Normandy France

Home to Normandy beach, Normandy France is a distinct region on the northern coast of France. Famous for the D-Day landings of June, 1944, Normandy France is home to a large history of invasions and battles, dating back to the Vikings in the 9th century. Overall, Normandy France is a historic and picturesque region, with stunning architecture, sweeping sea vistas, and rolling green fields dotted with farmhouse and cows.

While on holiday in France start in Rouen, an ancient, inland town with superb medieval buildings and museums. Nineteen-year-old Joan of Arc was burned here in 1431. A church, the Eglise Jeanne d’Arc marks the spot and contains 16th century stained glass windows. Medieval half-timber houses still line certain cobblestone streets. Rouen’s Cathedrale Notre-Dame hosts France’s tallest spire, rising 490 feet in the air. Claude Monet frequently pained the cathedral.

Next, head to Honfleur, a fishing port on the coast, for excellent sea food, and the charming coastal atmosphere. Then continue your holiday in France in Deauville, an elegant resort town, where Hollywood elites like to vacation. If Rouen didn’t make it evident, the expansive flower fields near Deauville should add meaning to Monet’s paintings.

After the coast, poke inland to Bayeux to see the famous Bayeux Tapestry, a 225 foot embroidered scroll, depicting the swash of William the Conqueror as he ascends the throne of England. From Bayeux, Normandy beaches–the D-Day beaches–are a scant 10 miles. Maps of the beaches are available at tobacco and news stands. These are a popular stop during a holiday in France. Port Winston features a fabricated harbor of cement caissons sunk in the bay. The Musee du Debarquement details information about the port. English tours available. Longues-sur-Mer features massive German artillery cannons, designed to hit targets 12 miles away. They are still in place today. Along Omaha Beach a memorial marks the site of an American cemetery. There are more cemeteries to visits, including the American Military Cemetery, Commonwealth Military Cemeteries, Canadian Military Cemetery, and the German Military Cemetery. Pointe du Hoc includes a memorial to the US Army Rangers who secured an artillery point, and fought off the German forces for two days. Many companies offer bus tours of Normandy beaches.

Lastly, don’t miss the beautiful seascape at Mont-St-Michel bay. A granite wall stands 264 feet high, leaving a lasting impression on visitors, as they gaze out into the bay. Normandy is a picturesque portion of France, with vast history, and a solemn atmosphere. There are plenty of quiet, charming towns to explore, historic churches and buildings, artistic stopping points, and of course, the D-Day beaches, all making Normandy France an exciting area for a holiday in France.

Seine River: France

The Seine River flows 480 miles through France, from Dijon in the alps, northwest to Le Havre, cutting Paris in half on its journey. The division in Paris gives the city distinct, geographic division, with monuments and quarters being designated in relation to the Seine River. The Eiffel Tour, Hotel des Invalides, and the Musee d’Orsay are on the south bank. While the Louvre, Grand Palais, and Concorde can be found on the north bank. Notre Dame Cathedral, the place du Parvis Notre Dame, and the Ste-Chapelle are found in the center of Paris on the Ile de la Cite (Island of the City) in the middle of the Seine River.

A Seine cruise is an excellent way to experience the river, view the banks of Paris, or relax in the countryside of France. Several monuments in France are viewable from the waterway winding through the city. Many outfits in Paris offer a Seine cruise, and outside of Paris, the Seine flows 480 miles through France, there are opportunities for France cruises. A travel agent can help you book a Seine cruise as part of your France holiday, or you can search the internet for “France cruises,” or “Seine Cruise.”

Other noteworthy stops on a France vacation include Marseille, south of Paris, with its charming street markets, old port, and historic sections. Stout supporters of the revolution, Louis the XIV built two fortresses on the port, with guns facing the city. In addition, France’s national anthem is called La Marseilles, named from the soldiers chanting the tune as the marched to Paris. Normandy is an historic area of France. Home to the D-Day beaches, as well as many charming and picturesque towns. Joan of Arch was burned in Rouen, an ancient, inland town with superb medieval buildings and museums. Mont-St-Michael bay contains a beautiful seascape, with a 264 feet granite wall. The French Rivera is a great stop on a France vacation.

It has a plethora of jet set towns including Nice, Cannes, and Saint Tropez. With an abundant yacht culture, many France cruises head out from ports in the French Riviera. Of course, the most famous of French towns is Paris. Paris is a center for museums, restaurants, monuments, and shopping. The Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre museum, and Notre Dame cathedral all reside in Paris. Bordeaux is home to amazing French wine and Lyon is a historic and well located metropolis, perfect for blitzing into Switzerland, Italy, and the Alps. Plenty of cities make a great France vacation.

Arc de Triomphe: France

Parisians refer to the Arc de Triomphe as L’Etoile, and revere it as a symbol of French national spirit. Located in the center of the worlds largest roundabout, the Arc de Triomphe towers 164 feet above the ground. Intricate carvings by Romantic sculpture Francois Rude adorn the exterior of the edifice, while beneath the L’Etoile lies the unknown solider. Visitors may climb 284 steps to the top of the Arc de Triomphe for an outstanding view of Pairs, and the 12 streets radiating from the roundabout. There’s also a museum inside, detailing the history of Arc de Triomphe. Of all the monuments of Paris, L’Etoile is one of the most revered by Parisians themselves, and an important stop on a sightseeing tour.

The history of Arc de Triomphe is varied, and marred by the German occupation of Paris, which celebrated by marching through the arch. Commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 to honor the French military, the Arc de Triomphe is now a patriotic symbol of France’s history. It was finally completed in 1836, 15 years after Napoleon’s death. In 1920 an unknown solider was buried beneath the arc, to honor the soldiers who fought for France. The Arc de Triomphe has served as a symbol of victory for France, as well as for the Germans and the Allies, both of which have marched through the arch after victories as they enter Paris.

The Hilton Arc de Triomphe Paris is located minutes away from the Arc de Triomphe and attempts to capture the prestige of ancient Paris. The Hilton Arc de Triomphe is perfect for executive travel, or luxurious vacationing with seven floors, 463 rooms (including 77 executive rooms), and 24 suites.. Modeled after luxurious ocean liners of the 30s, the hotel has balconies, steam baths, a full-service spa, a restaurant and bar, and executive meeting rooms. Definitely worth a look when staying in Paris, the Hilton Arc de Triomphe has a lot to offer guests.
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The Pantheon Paris: France

The Pantheon Paris, with its striking dome, was originally commissioned as a church in 1744 under Louis XV. However, it wasn’t finished until 1789, at which point, because of the Revolution, churches had fallen from popularity. Thus it became a temple to France, honoring historical figures. Within the Pantheon’s ornate walls you’ll find a crypt that houses the remains of more than 70 people, including Votaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Marie Curie, and Alexandre Dumas. Considered the soul of the Latin quarter, with its magnificent dome and solemn interior, the Pantheon Paris is an inspiring edifice.

The Eiffel Tower, built in 1889 for the World Exhibition, is perhaps the most famous of all monuments of Paris. Built from 7,000 tons of iron and reaching 1,050 feet into the sky, the tower wasn’t love at first sight for Parisians, who hated the structure initially. The Cathedrale Notre-Dame was begun in 1163 and completed in 1345. An example of French gothic architecture, the south tower holds the bell tolled by the fictional Quasimodo in The Huntchback of Notre Dame, written by Frenchman Victor Hugo. Sacre-Coeur sits atop Montmartre hill, offering sweeping views of the city, and a beautiful domed building.

The Arc de Triomphe, located on the famed avenue Champs Elysees and centered in the world largest traffic roundabout, is a simple, yet daunting monument commissioned by Napoleon, and one of the best monuments of Paris. The gothic Saint Chapelle, built in the 13th century, has 15 stained glass windows depicting an entire biblical history. With famous buildings and museums all over the city, these are only a handful of the monuments of Paris.

Paris walking tours are a great way to see the city, and appreciate the sheer density of famous architecture, churches, galleries, and restaurants in Paris. No matter where you are in Paris, there’s something around the corner to look at. A walking tour is a great way to see Paris. The city is divided by the river Seine, with two islands in the middle. Paris is also divided into 20 districts, called arrondissements. Paris Walking Tours offers themed tours through the various districts.

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Notre Dame: France

Notre Dame Cathedral is an impressive marvel of medieval architecture. Started in 1163 and completed in 1330, Notre Dame Cathedral has a striking gothic exterior, two broad towers, and plenty of sweeping arches. The gothic exterior is full of intricate details and the ornate interior is light and airy.

To appreciate the features of Notre Dame Cathedral, approach from the park behind the cathedral, Square Jean XXIII, for an impressive view of the structure, and a look at the flying buttress that makes the immense roof possible. From the front, arches sweep above the three entryways, featuring stone carvings of royal persona. The Portal of the Virgin is on the left, the Portal of Last Judgment is in the center, and the Portal of St. Anne is on the right.

Inside Notre Dame Paris a 7800-pipe organ and a magnificent rose window from the 13th century, as well as carvings, statues, and saints. The spacious interior holds 6,000 worshippers. Climb the towers and see stone gargoyles, as well as a spectacular view of Paris. The south tower holds the great bell of Notre Dame, as tolled by Victor Hugo’s fictional hunchback. Nearby, Point Zero is the bronze star in the plaza from which all French metropolitan distances are measured, and for more history, visit the Musee de Notre Dame for paintings, engravings, and documents on the cathedral.

For tours in Paris, Paris Walking Tours offers guided and self-guided walking tours of Paris focusing on history, monuments, or museums. Classic Walks features an overview tour, tours in Paris of different districts, and themed tours, such as the Da Vinci Code Walk. French Adventures offers a broad range of tours for varying budgets. Many other outfits offer tours in Paris.

Other tourist attractions in Paris include the iconic Eiffel Tower tops out at over 1,000 feet, and contains 2 restaurants, a souvenir shop, a post office (for that one of a kind postmark), snack bar, and a viewing area, all within its iron structure. The Pantheon is a monument dedicated to historical personages of France, housing a crypt containing over 70 people, including Votaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Marie Curie, and Alexandre Dumas. The Arc de Triomphe, located on the famed avenue Champs Elysees and centered in the world largest traffic roundabout, is a simple, yet daunting monument commissioned by Napoleon. The gothic Saint Chapelle is another tourist attraction in Paris. Built in the 13th century, the cathedral has 15 stained glass windows depicting an entire biblical history. Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise is a hodgepodge of tombstone and shrines. Visitors flock to lay kisses on Oscar Wilde’s tomb, or view rock star Jim Morrison’s grave.
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Porte Saint-Denis: France

Two triumphal arches, at the Porte Saint-Martin and Porte Saint-Denis, were commissioned by Louis XIV to commemorate his military victories. Ever since 1670, reinforcement of France’s northeastern borders had allowed the removal of fortifications surrounding Paris, and this circumference was transformed into verdant promenades. During the centuries that followed, they were to become the “grand boulevards”(1) of Paris.

Symbolically marking the entrances into 17th-century Paris at the sites of the old toll-gates, these two triumphal arches served only an ornamental function. Their sculptures and bas-reliefs celebrated the King as a head of war.
History of the Porte Saint-Denis

The Saint-Denis arch was erected (1671-74) by Nicolas François Blondel, and paid for by the City of Paris. Small openings were cut into the sides to facilitate circulation, contrary to the architect’s wishes.

A bas-relief on the southern façade represents the passage of the Rhine and the symbolic figures of the vanquished regions of the Rhine and Holland (beneath the features of a grieving woman). On the northern façade, the king is shown placing the town of Maastricht under his yoke.

It was through this gate, and along the rue St-Denis, that the kings of France would return to Paris from religious services at the Basilica of Saint-Denis. Napoleon’s troops also passed through the arch, entering the city in 1816 after a victorious campaign. On the occasion of her visit to the Universal Exposition in 1855, Queen Victoria passed under the arch; she was the last sovereign to have completed this ritual dating back nearly a thousand years.

On June 23, 1848, a bloody insurrection of disenchanted workers took place here, complete with the erection of barricades and capture of the national guard’s post at the boulevard Bonne Nouvelle. In the ensuing firefight, over 30 insurgents were killed or wounded. The whole confligration was documented on June 25 by Fredrick Engels (the co-founder of Marxism), who subsequently published many accounts of the June Revolution in Neue Rheinische Zeitung.

The arch of the Porte Saint-Denis served as the inspiration for the more famous Arc de Triomphe de l’Etoile (completed in 1836), as well as for the Manhatten Bridge Arch in New York (designed by Carrere and Hastings, completed in 1909).

Historical factoid: Back in 1436, when Paris was still a fortified stronghold, the English - with the support of the Burgundians - had invaded and occupied an area of the city around the Porte Saint-Denis. However, their unwelcome presence was soon to be challenged: While King Charles VII was approaching Paris, its citizens began to revolt against their unwanted guests. Directed by Michel de Lailler and aided by the High Constables Richemont and Jean de Villiers d’Adam, a plan of attack was devised. Richemont, who was based in Saint Denis (outside the city limits), decided to enter Paris through the Porte Saint-Martin, while the English were expecting him at the Porte Saint-Denis. The English were soundly defeated, allowing King Charles VII to triumphantly enter the city on November 12, 1437.