bestgeng's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France

Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild

A place to see how French aristocrats lived in the early 1900s.
Lyon, France

Metallic Tower of Fourvière

Lyon's miniature version of the Eiffel Tower was built as a statement in support of French secularism.
Saint-Germain-des-Vaux, France

Port Racine

The smallest port in France is named after the pirate who created it.
Arc-et-Senans, France

La Saline Royale

The shape of this old salt factory complex was inspired by the course of the Sun.
Saint-Malo, France

Grand Bé

On this romantic tidal island reachable only at low tide the tomb of a famous French writer overlooks the sea.
Villerouge-Termenès, France

Cathar Castles

The site of the first medieval crusade that pitted Christians against Christians.
Paris, France

The Bouquinistes of Paris

The tradition of open-air secondhand and antiquarian bookselling in Paris dates back to the Renaissance.
Salses-le-Château, France

Château de Salses

This castle-fortress is a living example of the transition from medieval defenses to modern fortifications.
Cluny, France

Abbaye de Cluny (Cluny Abbey)

One of the most powerful religious centers in the Middle Ages, dubbed the founder of Western monasticism.
Font-Romeu-Odeillo-Via, France

Odeillo Solar Furnace

The world's largest solar furnace uses 10,000 mirrors to concentrate the sun's rays to generate power.
Sainte-Mère-Église, France

Private John Steele Monument

An effigy of a trapped paratrooper dangles from a Normandy church to commemorate one remarkable D-Day event.
Lourdes, France

Basilica of St. Pius X

Beneath the city of Lourdes, France is a massive, concrete church.
Amiens, France

Amiens Cathedral Labyrinth

A sublime medieval path adorns the marble floor of one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in France.
Orschwiller, France

Haut-Kœnigsbourg Castle

The castle was reconstructed to fit Kaiser Wilhelm II's romanticized vision of the Middle Ages.
La Rochelle, France

Nazi U-Boat Pens

A massive, secret marina for the Nazis' most formidable weapon in the Atlantic.
Treigny, France

Guedelon Castle

Despite centuries of architectural innovation, this French castle is being built like it's the 13th century.
Nevers, France

The Not-Quite Incorruptible St. Bernadette of Lourdes

Perhaps the most beautiful of preserved saints, with a little help from Paris.
Arles, France

Arles Amphitheatre

This ancient theater was once the home of fierce gladiatorial battles.
Rouen, France

Tower of Joan of Arc

This medieval tower is all that remains of the castle where Joan of Arc was held before being burned at the stake.
Carnac, France

Carnac Stones

Hundreds of prehistoric stones, arranged in perfect lines in a French field.
Strasbourg, France

Strasbourg Astronomical Clock

There has been an astronomical clock on this spot since the 14th century.
Creissels, France

Millau Viaduct

The world's tallest bridge is also possibly the most elegant.
Montségur, France

Château de Montségur

This French castle is said to have once held the Holy Grail but is now a gorgeous mountaintop ruin.
Vers-Pont-du-Gard, France

Pont du Gard

This ancient Roman bridge and aqueduct still stands as a wonder of classical construction.