Landmarks

History and visitor guide to Chambord — the largest château in the Loire Valley, built by François I as a Renaissance hunting lodge of staggering ambition.

The tidal island abbey of Normandy — 1,000 years of monastic history, Gothic architecture, and one of France's most dramatic landscapes.

The history, architecture, and resurrection of France's most famous cathedral — from 1163 to the 2019 fire and the 2024 reopening.

Louis XIV's magnificent palace — from royal residence to museum, with gardens, the Hall of Mirrors, and 15 million annual visitors.

History and visitor guide to Paris's Sacré-Cœur — the white-domed basilica on Montmartre that watches over the city from the highest point in Paris.

History and visitor guide to Paris's Arc de Triomphe — from Napoleon's commission to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the world's most famous roundabout.

History and visitor guide to Carcassonne — Europe's largest medieval walled city, restored in the 19th century and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

History, engineering, and visitor guide to the world's most iconic landmark — from Gustave Eiffel's 1889 iron masterpiece to 7 million visitors a year.

History and visitor guide to the world's largest museum — from medieval fortress to Renaissance palace to the home of the Mona Lisa and 380,000 works of art.

History and visitor guide to the Pont du Gard — the Roman aqueduct bridge in Provence that has stood for 2,000 years and remains one of the greatest engineering feats of antiquity.