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

Shattered columns and Egyptian pyramids outside of Paris.

Legend has it this 11th-century castle was paid a visit from the devil.

Immortalized by artists, this church incorporates a medieval lighthouse into its shoreside structure.

The remains of this ornate chapel now act as a portal to a cramped French cemetery.

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

From carts to cars, this leftover Roman bridge in France has managed to survive for centuries.

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

Buddha and Jesus tower over this French mountainside headquarters of the Aumism religious cult.

A castle-like sea fort from the 17th century is now a museum to oyster farming.

A quaint medieval millhouse hovers surprisingly above the waters of the Seine.

A well-preserved medieval village nested on a rocky outcrop and surrounded by a network of cliffs, natural bridges and canyons.

100-windowed castle turned art gallery, built by one dedicated mason.

The world's most famous cheese caves.

An all-American grocery store in Paris sells U.S. "cuisine" like Pop-Tarts and Heinz ketchup to homesick ex-pats.

Fighting the British and making game shows for over 150 years.

French commune at the heart of conspiracies.

At Monet's beloved home you can still see the Japanese bridge, waterlilies, and weeping willows that were the subjects of some of his most iconic paintings.

Even France's favorite aquatic son Jacques Cousteau, couldn't get to the bottom of it.

This stunning French estate was so lavish that it landed its original owner in jail for the rest of his life.

The remains of diamond fever taken over by the desert.

Every autumn, this hillside is ablaze with red summer cypress.

This eccentrically decorated palace is replete with grottoes, fountains, tunnels, and caves.

In this historic region, homes and churches are carved into ancient volcanic rock formations.