French cultural sites. Unesco world heritage

There are 46 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in France. Most of them are religious buildings. The list also includes cities with a rich history (old cities in Paris, Strasbourg, the papal town in Avignon, and the episcopal town in Albi) and natural objects (the Porto Bay, the lagoons of New Caledonia, the nature of the island of La Réunion).

(In addition to material objects, there is also)

Complete list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in France:

The oldest surviving today is the Cistercian abbey (built in 1118).

The Antique Theater and the Arc de Triomphe of Orange (le Théâtre antique et l'Arc de Triomphe d'Orange)

The theater in Orange was built during the reign of Emperor Augustus, in the 1st century. BC, veterans of the 2nd legion of Julius Caesar. Today it is one of the best preserved Roman theaters in the world. The huge outer wall with the original elevator remained intact. The Arc de Triomphe was built later - in the 1st century. AD

Le Corbusier's architectural heritage

These are 17 architectural structures created in the 20th century. Franco-Swiss master Le Corbusier on three continents (America, Asia, Europe). Most of them are located in France: the houses of La Roche and Genre in Paris, the Villa Savoie in Poissy, the Chapel of Notre-Dame-du-Haut in Ronchamps, the monastery of Sainte-Marie de la Tourette in Eve, etc.

residential building in Marseille

Basilica and Vézelay hill (la basilique et la colline de Vézelay)

The basilica, built by 1150, was the largest pilgrimage center on the St. James of Compostela road. It is an example of Romanesque architecture.

Mont Saint Michel is a rocky island located in the English Channel in northern France. Famous for the abbey and its buildings, towering over the island. Is one of .

Champagne vineyards, houses and cellars

Vineyards and places associated with winemaking in the Champagne region.

Le Havre city center, built after World War II

The city center of Le Havre, rebuilt after the war (1945-1964) by the architect Auguste Perret, is included in the World Heritage List. This architectural ensemble is located on an area of \u200b\u200b150 hectares and unites more than 12 thousand buildings - residential buildings, commercial, administrative and religious buildings, built according to the principles of the School of structural classicism of modern architecture of the mid-20th century.

56 baffrois in France and Belgium are inscribed in the world cultural heritage. French towers are located in Picardy and Nord-Pas-de-Calais. The bell towers are an exceptional example of urban architecture adapted to the political and spiritual requirements of the time. Built in the Middle Ages, they became a symbol of the independence of cities from the feudal regime.

Wine farms of Burgundy

One of the recently added UNESCO sites (since 2015), celebrating the wine-making traditions of the Burgundy region.

The Loire Valley is an exceptional beauty of landscapes of historic cities and villages, great architectural monuments — , - agricultural land and the river itself.

Roads of St. James of Compostelle (les Chemins de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle en France)

A part of the pilgrimage route from the center of Europe to spanish citywhere the Cathedral of St. James of Compostel is located.

Ancient Roman monuments in Arles (les monuments romains et romans à Arles)

The ensemble consists of 8 objects located within a perimeter of 65 hectares, and includes a Roman amphitheater, an antique theater, a Roman forum, baths, a fortress wall, a temple, etc.

Episcopal town in Albi (la Cité épiscopale d'Albi)

The architectural ensemble, mostly medieval, of burnt red brick.

Bay in the Mediterranean Sea in the western part of Corsica. There is a nature reserve on the coast.

The castle is located near Paris in the town of Versailles. It was the residence of the French kings Louis XIV, XV, XVI. Kings and their courtiers lived there permanently from 1682 to 1789.

Fontainebleau Castle is one of the royal residences near Paris; many French kings lived here from Francis I to Napoleon III. The building is made in the Renaissance and Classicism styles.

The historic center of Avignon (Palais des Papes, Episcopal Complex, Avignon Bridge) (le Palais des papes, ensemble épiscopal, le Pont d'Avignon)

In the 14th century. the popes of the Roman Catholic Church lived in Avignon.

Old Lyon is located along the Saona River at the foot of the Fourvière hill. This is a rare example of the cities of the Middle Ages and Renaissance that have remained to this day in an almost untouched form.

Fortress of Carcassonne (la cité fortifiée de Carcassonne)

This medieval architectural ensemble is located in the city of Carcassonne on the right bank of the Aude River. The history of the fort dates back to the Gallo-Roman period. The fortress became famous for its almost three-kilometer-long double wall with 52 towers. The castle and the basilica are also located inside.

Lagoons of New Caledonia (les lagons de Nouvelle-Calédonie)

The incredible beauty of the lagoons of New Caledonia are located in Pacific... Belong to France. Bounded by the longest coral reef in the world.

Sites of ancient sites and grottoes with prehistoric drawings in the Vézère valley (la vallée de la Vézère)

Of interest are prehistoric drawings found in 25 caves in the Weser Valley, 147 Paleolithic sites in an area of \u200b\u200b30 by 40 km and hundreds of thousands of artifacts from the Stone Age.

Places of ancient settlements in the Alps (les sites palafittiques préhistoriques autour des Alpes)

We are talking about the remains of prehistoric, dating back to the period from 5000 to 500 years BC, lake dwellings around the Alps. These are 111 places around lakes, along river banks and in swamps. Only a small number have been excavated, but from the finds there one can judge about life in Europe during the Neolithic and Bronze Age.

Convent church in Saint-Savin sur Gartempe (l'abbatiale de Saint-Savin sur Gartempe)

Included in the list of world heritage due to well-preserved, unique wall paintings of the 12-13th centuries. (era of Romanesque art).

Three-level bridge-aqueduct, built in the 1st century. AD It is considered the tallest aqueduct built by the Romans. It was used to carry water from Uzes to the city of Nîmes. The aqueduct was used until the 6th century. Then the building was used as a bridge.

The UNESCO protected area lies between the Sully bridge and the Jena bridge (Bir-Hakem bridge for the left bank). On an area of \u200b\u200b365 hectares, there are 23 of the 37 Parisian bridges over the Seine, as well as two islands - and Saint-Louis. In this area there are many monuments of the capital of France:,, Place de la Concorde, ...

Chauvet-Pont d'Arc cave (la grotte ornée du Chauvet-Pont d'Arc)

This is a Paleolithic cave, discovered in 1994 in the department of Ardes. Named after its discoverer. About a thousand drawings and engravings were found in the cave, mostly depicting animals.

The Plateau of Kos and Seven (les Causses et les Cévennes): cultural landscapes of Mediterranean shepherds

The protected areas of Greater Kos and Cévennes are located in the south of the Massif Central between 5 cities - Mand, Ales, Ganj, Lodev and Millau. The history of the development of the region is of great importance, the organization here from the 11th century. large abbeys and the links between agrarians and their biophysical environment.

Pyrenees - Lost Mountain (les Pyrénées - Mont Perdu)

The Pyrenees-Lost Mountain is a vast mountainous region on the French-Spanish border. Natural and cultural landscapes are protected.

Peaks, craters and earthen ramparts of Reunion Island (Pitons, cirques et remparts de l'île de la Réunion)

Natural treasure of the French overseas department in the southwest Indian Ocean... The protected area makes up almost 40% of the island.

Place Stanislas, Nancy

The square was built by the will of the Duke of Lorraine Stanisl Leszczynski in 1755 by the architect Emmanuel Ere. It is considered one of the most beautiful squares in France.

Port of the Moon - this is the name of the port in the city of Bordeaux due to the characteristic curved shape of the coast on which the port is located. The commercial port of the city was of great importance in the development of Bordeaux in the 16th-20th centuries.

Provins, city of the medieval fair (Provins)

Proven is the former capital of the Champagne County. Famous for its medieval fortifications surrounding the city.

Wine region 35 km from the northern part of the Dordona Valley. It stretches over 7846 hectares and has a population of 6 thousand inhabitants.

Cathedral of Our Lady, the Abbey of Saint-Rémy and the Palace of Tau in Reims

Notre Dame Cathedral in Reims was built in the 13th century. It suffered significant damage during the First World War. But a statue of more than 2,300 statues has survived to this day.

Basilica Abbey Saint-Remy is one of the oldest churches in France, built in the 9th century. It contains the relics of Saint Remy, the baptist of the first French king, Clovis.

The Palace was the seat of the Archbishop of Reims and was also the seat of the French kings during their coronation. The palace got its name because of its shape - it was built with the letter T (in Greek Tau).

Cathedral in Amiens (la cathédrale d'Amiens)

This is the largest French cathedral (200,000 m 3 ). One of the examples of the classic Gothic style. The cathedral has lost almost all of its original stained glass windows, but its western facade and portal are still decorated with sculptures from the 13th century.

Cathedral in Bourges (la cathédrale de Bourges)

Built between the late 12th and late 13th centuries. Architecturally, it is remarkable for its harmonious proportions and the value of tympans, sculptures and stained glass windows.

Cathedral in Chartres (la cathédrale de Chartres)

A masterpiece of Gothic architecture, its sculptures, stained glass windows and cladding have been preserved for the most part in their original form. The cathedral was built in the 13th century.

Saline-les-Bains (la saline de Salins-les-Bains)

An ensemble of two former salt works. Salt production in these places has been carried out for 7 thousand years.

Taputapuatea in Polynesia

Taputaputea is a commune on the island of Raiatea vo French Polynesia... Places where ancient Polynesian cults were practiced are included in the UNESCO lists.

Vauban fortifications (les fortifications de Vauban)

Several cities (Arras, Besançon, Villefranche de Conflant, etc.) with fortifications of the military engineer Vauban.

Strasbourg: c center (Grande-île) and German Quarter Neustadt (la Neustadt)

The old center of Strasbourg is inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site as an example of a medieval city.

The German Quarter was built in the north and northeast of the Grand Ile, the historic center, during the period when the city belonged to Germany (construction went on from the 80s of the 19th century until the start of the First World War).

The mines of Nord-Pas-de-Calais

It is a territory in northern France in the departments of Nord and Pas-de-Calais, whose economic, social, ecological and cultural development is closely associated with the intensive mining of coal from the end of the 17th century. until the end of the 20th century.

The South Channel connects Toulouse with Mediterranean Sea... It was built in the 17th century. in the reign of Louis 14 and called by his contemporaries "the construction site of the century." It is the oldest operating channel in Europe.

selection useful services and sites for the traveler.

France is an amazing country. The centuries-old history, full of events, has left her with many architectural, historical and cultural attractions. In addition, France is rich in scenic natural sites. Its varied landscapes are literally breathtaking. The World Organization of UNESCO did not leave this country without its attention. After all, this country has added countless objects to the World Heritage List.

Versailles is a palace and park ensemble, the residence of the French kings. This luxurious palace, which matches the bright Baroque era of the sun king, is considered the most beautiful palace in all of Europe. Its lavishly decorated rooms are truly impressive. It is also pleasant to stroll through the neatly groomed, regular park around the palace. That is why the place has become one of the most visited in all of France.

In the northwest of France, between the provinces of Normandy and Brittany, lies the granite island of Mont Saint Michel. On it with a huge spire rises the Roman-Gothic monastery of the Benedictine abbey. The most spectacular ebb and flow in all of Europe is observed here. Water once a lunar day can move back several kilometers. And then, returning, blocks the dam, which is the only road to the island.

Let's go back to the distant past, to primitive times. Then there was still no such state as France, but, nevertheless, people already lived on its territory. In the province of Languedoc, archaeologists have found the amazing Lascaux caves. They found a large number of rock paintings. They were even nicknamed the Sistine Chapel of the primitive period. Paintings and prints appeared here in about 18-15 centuries BC. Just imagine!

On the island of Corsica, which is French territory, there is National park - calanque bays. These are rocky formations, mainly composed of granite. Over time and under the influence of the wind, they acquired bizarre shapes. Getting to the place is extremely difficult. It is possible only by water or through a mountain range. But those who had the patience, and they got to the coast, will definitely not regret it. Local landscapes are not in vain included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

In France, amazing monuments have survived from the time of Roman rule. These are mostly antique amphitheaters. There are such in the city of Arles, Orange, Lyon.

The list of UNESCO World Heritage in the French Republic includes 37 items (for 2011), which is 3.8% of the total (936 for 2011). 33 sites are listed according to cultural criteria, 17 of them are recognized as masterpieces of human genius (criterion i), 3 sites are included according to natural criteria, each of which is recognized as a natural phenomenon of exceptional beauty and aesthetic importance (criterion vii), and 1 mixed object which also meets criterion vii. In addition, as of 2010, 33 sites in France are on the list of candidates for inclusion in the World Heritage List. The French Republic ratified the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage on June 27, 1975.

UNESCO experts decided that the French gastronomic culture, with its rituals and complex organization, is worthy of inclusion in the prestigious List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. For the first time in the world, this status was given to the national cuisine, which testifies to “its widespread recognition”.
The experts of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee satisfied the request of France in the art of Alençon lace - entered the List of Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
Food is part of the French national identity. Norman, Provencal, Burgundian and Alsatian cuisines differ in the same way as the inhabitants of these regions. “I must say, French cuisine is subject to numerous influences, which allows it to create new dishes and new tastes. It is difficult to overestimate the importance of this openness, especially given the characteristics of modern society, ”says Hubert de Canson, Deputy Permanent Representative of France to UNESCO.

Versailles palace and park

Versailles - a palace and park ensemble in France (French Parc et château de Versailles), the former residence of the French kings in the city of Versailles, now a suburb of Paris; center of tourism of world importance.

Versailles was built under the leadership of Louis XIV since 1661, and has become a kind of monument to the era of the "sun king", an artistic and architectural expression of the idea of \u200b\u200babsolutism. The leading architects are Louis Levo and Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the creator of the park is André Le Nôtre. The ensemble of Versailles, the largest in Europe, is distinguished by a unique integrity of design and harmony of architectural forms and a transformed landscape. Since the end of the 17th century, Versailles has served as a model for the ceremonial country residences of European monarchs and aristocracy, but there are no direct imitations of it.

From 1666 to 1789, before the French Revolution, Versailles was the official royal residence. In 1801 it received the status of a museum and is open to the public; since 1830 the entire architectural complex of Versailles has become a museum; in 1837, the Museum of the History of France was opened in the royal palace. In 1979, the Palace of Versailles and the park were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Many significant events in French and world history are associated with Versailles. Thus, in the 18th century, the royal residence became the site of the signing of many international treaties, including the treaty that ended the American War of Independence (1783). In 1789, the Constituent Assembly working in Versailles adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen.

Chapel_and_Gabriel_Wing_Palace_of_Versailles
Northern view

South facade, Versailles 2

In 1871, after the defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War, the establishment of the German Empire was proclaimed in Versailles, occupied by German troops. Here, in 1919, a peace treaty was signed, which ended the First World War and laid the foundation for the so-called Versailles system - the political system of post-war international relations.

View of the palace from the park

Versailles_-zicht_op_de_Écuries
The history of the Palace of Versailles begins in 1623 with a very modest hunting castle, like a feudal one, built at the request of Louis XIII from brick, stone and slate roofing on the territory purchased from Jean de Soisy, whose family owned the land since the 14th century. The hunting castle was located in the place where the marble courtyard is now located. Its dimensions were 24 by 6 meters. In 1632, the territory was expanded by the purchase of the Versailles estate from the archbishop of Paris from the Gondi family, and a two-year reconstruction was undertaken.

La Victoire sur l "Espagne Marsy Girardon Versailles

Louis XIV

Since 1661, the "sun king" Louis XIV began to expand the palace in order to use it as his permanent residence, since after the Fronde uprising, living in the Louvre seemed to him unsafe. Architects André Le Nôtre and Charles Lebrun renovated and expanded the palace in the classicist style. The entire facade of the palace from the side of the garden is occupied by a large gallery (Mirror Gallery, Gallery of Louis XIV), which makes an amazing impression with its paintings, mirrors and columns. In addition to it, the Battle Gallery, the palace chapel and the Royal Opera are also worth mentioning.

Louis XV

After the death of Louis XIV in 1715, the five-year-old King Louis XV, his court, and the Regency Council of Philippe Orleans returned to Paris. Russian Tsar Peter I, during his visit to France, stayed in May 1717 at the Grand Trianon. The 44-year-old tsar, while in Versailles, studied the structure of the Palace and parks, which served as an inspiration for him when he created Peterhof on the shores of the Gulf of Finland near St. Petersburg (Verlet, 1985).

Versailles changed during the reign of Louis XV, but not on the same scale as it did under Louis XIV. In 1722, the king and his court returned to Versailles and the first project was the completion of the Salon of Hercules, the construction of which was begun in the last years of the reign of Louis XIV, but was not completed due to the death of the latter.

A significant contribution of Louis XV to the development of Versailles is recognized as the Small Apartment of the King; Chambers of Madame, Chambers of Dauphin and his wife on the first floor of the Palace; as well as the private chambers of Louis XV - the King's small apartments on the second floor (later rebuilt into Madame Dubarry's) and the King's small apartments on the third floor - on the second and third floors of the Palace. The main achievement of Louis XV in the development of Versailles was the completion of the Opera Hall and the Palais Petit Trianon (Verlet, 1985).

Small Trianon, palace

The King's Small Apartment, the Cabinet of the Gold Service

Games salon Louis 16

Madame Dubarry
An equally significant contribution is the destruction of the Ambassadors Staircase, the only ceremonial path to the Great Royal Chambers. This was done for the construction of the apartments of the daughters of Louis XV.

One of the gates

The inviolability of power. The French royal court.

In the decoration of the gate, the symbols of the "sun"

Golden Gate.

Palace of Versailles; Saint-Leu stone,

There have been no significant changes in the Park in comparison with the times of Louis XIV; The only legacy of Louis XV in the parks of Versailles is the completion of the Basin of Neptune between 1738 and 1741 (Verlet, 1985). In the last years of his reign, Louis XV, on the advice of the architect Gabriel, began the reconstruction of the facades of the courtyards of the Palace. According to another project, the Palace was to receive classical facades from the city side. This project of Louis XV also continued throughout the reign of Louis XVI, and was completed only in the twentieth century (Verlet, 1985).

Mirror hall

All accounts related to the construction of the palace have survived to this day. The amount that takes into account all expenses is 25,725,836 livres (1 livre corresponded to 409 g of silver), which in total amounted to 10,500 tons of silver or 456 million guilders for 243 g of silver / Conversion to the current value is almost impossible. Based on a silver price of 250 euros per kg, the construction of the palace absorbed 2.6 billion euros / Based on the purchasing power of the then guilder of 80 euros, the construction cost 37 billion euros. Putting the costs of building the palace in relation to the state budget of France in the 17th century, the current amount is 259.56 billion euros.

Facade of the palace. Clock of Louis 14.
Almost half of this amount was spent on interior decoration. The finest craftsmen of the Jacob era, Jean Joseph Chapuis, created luxurious boiserie. [Source not specified 859 days] These costs were spread over 50 years, during which the construction of the Palace of Versailles, completed in 1710, went on.

Imperator August

Roman busts

The site of the future construction required a huge amount of land work. The recruitment of workers from the surrounding villages took place with great difficulty. The peasants were forced to become "builders". To increase the number of workers in the construction of the palace, the king banned all private construction in the vicinity. Workers were often brought in from Normandy and Flanders. Almost all orders were carried out through tenders, the expenses of the executors exceeding those originally named were not paid. In times of peace, the army was also involved in the construction of the palace. Finance Minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert was careful about thrift. The forced presence of the aristocracy at court was an additional precaution on the part of Louis XIV, who thus ensured for himself complete control over the activities of the aristocracy. Only at court was it possible to receive ranks or posts, and who left lost their privileges
Fountains of Versailles

On May 5, 1789, representatives of the nobility, clergy and bourgeoisie gathered in the Palace of Versailles. After the king, who was legally given the right to convene and dissolve such events, closed the meeting for political reasons, the deputies from the bourgeoisie declared themselves the National Assembly and retired to the Ball House. After 1789, it was possible to maintain the Palace of Versailles only with difficulty.

Architectural elements of the palace decoration
On October 5-6, 1789, first a crowd from the Parisian suburbs, and then the National Guard under the command of Lafayette, came to Versailles, demanding that the king and his family, as well as the National Assembly, move to Paris. Obeying the power pressure, Louis XVI, Marie-Antoinette, their relatives and deputies moved to the capital. After that, the importance of Versailles as the administrative and political center of France decreased and was not restored later.
Since the time of Louis Philippe, many rooms and premises have begun to be restored, and the palace itself has become an outstanding national history museum, which exhibited busts, portraits, paintings of battles and other works of art of predominantly historical value.

Proclamation of the German Empire in 1871

The Palace of Versailles was of great importance in German-French history. After the defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War, from October 5, 1870 to March 13, 1871, it was the seat of the main headquarters of the German army. On January 18, 1871, the German Empire was proclaimed in the Mirror Gallery, and Wilhelm I was its Kaiser. This place was deliberately chosen to humiliate the French.

The peace treaty with France was signed on February 26, also in Versailles. In March, the evacuated French government moved the capital from Bordeaux to Versailles, and only in 1879 again to Paris.

At the end of World War I, a preliminary truce was concluded at the Palace of Versailles, as well as the Treaty of Versailles, which the defeated German Empire was forced to sign. This time, historic site was handpicked by the French to humiliate the Germans.

The harsh conditions of the Versailles Treaty (including huge indemnity payments and admission of sole guilt) fell a heavy burden on the shoulders of the young Weimar Republic. Because of this, it is widely believed that the aftermath of the Treaty of Versailles was the basis for the future rise of Nazism in Germany.

The marble courtyard of Versailles
After World War II, the Palace of Versailles became the site of German-French reconciliation. This is evidenced by the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Elysee Treaty, held in 2003. Palace of Versailles

Born in the palace

The following kings and members of their families were born in the Palace of Versailles: Philip V (King of Spain), Louis XV, Louis XVI,
Many palaces in Europe were built under the undoubted influence of Versailles. These include the castles of Sanssouci in Potsdam, Schönbrunn in Vienna, Great Palaces in Peterhof, Rapti Manor in Luga, Gatchina and Rundale (Latvia), as well as other palaces in Germany, Austria and Italy.

The interiors of the palace
Busts and sculptures

Bust of Louis XIV by Gianlorenzo Bernini

Busts in the Hall of Mirrors

Buste de Louis XV, Jean-Baptiste II Lemoyne (1749), dauphin apartment, Louis 15

Madame Clotilde

Buste de Charles X, 1825, François-Joseph Bosio

Marie antoinette

François Paul Brueys

Mirror gallery

Salle des croisades

Sleeping Ariadne

Escalier gabriel

Petit_appartement_du_roi

Lobby ceiling

Entrance from the lobby

Lobby

Salle des gardes de la reine

Salon Louis 14, medallion depicting a Roman legionnaire

Salon de Vénus, Louis XIV en empereur romain, Jean Varin

Louis Phillip's coat of arms
Paintings

Reception of Persian ambassadors Louis 14, COYPEL Antoine

Creator: Claude Guy Hallé (Français, 1652-1736)

Louis 14, author unknown

The Sun King, Jean-Léon Gérôme (Français, 1824-1904)

Ambassador Ladder Model

Staircase.

Lobby decor,

Mary Josephine of Saxony and Count of Burgundy, Maurice Quentin de Latour (author)

La remise de l "Ordre du Saint-Esprit, Nicolas Lancret (1690-1743)
Apartments Louis 14

Dauphin Apartments

Allegories, ceiling painting,

The birth of the Duke of Burgundy at Versailles on 6 August 1682 by Antoine Dieu

Royal bedchamber in gold.

Blue Cabinet

Rooms at the Grand Trianon

Marie Antoinette

Bed Madame Pompadour

Napoleon's chambers
Palace decor

Angels, ceiling of reception salon

Mirror gallery

Coat of arms of Louis 14
Chandeliers and candelabra

Dining rooms and fireplaces

Porcelain

Josse-François-Joseph Leriche, Queen's Toilet

Coyau

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