One of the most powerful religious centers in the Middle Ages, dubbed the founder of Western monasticism.

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

This 1,300 year old monastery built atop a single rock was once only accessible depending on the whims of the tide.

An image of the legendary saint stands in the shadow of a cathedral she liberated.

In 1927, a biplane disappeared while attempting to complete the first non-stop transatlantic flight between Paris and New York City. This memorial stands at the last place it was seen.

Shelves covered in dozens of coffee bean varieties fill this North End institution.

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

Lyon, France is home to two remarkably preserved Roman theaters, one dating back to 15 BCE.

Monsters and miniatures are held in equal esteem at this wondrous museum.

Hundreds of hidden passageways weave through the old quarters of Lyon.

A colorful piece of contemporary art cheerfully clashes with Lyon's historical architecture.

This statue was given to France by the United States to commemorate the centennial of the French Revolution.

The great Italian Renaissance painter was laid to rest here in the Chapel of Saint-Hubert.

Lyon's miniature version of the Eiffel Tower was built as a statement in support of French secularism.

The fantastic architectural models of a French traveler.

This church sits upon a peaceful hill and a long, turbulent history.

The water-powered carriages are long gone, but for over a century this funicular railway has been the fastest route to the highest point in Paris.

A horde of stray cats rule in this secluded Parisian cemetery under a bridge.

This iconic Parisian bookstore doubles as the "Tumbleweed Hotel" for traveling writers.

The vast, legendary catacombs hold secrets much stranger than stacked bones.

A memorial to the nearly 10,000 American soldiers laid to rest on the beaches of Normandy during WWII.

Remains of the artificial harbours invented for the Allied invasion of Normandy can still be seen at sea.

Sacked by Vikings, blessed by William the Conqueror, dealt a fatal blow during the French Revolution—these ruins have seen it all.

The facade of this relic from the Klondike gold rush is decorated with over 8,800 pieces of driftwood.