A wander in France for curious travellers

The Eiffel Tower or the Mont-Saint-Michel are not the only beauties of the French heritage. The country is full of sites less well-known but just as spectacular: here's a samples of these wonders.

The medieval city of Carcassonne

The town of Carcassonne includes two sites registered in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites: the Canal du Midi and the medieval city. Its fortifications are unique in Europe.
In spring and summer, don't forget your hat when you walk on the ramparts: the Southern sun is merciless with absent-minded tourists.

The sculpted rocks of Rothéneuf

You may have heard of Saint-Malo, the town of many famous corsairs. Not very far from this city, on the coast of Rothéneuf, curious figures are sculpted in the rocks and face the Channel.
Achieved by abbot Fouré in the late 19th century, this stone garden includes about 200 sculptures: strange beasts, giant heads, characters from the Breton history, etc. The visitors can only let their imagination wander in this beautiful example of Outsider Art.

Le Puy-en-Velay, on the road to Santiago de Compostela

There are many masterpieces on the way to Santiago de Compostela. In Auvergne, the Puy-en-Velay Cathedral welcomes pilgrims from all over the world. Build in the 13th century, this monument displays the past riches of the Roman and Byzantine art.

Passageways and galleries in Paris

Verdeau, Jouffroy, Vivienne, Choiseul… Striking through Parisian buildings, these passageways and galleries hide second-hand bookshops, restaurants and shops. To escape the turmoil of the Grands Boulevards, there is nothing like a stroll under the metal atrium, an architecture typical of the early 19th century.

The ideal palace of postman Cheval

For 33 years, Ferdinand Cheval collected stones he found every day during his round as a postman. He used them to build his ideal palace in his garden. Worthy of a Cambodian palace, this historical monument started in 1879 stands right in the middle of the Drôme region.

To learn more, go to Rendez-vous en France (See you in France)