Architecture and the Monuments in France
There are thousands of landmarks
and monuments around France, and whether it is a
chateau, a landmark such as the Arc de Triomphe, or
a cathedral or other noted buildings, the
architectural styles go unsurpassed for the numerous
kinds and styles of architecture, as well as the
noted details of the architecture of these
buildings. Dating from Roman times through the
nineteenth century [excludes the Abbeys, Basilicas &
Cathedrals that are noted above].
Exceptional Monuments and Fortifications
Amphitheatre | Avignon |
Arc de Triomphe |
Carcassone |
Eiffel Tower |
Half Timbered Houses - Bourges |
Haut Koenigsbourg |
Louvre | Mont-Saint-Michel |
Pantheon | Pont du Gard - Nimes
| Statue of Liberty |
The Roman Amphitheatre
in Nimes, is one of the best preserved arenas in
Europe. Built around the 1st or 2nd century
AD, it is of the Classical period, and was used
primarily for spectator sports. The arena's
capacity is 20,000; it is round in shape that
distinguishes the difference between an
'amphitheatre' and a 'theatre' [a theatre is
semi-circular], and was used for medieval housing
when the walls were being used as a fortification.
It is used today still...for bullfights.
The Roman amphitheatre is just one of many fine
Roman riches that can be found in the city of Nimes.
Nearby is the famous Pont du Gard
aqueduct, built in the 1st century, and carried
water from the springs near Uzes [the Roman
settlement town] to the city of Nimes. The most
spectacular point of the aqueduct of course is the
magnificent three story high Pont du Gard that
carried water over the Gardon river. This like
many of the other Roman buildings and projects are
distinguished and has earned the designation as a
World Heritage
UNESCO
site.
Another fine example of Roman architecture is that
of Maison Carrée,
a temple that
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was built in the period of 19 -16 BC, and
one of the finest preserved temple from the
period of the Roman Empire. Please visit the
other Roman sites while in Nimes - the Temple Diana,
the Jardins de la Fontaine or the Fountain
Gardens and the Tour Magne [great tower] set on 374
foot high Mont Cavalier, is the only remaining tower
of 30 towers, that defended Nimes during the 1st
century.
Nimes is located in the Departement of Gard, in
the
Region of Languedoc-Roussillon. Nimes
history dates back to 4000 BC, and actually became a
Roman colony about 50 BC. |
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The walled city of Avignon
has an extraordinary history, and should definitely
be a must see if you're visiting Provence. It
is located in the Departement of Gard, in the Region
of Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur.
Avignon history dates to Celtic times, and one
of the most flourishing cities under Roman rule, and
the first Transalpine province of the Roman Empire.
It has been ruled, destroyed, rebuilt and forged
forward. It was the Papal seat for seven Popes
instead of Rome - from March 1309 until 1377.
It remained the Papal seat until the French
Revolution. Avignon had belonged to the Papacy
[until 1791], but became a part of France after the
revolution. For more information on Avignon, and the
great walled cities of France,
click
here.
The Arc de Triomphe sits at
Place Charles de Gaulle, was commissioned by
Napoleon who had decided to build an arch of triumph
in 1806 after his victory at Austerlitz. This
would be a memorial to his war efforts, so that his
troops could march through in victorious manor for
his people to cheer. However, this wasn't to
be with his defeat at Waterloo by Gen. Wellington.
The Arc de Triomphe construction started in
1911-1914, and was halted after the defeat of
Napoleon. The work on Arc de Triomphe was
started again in 1833 and was completed in 1836.
The arch of triumph stands on a hill, where a dozen
avenues start [rather like a starburst with the Arc
its center], that include the Champs Elysees, the
Avenue Foch, the Avenue de Grande Armee and nine
other avenues.
The Arc de Triomphe is a magnificent architectural
work, with some spectacular views from the top of
the Arc de Triomphe. They include the Champs
Elysées heading towards the Louvre, Place de la
Concorde, the Tuileries Gardens, and in the opposite
direction, you can view the much larger and
modernistic La Grande Arche de la Défense.
The Arc de Triomphe contains
all the names of those killed in WWI, and is the
burial place with an eternal burning flame for the
unknown soldier.
Carcassone is a huge
walled city in the Region of Languedoc Roussillon,
and the Departement of Aude. With two
thousand years of history, this medieval
walled town lies on the right bank of the River Aude.
It has fifty two towers and doubled town walls
making a total of 3 km of battlements. There is no
restriction to access to the town of Carcassonne.
It is home to one hundred twenty persons today, and
offers a great selection of boutiques, artisans and
craftsmen. For more
information on this World Heritage
UNESCO
site click here.
Eiffel Tower
- the Tour Eiffel was built for the World's Fair
of 1889 by Gustave Eiffel.
Once the structure was begun and built, the people
of Paris were appalled, and didn't like it one bit.
It was an architectural new and bold design at that
time. Now, it is the one of the most visited
monuments in the world. For a detailed
article on the Eiffel Tower, with photos of
construction along the way, and the final tower
just click here.
Half Timbered
Houses in Bourges are
found in the town of Bourges that is located on the
northern edge of the Massif Central, almost in the
center of France.
The town became the
important Roman settlement of Avaricum
[town of abundant
water], with a river port, consisting of a harbor
and wharves. Avaricum also had a vast Roman
amphitheater. Bourges half timbered houses became a
World Heritage
UNESCO
site
Half timbered houses are found in abundance in
Strasbourg as well. On a river cruise through
Petit France, showcases many of these delightful
buildings.
Haut Koenigsbourg
the fortress sitting on
a mountain top in the Region of Alsace.
Louvre
is one of the most
magnificent art museums in the world.
The
Abbey of
Mont-Saint-Michel
is built on a rocky hill sitting
in the middle of sand flats, where a surging tide
rises more than 80 feet.
The Pantheon, is one
of the most visited sites in Paris is that of . The
Pantheon is located in the 6th arrondissement more
widely known as the Latin Quarter. The church
was built by a vow from King Louis XV in 1744, after
an extensive illness, that he would replace the
church of Sainte-Genevieve that had been destructed,
if he survived his illness. He did survive the
illness, and installed architect Jacques-Germain
Soufflot to head the project of constructing the
Pantheon.
The Pantheon is of Neoclassical design, has a huge
portico with massive Corinthian columns, and was
completed by a pupil of Soufflot's after his death
in 1789. Right in time for the French
Revolution. The Revolutionary government
changed the Pantheon into a burial place for great
French people of France. The Pantheon twice more
became a church, and finally a temple, and the final
resting place of these great people of France.
Some of the more noted French people buried in the
Pantheon's necropolis are:
Voltaire, Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Émile Zola,
Pierre and Marie Curie [the first woman buried
here], Louis Braille, Jean Moulin, Marat and
Jacques-Germain Soufflot, its architect. |
