#868 Mont St. Michel, France

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When you have a large rock in the middle of a delta on the edge of the ocean, what should you do with it? Turn it into a fortified castle of spectacular proportions! With a maximum height of 90 meters above sea level and a scant 44 population, there are more tourists than locals on any given day! Because it is connected by a tidal causeway (which was only made permanent/dry in 1879), it makes a spectacular picture, surrounded by ocean, when it is high tide, some 14m above the low tide water level.

With a rich history of refuge and strongholds, it was first used as a Gallo-Roman fortification in the 6th century. By the 8th century, when it was called Monte Tombe, it had a more monastic function, and by the 10th century, it was a strategic part of the Normandy defenses. The Romanesque church of the abbey was added in the 11th Century. With narrow streets winding up the hillsides, and an imposing appearance from the distance (and up close). It is an amazing place of living history.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mont_Saint-Michel

#898 Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

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When I was on the top of this amazing structure, I was more than on top of the world: I was in heaven. It was on the Eiffel Tower that I first discovered that I am exhilarated by high places. I wanted to walk up and then walk down, both vetoed by my family. Sadly, don't have my own photos so commercial ones will have to suit. I looked at the chained in viewing platform imagining the crazy people who caused such confinement to be necessary. I loved watching students throw paper darts off the top, and seeing them sail away with the wind. What an unusual symbol of a country, but a beautiful one. I remember hearing that Parisiennes hated it when it was first built, but of course, now they wouldn't dream of it.

The collapsible toy, whether in the form of a pencil sharpener, or some other such thing... I think that must be one of the most famous souvenirs and so clever!

http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/eiffel-tower-landmark.htm

Canal du Midi Natural Waterways France

The Canal du Midi is one of the greatest engineering achievements of the modern age, providing the model for the flowering of technology that led directly to the Industrial Revolution and the modern technological age. It represents a significant period in European history that of the development of water transport as a result of mastery of hydraulic civil engineering. It combines with its technological innovation a concern for high aesthetic architectural and landscape design that has few parallels.

Continent: Europe

Country: France

Category: Cultural

Criterion: (I)(III) (IV) (VI)

Date of Inscription: 1996

Canal du Midi Mediterranean-Atlantic link

Investigations into the possibilities of creating canals joining the major natural waterways began in the early 16th century, when François I brought Leonardo da Vinci with him on his return to France. One of their projects envisaged linking the Garonne and the Aude rivers, and thus the Mediterranean with the Atlantic. The first successful enterprise was the Canal de Briaré, joining the Loire and the Seine, which was completed in 1642. Solution of the technical problems involved rekindled interest in the Mediterranean-Atlantic link and a number of projects were put forward.

It was to become a reality thanks to a very favourable political climate in France at the time, and also to the availability of Pierre-Paul Riquet, who began work on the project in 1654. He considered a number of possible routes to link the Garonne with the Aude and to surmount the watershed between the two rivers at Naurouze, which presented special problems of water supply. He enlisted the aid of local expert: Pierre Campmas, who was responsible for the water supply of the town of Revel, at the foot of the Montagne-Noire massif, Francois Andreossy, a civil engineer specializing in hydraulic projects, and Jean-Baptiste Colbert, at that time Intendant des Finances for Louis XIV, who was tireless in his efforts to encourage the creation of industries in France.

Canal du Midi France

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Colbert quickly realized the importance of the proposed canal in this connection, and he gave his full support to Riquet's project. A Royal Edict announcing the construction of the canal was issued in October 1666 and letters-patent were granted to Riquet; however, this authorized him to construct only the western section, between the Garonne at Toulouse and the Aude at Trèbes. He was authorized to construct the second section, between Trèbes and Sète on the Mediterranean coast, in 1669.

The project underwent many vicissitudes and financial crises in the years that followed, but it was largely completed when Riquet died in 1681. Following persistent complaints about the flooding of neighbouring agricultural land, the great military architect Vauban was sent to the Canal; as a result of his report a number of aqueducts were built and the Saint-Ferréol dam was raised in height. The final elements of the entire system were completed in 1694.

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There are five components of this property, and the total length of the waterway is 360 km. The main Canal du Midi runs from Toulouse to the Étang de Thau on the Mediterranean coast at Marseillan; there is a branch between Moussan and Port-la-Nouvelle, incorporating part of the earlier Canal de la Robine.

The waters of the Montagne-Noire are brought to the canal through two channels that join together and flow into the Canal at Naurouze. The canal de Saint-Pierre is the link between the main canal and the Garonne at Toulouse. Finally, there is a short section joining the Hérault River to the round lock at Agde. The ensemble contains 328 works of art - locks, aqueducts, bridges, spillways, tunnels, etc.

One of its most noteworthy features is the Saint-Ferréol dam on the Laudot River in the Montagne-Noire region. This is the largest project on the entire canal and the greatest work of civil engineering of its time, Riquet was conscious that he was creating a symbol of the power of 17th-century France as well as a functional communication waterway. He was assiduous, therefore, in ensuring that the quality of the architecture on the Canal was worthy of this role.

The bridges, the locks and their associated structures, and the tunnel entrances were therefore designed with monumental dignity and simplicity. He was also very conscious of the impact of his work on the landscape, and took great pains to ensure that it was suitably framed by trees and plantations that harmonized with the landscape through which it passed.

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Historic Fortified City of Carcassonne France

The historic city of Carcassonne is an excellent example of a medieval fortified town whose massive defences were constructed on walls dating from late antiquity. It is of exceptional significance by virtue of the restoration work carried out in the second half of the 19th century by Viollet-le-Duc, which had a profound influence on subsequent developments in conservation principles and practice. Since the pre-Roman period, a fortified settlement has existed on the hill where Carcassonne now stands. The earliest known occupation of the site dates from the 6th century BC, when a protohistoric hill fort (oppidum ) was built on this rocky spur overlooking the valley of the Aude and the ancient routes linking the Atlantic with the Mediterranean and the Iberian peninsula with the rest of Europe. In the 1st century BC, this settlement, Carcaso Volcarum Tectosagum, became the Latin Colonia Iulia Carcaso in 27 BC. During the turbulent years of the late 3rd and early 4th centuries, it was protected by the construction of a defensive wall some 1,200 m long.

Continent: Eorope

Country: France

Category: Cultural

Criterion: (II)(IV)

Date of Inscription: 1997

Elaborate defensive works

The fortifications, consisting of two lines of walls and a castle, which is itself surrounded by fortifications, extend over a total length of 3 km. Their line largely follows that of the Roman defences, and these are clearly visible over two-thirds of the total length. The Roman walls were strengthened by horseshoe-shaped bastions at roughly regular intervals. The masonry is in characteristic late Roman style: rubble cores faced with courses of dressed ashlars intersected by courses of bricks and built on concrete foundations. The Porte Narbonnaise on the eastern side and the Porte de l'Aude on the west are particularly elaborate defensive works.

Historic Fortified City of Carcassonne Castle

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Cathedral and Castle

It came under Visigothic rule in the 5th century and resisted repeated attempts by the Franks to capture it. The Arabs were more successful in 724, but were driven out in 759, after a siege led by Pepin the Short. The Visigothic period saw the creation of a bishopric at Carcassonne, sometime in the 6th century. It is probably that a cathedral was built here, on the site of the present Romanesque cathedral, on which work began in June 1096.

The 12th-century count's castle was built over the western part of the Roman walls; it was surrounded by a rectangular fortified enclosure in 1226. By the end of the 13th century the town had assumed its definitive appearance as a medieval fortress. A local revolt in 1262 caused the king to expel most of the inhabitants. He allowed them to settle on the other side of the river, where the new town that they set up was itself fortified in 1347.

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Château de Machecoul

Château de Machecoul. Vacation or travel is the most popular activities and eagerly awaited by everyone when it comes the holiday season. Everyone really liked and wanted a holiday to beautiful places and comfortable, in order to eliminate boredom and fatigue during a typical day working. But why the holiday is usually only aims to places who beautiful, luxurious, etc., why do not you try once in a while on vacation to places that are not normal, ie to places of 'haunted'. And one of them is the Château de Machecoul.

Château de Machecoul is a very famous house in the country, namely France. This house was formerly owned by an assassin named Gilles de Rais (1404 - 1440), a Breton knight, companion of Joan of Arc Marshal of France. But his name is known as a serial killer of children in the years 1434-1435. Most of the murders were committed in the house, and before being killed, they were first raped and then mutilated. And finally on the date October 26, 1440, this sadistic warrior executed by hanging.
And now this house became famous among tourist lovers, rather be one of the extreme categories of holiday destination and creepy. Many tourists who come here to see or feel the atmosphere of this house of cruelty.

Opéra Bastille or L'Opéra Bastille

Opéra Bastille or L'Opéra Bastille, is a modern opera house yanag very famous in the Place de la Bastille, in the 12th arrondissement, Paris, France. This opera house is the home base Opera national de Paris and is designed to replace the Palais Garnier, which is currently mainly used for ballet performances.
The idea of ​​making this house first came from the composer Pierre Boulez, Maurice Béjart, along with Jean Vilar, in 1968. They want to one day later this opera house can be advanced and famous in the world.

Construction of this building began in 1984 with the dismantling of the Gare de la Bastille, which opened in 1859 and closed on December 14, 1969, and where art expositions were held until after the demolition. then
This building was officially opened to the public on July 13, 1989, providing approximately 2723 seats, with a highly sophisticated facilities and modern.

Palais Garnier

Palais Garnier is an a very famous opera house in Paris even in the world. This place was built in 1861-1875 for the Paris Opera with an elegant 1979 seat opera house. And this place was originally called the Salle des Capucines because of its location on the Boulevard des Capucines in Paris 9th arrondissement.
Palais Garnier opera is a very luxurious building, and by the people considered the most famous opera houses in the world, becoming one of the symbols of Paris.

Parc André Citroën

Parc André Citroën is a public park covering 14 hectares (35 acres) located on the left bank of the river Seine in the XVe arrondissement, Paris. This park was built at the site of the former Citroën automobile manufacturing plant, and later named the same as the name of the company's founder, André Citroën. Furthermore officially opened to the public in 1992. The park is decorated with two greenhouses pavilion (hosting exotic plants and Mediterranean vegetation) at the end. In the Eastern cities, which are separated by a paved area featuring dancing fountains. South edge of grass bounded by a monumental canal, which consists of a pool reflecting an increase that reaches through granite guard houses. And on the North side are two sets of small gardens: the six "Serial Gardens", each with different scenery and architecture design, and "Garden in Movement" that presents wild grasses selected to respond at different levels for wind speed.

In addition, tourists who come to this park are very pleased with the existence of a giant balom. Balloon with a height of 32 meters high and 22 meters in diameter can accommodate about 30 adults, or 60 children. With the balloon is then allowed visitors to climb onto the sky of Paris and enjoy the beauty around him, like a scene Champ de Mars, the River Seine, the Basilica of the Sacré Cœur and Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral.
So if you are interested then just come to this park to enjoy the beauty of the park, as well as for large balloon ride while enjoying the scenery around the park.

Bois de Vincennes

Bois de Vincennes is a park by the English landscape to the east of Paris. The park is named after the nearest town, the Vincennes. This vast park of about 9.947 km ² (2458 acres), which is almost three times larger than Central Park in New York. Parks founded by Maurice "Morris" Blum was unveiled to the public park in 1860 by Napoleon III.

Around the park there are some places that can be used as tourist attractions, namely as:
In the southwest the park stands Redoute de Gravelle, a military fortress that was built under the reign of Louis-Philippe in the 19th century.
In the east lies a racecourse that specializes in running races.
In the west is a 14.5ha zoo, permanently established in 1934 at the zoo, while a smaller one built for the Exposition internationale coloniale 1931.
Arboretum de l'Ecole du Breuil, in the southeast corner of the park, is the town arboretum was established in this location in 1936.

And now the park has become one of the places frequented by tourists, both local and foreign tourists. So if you're around the area of this park, it never hurts to stop and relax while enjoying the scenery of this park.

Bois de Boulogne

Bois de Boulogne is a park which is quite popular in Paris, precisely located along the western edge of the 16th arrondissement of Paris, near the suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt and Neuilly-sur-Seine. This area has an area of ​​8.459 km2, which is 2.5 times larger than Central Park in New York. And in the northern part of the Bois de Boulogne is occupied by the Jardin d'Acclimatation, an amusement park with a zoo and other attractions.

Bois de Boulogne on the weekend full of activities, such as cycling, jogging, rowing boats, remote control speed boat, and picnic, but can not hold a barbecue. So that the tourists who come to tour the area around this park many who participated in the activities of events held at the park.

Parc des Buttes Chaumont

Parc des Buttes Chaumont is a very popular public park in Paris. The park is located in the 19th arrondissement in Paris, France This is the third largest park of its kind in Paris, which includes more than 5 kilometers of roads and streets.

Now the park is visited by many tourists, both from the domestic and overseas. Because here the tourists can enjoy some of the beauty of attractions, such as the following:
The main features and the most prominent is the corridor Sybil, who sits on the rocky peak of 30 feet above an island partially surrounded by lakes. Corridor, is added to the park in 1869, is a monument Corinthian style, modeled after the ancient Roman Temple of Vesta in Tivoli, Italy.
Then 63-meter-high suspension bridge, which crosses the lake and allow access to the island. And a bridge 22 meters high, known as "suicide bridge", allowing access to the corridor from the south side of the park.
Park also offers many kinds of native and exotic trees (many species of Asia): in particular, some of the cedars of Lebanon planted in 1880, the Himalayan cedar, Ginko Biloba, Byzantine hazelnuts, Siberian elm, European Hollies, and bamboo-leaved prickly ash, between other lots.
In addition, as part of the scheme city-wide wireless Internet access, the park has activated four wi-fi zone.

Jardin des Plantes

Jardin des Plantes is a major botanical garden in France, precisely located in 5ème arrondissement, on the left bank of the river Seine and includes 28 acres (280,000 m²). This garden is one of seven departments of the Museum National d'histoire naturelle, and is the first public gardens of Paris. This garden was founded in 1626 by Louis XIII's doctor Guy de La Brosse, garden plants for health. And after that precisely in 1640 the garden was opened to the public.

Jardin des Plantes museum includes four galleries, the Grande Galerie de l'Evolution, Museum of Mineralogy, Paleontology Museum and the Museum of Entomology. In addition to the garden there is also a small zoo, founded in 1795 by Bernardin de Saint-Pierre with animals from the zoo empire at Versailles. There is also a greenhouse was built in 1834-1836) by Rohault de Fleury, an early example of the French glass and architectural metals. Furthermore, 3 acres of garden is devoted to displays of ornamental horticulture crops. Alpine Park has 3000 species with worldwide representation. Special buildings, such as Art Deco wintergarden big, Mexico and Australia and hothouses display regional plants. And the Rose Garden which was created in 1990 by having hundreds of species of roses and rose trees.

So if you are interested then please come to this park, because you can travel while increasing knowledge.