Cultural sightseeing in France

France is the most popular and visited country, and Paris the most toured city in the world. This is not surprising because the country has an incredibly rich cultural history. Millions of people go to France to get acquainted with its architecture, castles, amazing museums and enjoy the spirit of its historic streets. In France, there are also museums with unique collections of old art pieces, exhibitions of ultra-modern popular authors and monuments of architecture of different times. One of the most ancient cultural constructions of the country is the Mezon Carre ("square house"), located in Provence. It was founded in the 1st century BC and is a temple of ancient Roman temple. Even the orthodox Catholics did not destroy the majestic structure. They converted it into a temple.

One of the most visited places in France is the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris, a symbol of the French capital, sung about in the novel by Victor Hugo. The building was founded in the 12th century and represents a unique example of the Gothic style. In the cathedral, there is a crown of Christ, one of the most important Christian relics. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Paris is located in the historical center of the capital, on the island of Cite. Nearby, is another important place in the city - the cathedral of Saint-Chapelle of the 13th century. On Montmartre is another unique structure - the Basilica of Sacre-Coeur ("Basilica of the Sacred Heart") of the 19th century. The temple was built in memory of the victims of the Franco-Prussian war in the Byzantine style. It towers over the most famous hill in Paris and houses the biggest bell of the city.

In the suburbs of Paris, there are two legendary places where the history of the country was created and the destinies of its kings were made. In Versailles, is the famous Versailles palace built by one of the most famous French kings - Louis XIV, the sun king. In the palace is the Museum of France, where you can fill in the gaps of history and get acquainted with the exciting history of the royal court and the whole country. Around the palace is a picturesque park, decorated with statues and fountains. Another palace is located in Fontainebleau. In it four French monarchs were born and in its halls, Napoleon Bonaparte was abdicated. The Palace of Fontainebleau has uniquely luxurious interiors in the Empire style. Several picturesque parks are broken on its territory. It has its own theater. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

In the valley of the Loire are unique monuments of European architecture - the famous castles. The complex consists of more than 70 castles and fortresses, built mainly in the middle ages and preserved to our days. The largest castle in the region is the castle of Blois, built in the 13th century. The residence in Blois was of great political importance. Here Louis XIII sent his mother, Marie de Medici after being removed from court. The castle is one of the main attractions of the region and is depicted on many postcards. Another famous castle of the Loire is Amboise. It was in it that Leonardo da Vinci created the "Gioconda". His grave is also on the territory of the castle. Chateau de Chaumont-sur-Loire till date is one of the extraordinary castles of the Loire. It was founded in the 10th century.

The main museum of France and the most famous museum in the world is the Louvre. Annually it is visited by nearly 10 million people. It is located in the ancient royal palace and is one of the oldest museums in the world. In it there are collections of Ancient Iran, Rome, Egypt, priceless sculptures and canvases as well as art objects. The most famous exhibits are the "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci, "The beautiful gardener" by Raphael, "Venus de Milo". In Paris is another major museum of fine art - the Museum of Orsay. It contains the famous canvases of Van Gogh, Pissarro, Monet, Manet, Degas, Gauguin, Renoir, and Sisley. Also in Paris, it is worth visiting the National Museum of Natural History open to visitors as far back as the 18th century. It features a garden of plants, a paleontological museum, an evolution gallery and a human museum.

The main cultural center of the French capital is the Center Georges Pompidou, founded by the former president of France. It is a center for the study and preservation of contemporary art in all its directions. In Marseilles on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, there is an interesting Museum of the Civilization of Europe and the Mediterranean. In Lyon is a fascinating museum of the Gallo-Roman civilization, whose exhibition helps shed light on the origin of the French state. It contains unique antique artifacts. In Clermont-Ferrand in a very beautiful historical building, is located the Bargouin Museum, where exhibits of fine art, a collection of antique coins and archaeological exhibits are displayed.