France - a country full of variety
High mountains, the deep blue Mediterranean, the often stormy Atlantic coast, vibrant cities, romantic villages - France unites all of this and much more. The world-famous sights are also very different. Churches, buildings, museums, wonderful areas and prehistoric caves offer you a great variety.
The Eiffel Tower
The 324-metre high iron tower dates back to 1889 and was intended to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. It stood at the entrance to the Universal Exhibition.
It is the most famous landmark in Paris and also in France. You can take the lift up to the third floor at 276 meters, where there is an outdoor viewing platform. There is a self-service restaurant 57.6 meters above the ground and an excellent restaurant on the second floor at a height of 115.7 meters.
Palace of Versailles
The imposing palace complex not far from Paris was built from 1661 by Louis XIV. Until the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789, it served as a residence and government building for the kings. The magnificent wall coverings and the overall appearance were intended to show France's power to the outside world.
The magnificent mirror gallery is world-famous. The king's bedroom is also very impressive. Don't forget to take a look at the garden too. It is laid out in the typical Baroque style with strictly defined flowerbeds and precisely trimmed low hedges.
Mont-Saint-Michel
Off the coast of Normandy lies a small rock on which a church in honor of the Archangel Michael was built in 708. At almost the same time, a monastery was founded where Benedictines lived. There is now only a small religious community.
The church itself originally belonged to the Romanesque period, but was completed in Gothic style in the 13th century. It has high windows and a simple interior.
There is now a fixed connection to the mainland, but it cannot be used when the tide is particularly high in the Atlantic.
Lascaux Cave
The unique cave shows wall paintings from 36,000 to 19,000 BC with bulls, bison and other animals from this period. The colors black, red, orange and yellow come from the surrounding soil.
The cave has been closed to visitors since 1963 in order to protect the precious murals. However, there are exact replicas of individual halls.
The Dune of Pilat
This unique shifting dune is located near Bordeaux on the Atlantic. It moves up to five and a half meters every year. It was probably formed 16,000 years ago.
With a height of 110 meters, it is the highest in Europe. The other dimensions are also impressive: three kilometers long and 616 meters wide.
You can climb the dune and enjoy a fantastic view of the sea and the surrounding sand and forest from the top.
The cathedral in Strasbourg
The biggest attraction of this idyllic town in Alsace is the famous cathedral. The finely crafted decorations on the outside are impressive. The 140 meter high tower can be seen from afar. Above the main entrance you can see a huge rose window with a diameter of 15 meters.
The south tower has a platform that can be reached via 322 steps. The view over the Rhine and the city is magnificent. Inside you will find an astronomical clock on which you can see the orbits of the earth, moon and planets.