| There are numerous tourist classifications used in | | | | decorated by prehistoric man) are found in the |
| France, from 'most beautiful village' to 'most beautiful | | | | Vezere Valley, in the Dordogne region of south-west |
| stopover town' but there is one that stands above | | | | France, and several of these are now protected as |
| the other, because it is government operated - the | | | | Historic monuments. These include the carved |
| schedule of French National Monuments. | | | | sculptures in the Abri de Cap Blanc; the multi-coloured |
| However the list is not a simple role-call of all the | | | | paintings in the Cave of Font-de-Gaume; the large |
| famous places: the Eiffel tower, for example, is NOT | | | | sheltered prehistoric dwelling at Laugerie-Haute; and |
| a listed historic monument. Rather it is a list that | | | | several others as well! |
| includes a fascinating mix of places, some of which | | | | Paris |
| are very well known (eg the Arc de Triomphe or | | | | Several important monuments are listed in and around |
| Mont Saint Michel Abbey) while other's are much less | | | | Paris. Visit the Chateau de Vincennes, home to 700 |
| known (eg George Sand's House or the displays in | | | | years of royal families; then to the basilica of |
| Tarbes dedicated to Marshall Foch). | | | | Saint-Denis to see where many of the French royals |
| Altogether there are 85 of these listed National | | | | were buried, in a very impressive gothic cathedral. In |
| Monuments, with something for everyone who is | | | | central Paris the Conciergerie, Arc de Triomphe, |
| visiting France, whichever region they are going to. | | | | Pantheon and Notre-Dame cathedral are all included, |
| Here are a few suggestions: | | | | after which you will deserve a cafe in a quiet |
| Brittany Prehistoric Sites | | | | Montmartre cafe! |
| Brittany (north-east france) is renowned worldwide | | | | Others |
| for its prehistoric monuments. Chief among these are | | | | There are too many grand castles to mention here, a |
| the standing stones of Carnac; the Megaliths of | | | | sprinkling of abbeys, and a wide range of other great |
| Locmariaquer (three very important prehistoric | | | | buildings. I've saved one in particular for last because |
| structures in close proximity); and the Cairn de | | | | it is so different to the others on the list - the Villa |
| Barnenez - probably the oldest building structure in | | | | Savoye. This white concrete building was designed by |
| europe, and constructed 2000 years before the | | | | the great french architect le Corbusier, built in the |
| Egyptian pyramids | | | | 1920"s, and is already listed as a national monument - |
| Vezere Valley caves | | | | and rightly so, for the role it played in changing the |
| A remarkable number of 'decorated caves (ie caves | | | | face of architecture all around the world ever since. |