The Loire Valley in France is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. UNESCO Heritage in France World Heritage in France

The most extensive site in France, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000 in the category of cultural landscapes - Loire Valley . This delightful area, 280 km long and covering an area of ​​800 km2, is a unique universal asset.

The Loire Valley is a memorable place of history and art. It clearly shows how man, over time, managed to take his place along the entire length of the river, developed it and even defended himself from it, from the danger that it posed. The landscape of the Loire Valley and its numerous cultural monuments clearly demonstrate the ideals of the Renaissance and Enlightenment regarding the idea and creation of Western Europe. There is also a remarkable architectural heritage - historical cities: Blois, Chinon, Orleans, Saumur, Tours, Nantes or Angers, and world-famous monuments: the castle of Chambord or Chenonceau, the royal castle of Amboise, the gardens of the castle of Villandry, the castle of Clos Luce, as well as the royal Fontevraud Abbey. These castles are an excellent visual and historical chronicle of major and minor events in the history of France.

(Total 22 photos)

1. Chambord Castle, Loire Valley, France

2. Chateau de Saumur is located in the Loire Country region, on the historical road of the Valley of the Kings. Built at the end of the 11th century, the castle of Saumur was alternately a fortress, a pleasure residence, the residence of the city governors, a prison, and then a warehouse for weapons and ammunition. Towering over the city and the majestic Loire, the castle was bought from the state in 1906 by the city of Saumur and, after partial restoration, a municipal museum was opened in it.

4. The castle of Azay-le-Rideau is located in the Centre-Loire Valley region. Built on an island in the middle of the Indre River, the castle in its present form was built during the reign of Francis I by the wealthy financier Gilles Berthelot, who wanted to implement Italian innovations in French architecture. Surrounded by greenery, the castle is washed by the waters of the Indre, in which its walls are reflected. Classified as a historical monument, the Château de Azay-le-Rideau exemplifies the sophistication typical of early French Renaissance châteaus.

6. Langeais Castle (Le chateau de Langeais) is located in the Centre-Loire Valley region, on the border of Anjou and Touraine. The Lange Castle houses two unique castles: the Fulk Nerra Tower and the Louis XI Castle. The first of them is the oldest donjon in France, and the second has two facades, medieval from the city side and Renaissance from the courtyard. The first castle, located on a hill above the Loire, was erected in 994 by the powerful and formidable Angevin Count Fulk Nerra. Today it is one of the oldest donjons in France: a significant part of it remains, now covered with scaffolding, recreating a medieval construction site. These scaffolding and lifting mechanisms transport visitors back to the time of the tenth century builders. On the other side of the courtyard is the second royal castle, built by order of Louis XI at the end of the 15th century (in 1465). Louis XI wanted to be able to control the right bank of the Loire from the heights of the castle towers and the patrol path. Its majestic facade is thus equipped with a patrol path, towers and a drawbridge on the city side. In the courtyard, the ornamented windows of the façade highlight the Renaissance sophistication of this pleasant, eye-pleasing residence.

7. Historical wedding. Within these walls, on December 6, 1491, the fate of France and Brittany was decided at the wedding ceremony of Charles VIII and Duchess Anne of Brittany. This marriage marked the annexation of the duchy to the French crown, thereby ending its independence. The spectacle, striking in its realism, will take the visitor to the center of this most important event for the history of France.

9. Chateau Chenonceau is located in the Center-Loire Valley region. Crown property, then royal residence, Chenonceau Castle is unique for its original location on the Cher River, as well as for its destiny. He was loved, cherished and protected by women such as Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de' Medici. These days, Chenonceau Castle is the second most visited castle in France after Versailles.

12. The park and castle of Valence (Chateau de Valenсay) were built during the time of Louis XIII. The castle was built on the site of an ancient feudal fortress. Over time, it is rebuilt and harmoniously combines the style of the early Renaissance and classicism. In 1803, Napoleon bought this magnificent castle, which became the property of Prince de Talleyrand, Minister of Foreign Affairs. The latter, thanks to this, can receive important guests with appropriate luxury. Napoleon decides to purchase the castle of Valence for his famous foreign minister, Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, in 1803, so that he could receive European dignitaries in appropriate luxury. The castle is located in Berry and combines two architectural styles - Renaissance and Classicism. It is fully furnished and surrounded by superb French-style gardens and an English park.

15. The medieval fortress of Amboise, located in the Center-Loire Valley region in the city of Amboise, becomes a royal residence during the reign of kings Charles VIII and Francis I (late 15th-early 16th centuries). Many European artists and writers live at the court in Amboise at the invitation of the kings, like Leonardo da Vinci, who rests in the chapel of the castle.

UNESCO is a United Nations Organization that deals with education, culture and science. The main goals declared by the organization are to promote the strengthening of world security through expanding cooperation between peoples and states in the field of science, education and culture; observance of the rule of law and ensuring justice, universal respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights, which are proclaimed in the Charter of the Organization, for absolutely all peoples, without belonging to any race, gender, language or religion.
On November 16, 1945, an organization was created, the headquarters of which is located in the capital of France. The organization's activities cover issues of discrimination in education, as well as illiteracy; studies national cultures and trains national personnel; problems of geology, social sciences, biosphere and oceanography.
The UNESCO Preparatory Commission moved to the Majestic Hotel from London on 16 September 1946, which served as temporary premises until 1958. The structure was hastily restored after the liberation of the city from German occupation. Working conditions there were not ideal, since the largest bedrooms were provided for work by secretaries, many of whom used one wardrobe for storing documents. Mid-level professional employees worked in the former bathrooms, because this was the only place where documentation was stored.
The inauguration of the current headquarters of UNESCO took place on November 3, 1958, at Place Fontenoy in Paris. The building, which resembles the shape of the Latin letter Y, was designed by three architects from different countries, and the construction of the headquarters was carried out under the supervision of an international committee.
The complex, which is known throughout the world not only for the location of the UNESCO headquarters, but also for its architectural merits, was built on several dozen concrete columns in the shape of a three-pointed star.
The building houses a library, which houses a large numismatic and philatelic collection, all the publications of the Organization and the UNESCO souvenir department.
The complex is complemented by three other structures. The first, called "accordion", has a large oval hall. This is where the General Conference holds plenary sessions. The second building is built in the shape of a cube. In the third building, in the center of the green area, deep into two underground levels, there are six open courtyards, into which the windows of the offices located along the perimeter open. These buildings, containing a large number of unique works of art, are currently open to the public.
Since the beginning of the construction of the UNESCO building on Place Fontenoy, works of art have been commissioned from famous artists, which, in addition to decorative and artistic design, would symbolize peace, the preservation and strengthening of which the organization sets as its goal. Over time, other works of art were also acquired. Most of the works were donated to the Organization by Member States.
On the UNESCO website in the virtual museum you can see works by Picasso, Miro, Bazin, Corbusier, Tapies, and many other famous and little-known artists.

France is an amazing country. The centuries-old history, eventful, has left many architectural, historical, and cultural places of interest in its memory. In addition, France is rich in picturesque natural places. Its varied landscapes are literally breathtaking. The world organization UNESCO has not left this country without its attention. After all, this country has added countless sites to the World Heritage List.

Versailles is a palace and park ensemble, the residence of 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 halls are truly impressive. It is also pleasant to stroll through the neatly trimmed, well-groomed regular park around the palace. That is why the place has become one of the most visited in all of France.

In the north-west of France, between the provinces of Normandy and Brittany, the granite island of Mont Saint-Michel is located. The Romanesque-Gothic monastery of the Benedictine abbey rises on it with a huge spire. The largest ebbs and flows in all of Europe are observed here. Once a lunar day, water can flow back several kilometers. And then, returning, he blocks the dam, which is the only road to the island.

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

On the island of Corsica, which is French territory, there is a National Park - Calanque Bays. These are rocky formations, mainly consisting of granite. Over time and under the influence of the wind, they acquired bizarre shapes. Getting to the place is extremely difficult. It is only possible by water or through a mountain range. But those who had enough patience and got to the coast will definitely not regret it. It is not for nothing that local landscapes are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

France has preserved amazing monuments from the times of Roman rule. These are mainly ancient amphitheaters. There are such in the cities of Arles, Orange, Lyon.

The UNESCO World Heritage List in the French Republic includes 37 items (as of 2011), this is 3.8% of the total (936 as of 2011). 33 objects are included in the list according to cultural criteria, with 17 of them recognized as masterpieces of human genius (criterion i), 3 objects are included according to natural criteria, each of which is recognized as a natural phenomenon of exceptional beauty and aesthetic importance (criterion vii), as well as 1 mixed object , also falling under criterion vii. In addition, as of 2010, 33 sites in France are among the 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 have decided that 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, a national cuisine has received this status, which indicates “its universal recognition.”
Experts of the Intergovernmental Committee of UNESCO satisfied the request of France for the art of Alençon lace - they were included in the List of Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
Food is part of the French national identity. Normandy, Provencal, Burgundian and Alsatian cuisines differ from each other as much as the inhabitants of these regions. “It must be said that 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 is a palace and park ensemble in France (French Parc et château de Versailles), the former residence of 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 in 1661, and became a kind of monument to the era of the “Sun King”, an artistic and architectural expression of the idea of ​​absolutism. The leading architects are Louis Levo and Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the creator of the park is Andre Le Nôtre. The Versailles ensemble, the largest in Europe, is distinguished by its unique integrity of design and harmony of architectural forms and transformed landscape. Since the end of the 17th century, Versailles 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 French History opened in the royal palace. In 1979, the Palace of Versailles and its 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 place where many international treaties were signed, 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 the 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 creation of the German Empire was proclaimed in Versailles, occupied by German troops. Here in 1919 a peace treaty was signed, ending the First World War and marking the beginning of the so-called Versailles system - a 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, similar to 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 lands 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 through 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 Marcy 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 unsafe to him. Architects Andre Le Nôtre and Charles Lebrun renovated and expanded the palace in the classicist style. The entire façade of the palace on the garden side is occupied by a large gallery (Gallery of Mirrors, Gallery of Louis XIV), which makes a stunning impression with its paintings, mirrors and columns. In addition to it, the Gallery of Battles, the palace chapel and the Royal Opera House also deserve mention.

Louis XV

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

Versailles changed during the reign of Louis XV, but not as much 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 due to the death of the latter was not completed.

The Little Apartments of the King are recognized as a significant contribution of Louis XV to the development of Versailles; Chambers of Madame, Chambers of the Dauphin and his wife on the first floor of the Palace; as well as the personal chambers of Louis XV - the King's small apartments on the second floor (later rebuilt into Madame DuBarry's apartments) 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 construction of the Opera Hall and the Petit Trianon Palace (Verlet, 1985).

Petit Trianon, palace

Small apartments of the king. Cabinet of golden service

Gaming salon of Louis 16th

Madame DuBarry
An equally significant contribution is the destruction of the Ambassadors' Staircase, the only ceremonial route to the Great Royal Apartments. This was done to build apartments for the daughters of Louis XV.

One of the gates

Inviolability of power. French royal court.

In the decoration of the gate there are symbols of the “sun” king

Golden Gate.

Palace of Versailles; Saint Leu stone,

There have been no significant changes in the Park compared to the times of Louis XIV; Louis XV's only legacy to 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 reconstructing 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 only completed in the twentieth century (Verlet, 1985).

Hall of Mirrors

All accounts related to the construction of the palace have survived to this day. The amount taking 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 modern value is practically impossible. Based on the price of silver at 250 euros per kg, the construction of the palace absorbed 2.6 billion euros / Based on the purchasing power of the then guilder as 80 euros, the construction cost 37 billion euros. Putting the cost of building the palace in relation to the state budget of France in the 17th century, the modern sum is 259.56 billion euros.

Palace facade. Clock of Louis 14.
Almost half of this amount was spent on creating interior decoration. The best masters of the era Jacob, Jean Joseph Chapuis created luxurious boiserie. [source not specified 859 days] These expenses were spread over 50 years, during which the construction of the Palace of Versailles, completed in 1710, took place.

Emperor Augustus

Roman busts

The site of the future construction required a huge amount of excavation work. Recruiting workers from surrounding villages was difficult. Peasants were forced to become “builders.” To increase the number of workers on the construction of the palace, the king banned all private construction in the surrounding area. Workers were often imported from Normandy and Flanders. Almost all orders were carried out through tenders; contractors’ expenses exceeding those initially named were not paid. In times of peace, the army was also involved in the construction of the palace. Finance Minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert kept an eye on frugality. The forced presence of the aristocracy at court was an additional precaution on the part of Louis XIV, who thus ensured complete control over the activities of the aristocracy. Only at court was it possible to obtain ranks or posts, and those who left lost their privileges
Fountains of Versailles

On May 5, 1789, representatives of the nobility, clergy and bourgeoisie gathered at the Palace of Versailles. After the king, who by law was 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. Submitting to forceful pressure, Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, their relatives and deputies moved to the capital. After this, the importance of Versailles as the administrative and political center of France decreased and was not subsequently restored.
Since the time of Louis-Philippe, many halls and rooms began to be restored, and the palace itself became an outstanding national historical museum, which exhibited busts, portraits, battle paintings and other works of art mainly of 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, it was the seat of the main headquarters of the German army from October 5, 1870 to March 13, 1871. On January 18, 1871, the German Empire was proclaimed in the Gallery of Mirrors, and its Kaiser was Wilhelm I. This place was deliberately chosen to humiliate the French.

A peace treaty with France was signed on February 26, also at 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 the First World War, 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, the historical site was chosen by the French to humiliate the Germans.

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

Marble courtyard of Versailles
After World War II, the Palace of Versailles became the site of German-French reconciliation. This is evidenced by the celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Elysee Treaty, which took place 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 Sanssouci castles in Potsdam, Schönbrunn in Vienna, the Great Palaces in Peterhof, the Rapti Estate in Luga, Gatchina and Rundale (Latvia), as well as other palaces in Germany, Austria and Italy.

Palace interiors
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), apartments of the Dauphin, 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_appartment_du_roi

Ceiling of the lobby

Entrance from the lobby

Lobby

Salle des gardes de la reine

Salon Louis 14, medallion depicting a Roman legionnaire

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


Coat of arms of Louis Phillipe
Paintings


Reception of the Persian ambassadors by Louis XIV, 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.ambassadors





lobby decor,

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

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

Apartments Dauphin

Allegories, ceiling paintings,







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



Royal bedchamber in gold.









Blue office


Chambers in the Grand Trianon



Marie Antoinette


Bed Madame Pompadour


Napoleon's chambers
Palace decor

Angels, ceiling of the reception room


Mirror gallery


Coat of arms of Louis 14
Chandeliers and candelabra










Dining rooms and fireplaces

Porcelain

Josse-François-Joseph Leriche, Queen's toilet

Coyau

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in France:

1. Roads to Santiago de Compostela
Historic buildings and monuments along the four roads leading pilgrims to Spain.

2. Mont Saint Michel Island
On the island there is a Benedictine abbey (XI-XVI centuries) in the Gothic style and a village.

3. Saint-Emilion
A wine region with a long history. Many churches and monasteries.

4. Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartan
Monastery since 811. The frescoes (XI-XII centuries) with scenes from the Pentateuch are perfectly preserved.

5. Paintings in the caves of the Weser River valley
25 caves with ancient rock art. Several hundred drawings of animals.

6. Canal du Midi
328 hydraulic structures between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic (1667-1694).

7. Historic fortified city of Carcassonne
A typical medieval town with an impressive defensive system around the castle and dwellings.

8. Chartres Cathedral
Built in 1145. An example of French Gothic. Sculptures from the mid-12th century, stained glass from the 12th-13th centuries.

9. Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonne
Landscapes of exclusively cultural significance: historical cities, villages, castles.

10. Bourges Cathedral
A masterpiece of Gothic art of the 12th-13th centuries. Images of the Last Judgment and scenes from the life of St. Etienne.

11. Palace and park at Versailles
Laid down in 1624. Over time, the ensemble became a model of a royal residence.

12. Paris – banks of the Seine
A collection of architectural masterpieces, including Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Tuileries, and the Invalides.

13. Amiens Cathedral
The largest cathedral in the country. The three-nave basilica was built in 1220 on the site of a Romanesque temple.

14. Palace and park at Fontainebleau
A modest hunting castle was built in 1137. Later it grew and became the residence of kings.

15. Provins, medieval town of fairs
In the XII-XIII centuries. fairs were held here, which attracted traders from all over Europe.

16. Notre-Dame Cathedral, Saint-Rémy Abbey and To Palace in Reims
Gothic cathedral of the 13th century. The anointing vessel for the kings of France was kept in the Abbey of Saint-Rémy.

17. Church in Vezelay
The church in the city of Vézelay allegedly houses the remains of Mary Magdalene. Place of pilgrimage.

18. Fontaine Abbey
It was founded in 1118 by the Cistercians, and in the 15th century. received the status of a royal abbey.

19. Lyon
Founded by the Romans in the 1st century. BC e. Numerous monuments dating back to different eras.

20. Garsky Bridge
It is part of an aqueduct built by the Romans in 19 BC. e. Connects the banks of the Gardon River.

21. Ancient Roman monuments of Arles
The oldest monuments date back to the 1st century. BC e. Amphitheater, underground passages, baths of Constantine.

22. Historical center of Avignon
In the 14th century the city was the papal residence. Fortifications, Papal Palace, Notre-Dame de Dome Cathedral.

23. Ancient theater and triumphal arch in Orange
The large amphitheater (facade length 103 m) is perfectly preserved. Arch with bas-reliefs (10-25).

24. Ark-et-Senan: royal salt mines
The village of Ark-e-Senan near the salt mines was built in the 18th century. Director's house and factory buildings.

25. Place Stanislaus I, Quarry and Alliance in Nancy
The architectural ensemble of squares (1752-56) is an example of French Baroque.

26. Strasbourg. Grand Ile
The island of Grande Ile is the historical center of the Alsace capital. Cathedral, four churches, Roan Palace.

27. Cape Girolata, Cape Porto, Scandola and Piana Calanches Nature Reserve in Corsica
The reserve on the Scandola Peninsula covers 30,000 hectares. Seagulls, cormorants, sea eagles.

28. Mount Mante Perdido in the Pyrenees (France/Spain)
“Lost Mountain” is a massif with a height of 3,352 m. Nearby are the two largest canyons in Europe

29. Bell towers of cities in Belgium and France
23 bell towers in northern France, the bell tower in the city of Gembloux in Belgium, 30 Belgian city towers. Vivid symbols of emerging civil liberties.

30. Le Havre - a city restored by Auguste Perret
The heritage site includes the administrative, commercial and cultural center of Le Havre. An example of post-war urban planning and architecture.

31. Port of the Moon in Bordeaux
The historical center of the port city in southwest France is a unique urban and architectural ensemble of the Enlightenment era

32. Lagoons of New Caledonia
The New Caledonia lagoon is home to the world's second largest coral reef.

33. Vauban's fortifications
Thirteen fortresses designed by Vauban.