Churches Paris houses many of history's more stunning
spiritual relics-- cathedrals and chuches that stand today as
breathtaking testimonials to a complex heritage of Christianity that
dominated in Paris from the fall of the Roman Empire to the French
Revolution. Many of these majestic cathedrals and churches fell into
near-ruin in the wake of the Revolution, but revived interest in the
19th century broug…
Monuments Paris may be one of the world's best-preserved
cities. History is a walk around the block here, with stunning Paris
monuments finding visitors wherever they venture. Come here to find
information on Paris' best-known monuments and historic buildings,
but also for picks of lesser-known, hidden nuggets of history around
the city.
Special Features
Loire Valley Châteaux The châteaux, numbering more than three hundred, represent a nation of
builders starting with the necessary castle fortifications in the 10th
century to the splendor of those built half a thousand years later. When the
French kings began constructing their huge châteaux here, the nobility, not
wanting or even daring to be far from the seat of power, followed suit.
Their presence in the lush, fertile valley with its moderate climate, began
attracting the very best landscape designers.
Romantic Paris Paris is the city of romance, and a
tremendously popular destination for couples, lovers and
honeymooners. The city is filled with cozy, intimate romantic hotels
and accomodations.
Contemporary architecture
In the suburbs...
Squares, Areas and Parks Paris may be one of the densest cities in
Europe, but luckily, there are plenty of sublime green spaces to
explore around the city.
Libraries & Galleries Paris has been a major center of innovation
and genius for centuries, and this heritage is reflected in the
city's incomparable museums and galleries. The Louvre and the Musee
d'Orsay are among the most famous, but countless other smaller, more
intimate museums and galleries await art lovers.
Azay-le-Rideau Philippe Lesbahy, built from 1518 to 1527
The sculptural details at Azay are particularly remarkable. On
the ground floor, fluted pilasters on high bases support the salamander
and the ermine, emblems of François I and Claude de France. The Romantic generation rediscovered the appeal of Azay-le-Rideau.
Honoré de Balzac called it "a facetted diamond set in the Indre." Now Azay-le-Rideau is surrounded by a distinctly nineteenth-century parklike
English landscape garden with many specimen trees, especially exotic
conifers: Atlas cedar, and bald cypress and sequoias from the New World.
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