of Carnac to the Roman aqueduct of the Pont du Gard or Louis XIV palace of Versailles... from the simple country manor with its park and gardens to the munificent châteaux of Anjou and Touraine... from the Popes palace in Avignon to the monastery of Vézelay... from the ramparts of the city of Carcassone to the Roman arenas of Arles, Nîmes or Orange... or the fortified Abbey of the Mont Saint Michel, perched on a rock, surrounded by the bay waters of the Atlantic Ocean at high tide and treacherous quick sands at low tide that are said to conceal what may remain of defeated marauding armies... from the Palaeolithic paintings on the walls of the Lascaux caves, to the sparkling Renaissance jewels of the Loire valley, France is dotted with spectacular sights and monuments, of which no less than 25 have been listed by UNESCO as part of our World Heritage.
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