France is a transcontinental state, the capital is Paris. The country is home to about 67 million people (including the population of the colonies). Religion - Catholicism.
But first of all, France is the birthplace of Napoleon, a country with a revolutionary and romantic spirit, with many ancient monuments, the construction of which falls on different periods of the development of civilization.
If you do not take into account Paris as the main attraction of France, then there are still many interesting places in the country: Cote d'Azur, Aquitaine, Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence and others. There are approximately 5,000 palace and castle complexes in the country.
10 most visited places in the country
These sights of France seeks to see almost every person in the world. And these are really not just popular tourist brands, but unique places and objects.
Eiffel Tower
It's already hard to imagine Paris without it, although at the time of construction, almost the entire population of the city was against its construction. Even Maupassant and Hugo demanded to removeconstruction from the city. 20 years after the construction of the object, plans appeared to demolish the tower, but officials, considering the commercial component, refused to demolish it, because the building was already a huge success.
To this day, the tower is the tallest building in the capital and the fifth largest architectural structure in the entire country.
Château de Chambord
A grandiose and extravagant castle complex, a monument of the Renaissance. There is an opinion that the sketches of the project were created by Leonardo da Vinci.
Mont Saint-Michel
Natural monument located in Normandy and listed by UNESCO. This is a unique combination of sea coast and rocks, a piece of paradise, cut off from the outside world by high tides. The top of the rock is crowned with the monastery of St. Michael.
Château de Chantiny
Despite the fact that the building has not received such popularity as the Louvre, it has a collection of paintings, the second largest after the Louvre.
Prince's Palace, Monaco
To this day, this is the current princely residence of the rulers of Monaco - Grimaldi - and has been going on for 700 years.
The fortress was built in 1197. It was periodically completed and strengthened in order to, if necessary, protect itself from an attack by a more powerful neighbor - France.
Louvre
The largest and most famous art museum in the world. The number of visitors per year is simply amazing: in 2014 alone it was visited by 9.26 millionman.
This is 160.1 thousand m2 of various expositions on the territory of the ancient palace. The museum's collection contains works from all over the world, from different eras and trends.
Disneyland Paris
What to see in France besides paintings and castles? You can go to Disneyland. It is located 43 kilometers from the capital, in the city of Marne-la-Vallee. It was opened in 1992. In the park, there is a similarity with the Californian prototype. There are 5 themed areas, and in the center is the Sleeping Beauty Castle. For lazy visitors, a train is provided that slowly circles the entire territory.
Versailles
This is a majestic palace and park complex built by Louis XIV. The ensemble is a vivid expression of the idea of absolutism. Since the end of the 17th century, the palace has become the standard for creating residences of monarchs throughout Europe. Now this is not a royal chamber, but a museum where the doors are always open for visitors.
Many significant documents for the country and the world were signed in the palace, even an agreement to end the American War of Independence in 1783, an agreement to end the First World War.
National Center for Arts and Culture. Georges Pompidou
This is a huge cultural center with an exhibition of paintings and works by contemporary artists, a rich library, concert and exhibition halls.
Père Lachaise Cemetery
This legendary burial site is one of France's most intriguing sights. Simple and famous people are buried here. They come here not onlyto honor the memory of those who have gone to another world, but they also walk like in a park with children and even have picnics.
In fact, the language does not dare to call Pere Lachaise a cemetery, it is a real bright park with a huge number of monuments.
Here found the last refuge of Honore de Balzac, Edith Piaf and other world celebrities.
Bordeaux
To fully experience the charm and all the charm of the country, it will not be enough to look only at the top places and see the hallmark of France.
The city of Bordeaux is the world-renowned capital of winemaking. Tourists are invited to visit production facilities, cellars and, of course, taste real wine.
Besides this, Bordeaux is a port city, interesting for its history, in which there are 362 monuments. You should definitely walk along the largest square in all of Europe - Quincons (126 thousand m22) and look at the longest pedestrian street in France - the name of St. Catherine. There are many old buildings in the city: the Bolshoi Theater (XVIII century), the Cathedral of St. Andre, the old part of which dates back to the XI century. You can visit the base of German submarines, which has been preserved since the Second World War. There are many museums in the city, the most popular is the Museum of Fine Arts with paintings by Rubens and Titian.
Nantes
This city is an unusual attraction in France. Here in a short time you can move from one era to another. See the historical development of the country from the 15th century to the present day, just walking along the streets. Recommended places tovisiting: the castle of the Dukes of Brittany, the Dobre Museum and the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul.
Biarritz
This is the true surfing capital of the country. If you don’t know where to go in France, except for Paris, and love water sports, then you need to go to Biarritz. In the evening there are many noisy and cheerful parties. The city has many golf clubs and sports complexes, so everyone who comes here has a great opportunity to lose weight and have a great time.
There are many museums in Biarritz, be sure to go to the lighthouse, which not everyone dares to climb. After all, it is 248 steps. The height of the lighthouse is 73 meters.
The Imperial Chapel, built in 1864, is very beautiful. You can visit the Orthodox Church (1892), the icons of which were brought from St. Petersburg. Visit the Chocolate Museum and the Museum of the Sea with thousands of species of water creatures.
Toulouse
What to see in France? Aviation and space enthusiasts can head to Toulouse, home to the best museum in Europe dedicated to this field of human activity.
There are also ancient monuments in the city: Saint-Etienne Cathedral, Saint-Sernin Basilica, Asses Palace and others.
Nice
Compiling a description of the sights of France - Nice - is very difficult. This city on the azure coast of the Mediterranean Sea, among the Alps, is attractive no less than the Eiffel Tower. But as experienced tourists say, there are several places in the city that every person should visit when they come here.first. These are the Cours Saleya flower market, ancient Roman ruins and the Matisse Museum, the Promenade des Anglais and the Marc Chagall Museum.
Oddly enough, excursions in France, including a visit to Nice, involve a visit to the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Nicholas (1902-1912). It would seem, where? And everything is very simple: there is a very large Russian diaspora here.
Montpellier
It is believed that this is a youth city. Indeed, it is dynamically developing and offers many opportunities. Tourists also have something to see here - the old part of the city, separated from the modern pedestrian alley. The unique Fabre Museum operates in the city, where you can see the paintings of great creators - Matisse, Rubens, Renoir, Brueghel and others. Here is a beautiful cathedral and the Triumphal gate of Peyrou. There are many picturesque lakes in the area, and the Mediterranean Sea is not far away.
Avignon
Many reviews about France are left by tourists who have visited the small town of Avignon. They say that this place fascinates from the first second. The central part is completely surrounded by a high fence. It was erected in the XIV century. You can enter the old city only through one of the eight gates. Inside the city, there is the Papal Palace, which is a must-see. Such a grandiose construction is due to the fact that in the Middle Ages this city was the Catholic capital, and the popes lived here.
Lyon
Many people who have been to Lyon recommend setting aside at least a couple of days for it. This is verya colorful settlement, with old quarters that are completely different from each other. By the way, the old part of the city is included in the UNESCO list. And not in vain, because these lovely streets have not changed their appearance since the Renaissance. In addition, the city is the capital of Interpol. It is recommended to visit the Tête d'Or, the Amphitheater of the Three Gauls, the Cathedral of Lyon and the Croix Rousse.
Lille
This is a small town on the border with Belgium, so people often come here to get to this country as well. Although there are a lot of interesting places in Lille: the house-museum of Charles de Gaulle, Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille, the Botanical Garden and the Lille Stock Exchange.
And of course, what is France without the Champs Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe. Seeing them, you can say with confidence: “Yes, I was in France!”
