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France UNESCO world heritage sites

(except the smaller funerary and memory sites of the First World War)

Austral Islands oversea's territory (Indian Ocean)

Austral Lands and Seas in Crozet + Kerguelen + Amsterdam
This "oasis" in the middle of the Southern Ocean covers an area of more than 67 million ha and supports one of the highest concentrations of birds and marine mammals in the world.

Auvergne - Rhone - Alpes region [capital = Lyon]

Sainte-Marie-de-la-Tourette convent in Eveux on Route de la Tourette
Le Corbusier's design of the building began in May, 1953 with sketches drawn at L'Arbresle, France outlining the basic shape of the building and terrain of the site. La Tourette is considered one of the most important buildings of the late Modernist style.
Historic Site of Lyon see detail
Humans have settled at this site destined for urbanization for more than two thousand years and built a city whose stages of development are still visible today: from the Roman vestiges of antique Lugdunum to the medieval streets on the slopes of Fourviere and the Renaissance dwellings of Vieux-Lyon, from the peninsula with a wealth of classical architecture to the slopes of Croix-Rousse with its very particular canut dwellings, which bear witness to an essential page in the history of the labouring classes of the 19th century.
House of Culture in Firminy on Rue Saint-Just Malmont
As is often the case in the designs of Le Corbusier, the main volume is detached from the ground and raised onto the so-called Pilotis. Walls and columns are made of exposed concrete. The suspended roof consists of prefabricated concrete slabs supported by steel tensioning ropes.
Basilica of Our Lady of the Port in Clermont-Ferrand at 4 Rue Notre Dame du Port
The church is built on a Latin cross ground plan with a nave of six bays between two low side aisles with simple vaults. There is a transept with a semi-circular chapel on each arm, and a quire surrounded by an ambulatory from which open four radiating chapel, none of them on the main axis, thus forming a chevet, which with its fine mosaics is a notable example of the Romanesque art of Auvergne. The capitals, which are among the finest in Auvergne, principally depict scenes from the Bible, but also some from the Psychomachia of Prudentius.
Limagne fault tectonic arena in Enval + Sayat + Ceyrat
The geological features of the property demonstrate how the continental crust cracks, then collapses, allowing deep magma to rise and cause uplifting at the surface.
Notre-Dame Cathedral in Le Puy-en-Velay at 2 Rue de la Manecanterie
Constructed over centuries, it contains architecture of every period from the 5th century to the 15th, which gives it an individual appearance. The four galleries of the striking parti-coloured cloister were constructed from the Carolingian period to the 12th century. It is connected to the remains of 13th-century fortifications that separated the cathedral precincts from the rest of the city. Near the cathedral, the 11th-century Baptistry of Saint John is built on Roman foundations.
Emile Roux Hospital in Le Puy-en-Velay at 12 Boulevard Docteur Chantemesse
The properties presented illustrate in the most loyal and credible manner the ensemble of rituals and practises linked to the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. This includes the routes, pilgrimage churches or simple sanctuaries, hospitals and bridges.
Decorated Chauvet Cave in Vallon-Pont-d'Arc on Plateau du Razal
Over 1,000 images have so far been inventoried on its walls, combining a variety of anthropomorphic and animal motifs. Of exceptional aesthetic quality, they demonstrate a range of techniques including the skilful use of shading, combinations of paint and engraving, anatomical precision, three-dimensionality and movement.
Aiguebelette lake prehistoric pile dwellings in Aiguebelette-le-lac on D921D
The settlements are a unique group of exceptionally well-preserved and culturally rich archaeological sites, which constitute one of the most important sources for the study of early agrarian societies in the region.
Tresserve coast prehistoric pile dwellings in Aix-les-bains on D1201
See above.
Gresine Bay prehistoric pile dwellings in Brison-Saint-Innocent on route de Paris
See above.
Chatillon Bay prehistoric pile dwellings in Groisin Nord, Chindrieux on route d'Aix
See above.
Hautecombe prehistoric pile dwellings in Saint-Pierre-de-Curtille on D18
See above.
Annecy Lake prehistoric pile dwellings in Sevrier on Chemin du Port des Choseaux + Allee des Mongets
See above.
The Swamps prehistoric pile dwellings in Saint-Jorioz on Impasse de la Tuilerie
See above.
Coast pile dwellings in Chens-sur-Leman on Tougues
See above.

Bourgogne - Franche Comte region [capital = Dijon]

St. James Church in Asquins at 11 Rue Saint-Martin
See above Santiago de Compostela pelgrimage comments.
Church and Hill in Vezelay at 5 Rue du Chapitre
With its sculpted capitals and portal, the Madeleine of Vezelay - a 12th-century monastic church - is a masterpiece of Burgundian Romanesque art and architecture.
Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay in Montbard on D32C, Marmagne
Built in a remote location but near to a water source and agricultural land, and proscribing all decor but using a scholarly architecture on a monumental scale, presenting stark spaces adapted to the rigorous life according to monastic rule, but also specialised functional areas of great technical sophistication, the Cistercian abbeys form a family apart in western monastical architecture.
The Climats (terroirs) of Burgundy from Dijon to Santenay
The site is an outstanding example of grape cultivation and wine production developed since the High Middle Ages.
Fortifications of Vauban in Besançon at the citadel, the city wall and Fort Griffon
It crystallises earlier strategic theories into a rational system of fortifications based on a concrete relationship to territory. It bears witness to the evolution of European fortification in the 17th century and produced models used all over the world up to the mid-19th century, thereby illustrating a significant period of history.
Production of Open-pan Salt in Arc-et-Senans + Salins-les-Bains
It is testimony to a visionary architectural project of a model factory.
Chalain lake prehistoric pile dwellings in Marigny at 10 Rue des Vernois
See previous pile dwelling comment.
Large lake of Clairvaux prehistoric pile dwellings in Clairvaux-les-Lacs at Chemin de la Raillette
See above.

Bretagne region [capital = Rennes]

Fortifications of Vauban in Camaret-sur-Mer at Le Sillon
See previous Vauban comments.

Centre region [capital = Orleans]

Cathedral in Chartres at 16 Cloitre Notre Dame
The outstanding stained-glass ensemble, monumental statuary of the 12th and 13th centuries and the painted decorations miraculously preserved from the ravages of humankind and time, make Chartres one of the most admirable and the best-preserved examples of Gothic art.
Castle in Sully-sur-Loire on Chemin de la Salle Verte
The chateau of Sully-sur-Loire dates from the end of the 14th century and is a prime example of medieval fortress.
Sainte-Croix Cathedral in Orleans at Place Sainte-Croix
The edifice is in the Gothic architectural style. The cathedral is probably most famous for its association with Joan of Arc. The French heroine attended evening Mass in this cathedral on May 2, 1429 while in the city to lift the siege. The cathedral's stained glass windows now depict the story of Joan of Arc, the defender of Orleans.
Castle in Chambord at Chateau
The Chateau de Chambord at Chambord, Loir-et-Cher, France, is one of the most recognisable chateaux in the world because of its very distinctive French Renaissance architecture which blends traditional French medieval forms with classical Renaissance structures.
Royal Castle in Blois at 6 Place du Chateau
It has 564 rooms and 75 staircases although only 23 were used frequently. There is a fireplace in each room. There are 100 bedrooms.
Royal Castle in Amboise on Montee de l'Emir Abd el Kader
The chateau fell into decline from the second half of the 16th century and the majority of the interior buildings were later demolished, but some survived and have been restored, along with the outer defensive circuit of towers and walls.
City of Tours from the cathedral to Place Plumereau
The city is perfect for a relaxing stroll with historic quarters cross-crossed by charming pedestrianised streets which extend from the cathedral to Place Plumereau, passing fine Renaissance residences and the gardens of St Cosme Priory, much loved by the poet Ronsard.
Castle in Villandry at 3 Rue Principale
It was the last of the great Renaissance chateaux to be built on the banks of the Loire, and its architecture combines with gardens laid out on three levels, its best-known feature, in a happy marriage of beauty, diversity, and harmony.
Castle in Azay-le-Rideau on Rue du Chateau
Built between 1518 and 1527, this château is considered one of the foremost examples of early French renaissance architecture. Set on an island in the middle of the Indre river, this picturesque château has become one of the most popular of the châteaux of the Loire valley.
Royal Fortress in Chinon on avenue Francois Mitterand
With its ramparts punctuated by numerous defensive towers, its characteristic silhouette is its strength and originality. The "three castles" that make up the Royal Fortress now reveal their secrets through re-creations, immersive visits and various activities.
St. Stephens Basilica in Neuvy-Saint-Sepulchre at 1 Rue de l'Abbe Bedu
See above Santiago de Compostela pelgrimage comments.
Cathedral in Bourges on Place Etienne Dolet
The most remarkable characteristics of the cathedral are the perspective of the lateral walls and the unity of the interior space. The sculptures on the north and south doors, on the tympanum of the Door of the Last Judgement (at the centre of the west fassade) and others like the sculpted rood screen comprise outstanding examples of Gothic art.
Priory Notre-Dame in La Charite-sur-Loire at 9 Impasse Sainte-Croix
Dating from the 11th-12th centuries and constructed in the roman style, by the 12th century it was one of the richest monasteries in France, essentially a grand outpost of the bishops of Cluny abbey.

Corsica oversea's territory [capital = Ajaccio] (Mediterranean Sea)

Gulf of Porto in Piana + Osani on D81
The nature reserve, which is part of the Regional Natural Park of Corsica, occupies the Scandola peninsula, an impressive, porphyritic rock mass. The vegetation is an outstanding example of scrubland. Seagulls, cormorants and sea eagles can be found there. The clear waters, with their islets and inaccessible caves, host a rich marine life.

Grand Est region [capital = Strasbourg]

City of Strasbourg see detail
The initial property, inscribed in 1988 on the World Heritage List, was formed by the Grande-Ile, the historic centre of Strasbourg, structured around the cathedral. The extension concerns the Neustadt, new town, designed and built under the German administration (1871-1918). The Neustadt draws the inspiration for its urban layout partially from the Haussmannian model, while adopting an architectural idiom of Germanic inspiration. This dual influence has enabled the creation of an urban space that is specific to Strasbourg, where the perspectives created around the cathedral open to a unified landscape around the rivers and canals.
Stronghold in Neuf-Brisach at 26 Place d'Armes General de Gaulle
See previous Vauban comments.
Our Lady of the High in Ronchamp at 13 Rue de la Chapelle
Notre Dame du Haut is commonly thought of as a more extreme design of Le Corbusier's late style.
The Manufacture in Saint-Die-des-Vosges at 1 avenue de Robache
The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier is directly and materially associated with ideas of the Modern Movement, of which the theories and works possessed outstanding universal significance in the twentieth century. The series represents a "New Spirit" that reflects a synthesis of architecture, painting and sculpture.
The squares in Nancy see detail
Built between 1752 to 1756, the squares of Nancy comprise a monumental urban space the value of which resides in the exemplarity and variety of its design, the subtlety of its scenography, the richness of its architecture and ornamentation.
St. Mihiel American Cemetery and Memorial in Thiaucourt-Regnieville at 28 Route de Verdun
The burial area is divided into four equal quadrants by paths lined with linden trees, at the center of which is a large sundial surmounted by an American eagle. A statue of a World War I soldier, sculpted by Paul Manship, stands at the end of the western axis, while a semi-circular overlook with a sculpted victory vase marks the end of the eastern axis.
The Stronghold in Longwy on Place Darche
See previous Vauban comments.
Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in Romagne-sous-Montfaucon on D123
The cemetery consists of eight sections behind a large central reflection pool. Beyond the grave sections is a chapel which is decorated with stained glass windows depicting American units' insignias. Along the walls of the chapel area are the tablets of the missing which include the names of those soldiers who fought in the region and in northern Russia, but have no known grave.
The Basilica of Our Lady in L'Epine at 37 Avenue du Luxembourg
The basilica has the dimensions of a cathedral and is in the Gothic architectural tradition.
Cloister of Notre-Dame-en-Vaux in Chalons-en-Champagne on Rue Nicolas Durand
Demolished in the 18th century, this medieval monument was discovered in 1963. Since it was impossible to build it back to its original location, a museum was established nearby: statues-columns, capitals and pillars adorned this unique ensemble.
City of Reims see detail
The outstanding handling of new architectural techniques in the 13th century, and the harmonious marriage of sculptural decoration with architecture, has made Notre-Dame in Reims one of the masterpieces of Gothic art. The former abbey still has its beautiful 9th-century nave, in which lie the remains of Archbishop St Remi (440-533), who instituted the Holy Anointing of the kings of France. The former archiepiscopal palace known as the Tau Palace, which played an important role in religious ceremonies, was almost entirely rebuilt in the 17th century.
Champagne Hillsides and cellars in Hautvillers at 226 Rue de Cumieres + Chemin des Garennes
Through the development of traditional know-how, the people of Champagne have overcome a number of obstacles, both in the vineyards (a harsh climate and rather infertile chalky soils), and in the wine-making process, through their mastery of sparkling wine production techniques, and in assembly and bottling.
Champagne cellar in Cumieres at 166 Rue de Dizy
See above.
Champagne Hillsides and cellars in Epernay at 20 Avenue de Champagne + 1 Route de Mardeuil
See above.
Champagne Hillsides and cellars in Ay at 2 Boulevard du Nord + 14 Rue Marcel Mailly
See above.
Champagne Hillsides in Mareuil-sur-Ay at 21 Rue Corbier + 26 Rue Carnot
See above.

Hauts de France region North [capital = Lille]

Belfry in Comines ( Grand Place) + Lille ( Place Roger Salengro) + Loos ( 104 Rue du Marechal Foch)
A practical building housing the communal bells, conserving charters and treasures, where city council meetings were held, serving as a watch tower and a prison, the belfry has, over the centuries, become the symbol of power and prosperity of the communes.
Pheasant Wood Military Cemetery in Fromelles at 22TER Rue des Vaulx
Following the discovery of the mass graves at Pheasant Wood in May 2008, the British and Australian governments set up a jointly funded body, the Fromelles Management Board (FMB), to achieve three main aims: to recover, identify, and re-inter the bodies.
V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial in Fromelles at 46 rue Delval
The cemetery contains 410 unidentified bodies retrieved from the battlefield after the Armistice, that is, more than two years after the battle. There are no headstones in the cemetery, two large concrete crosses laid face down in the grass mark where the soldiers are buried.
Belfry in Armentieres ( 33 Rue de Lille) + Bailleul ( 3 Place Charles de Gaulle) + Aire-sur-la-Lys ( Grand Place) + Bergues ( Place de la Republique) + Dunkerque ( Place Charles Valentin) + Dunkerque ( rue de l'Amiral Ronarch) + Gravelines ( Place Albert Denvers) + Calais ( Place du Soldat Inconnu)
See above belfry comment.
Cemetery in Wimereux at 37B Rue René Cassin
Wimereux Communal Cemetery contains 2,847, Commonwealth burials of the First World War, two of them unidentified.
Belfry of the City Hall in Boulogne-sur-Mer on Place Godefroy de Bouillon
See above belfry comment.
Etaples Military Cemetery in Etaples at Le Camping Pinede on D940
In total, the cemetery contains 10,792 Commonwealth burials of which only 73 are unidentified. There are also 658 German burials in the cemetery.

Hauts de France region Center [capital = Lille]

Belfry in Rue on Rue des Remparts
See above belfry comment.
Chinese Cemetery of Nolette in Noyelles-sur-Mer on Chemin des Salines Nolette
It is the final resting place of 842 Chinese labourers employed by the British army in 1916 to carry out hard and dangerous tasks behind the lines.
Belfry in Abbeville ( 24 Rue Gontier Patin ) + Saint-Riquier( 7 Place du Beffroi ) + Hesdin( 10 Place d'Armes )
See above belfry comment.
Nord-Pas de Calais Mining Basin from Hernicourt to Fresnes-sur-Escaut see detail
It features mining pits (the oldest of which dates from 1850) and lift infrastructure, slag heaps (some of which cover 90 ha and exceed 140 m in height), coal transport infrastructure, railway stations, workers' estates and mining villages including social habitat, schools, religious buildings, health and community facilities, company premises, owners and managers' houses, town halls and more.
Belfry in Bethune on Grand Place
See above belfry comment.
Dud Corner Cemetery in Loos-en-Gohelle on Chemin du Mont de Vermelles
To the glory of God and in memory of 20,598 officers and men of the forces of the British Empire who fell in the Battles of Loos and Béthune and other actions in this neighbourhood, whose names are here recorded but to whom the fortunes of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.
Canadian Cemetery No. 2 in Neuville St Vaast at dérière le Bois
The cemetery was established by the Canadian Corps after the successful storming of Vimy Ridge on 9th April, 1917 and some of those buried in the cemetery fell in that battle or died of wounds received there, though the majority of the graves were made later for the burial of the dead recovered from surrounding battlefields and from isolated graves which were transferred into the cemetery over a period of years after the Armistice.
Givenchy Road Canadian Cemetery in Neuville St Vaast at dérière le Bois
Although only being 250 meters from the nearby Canadian Cemetery No. 2, it was not incorporated into the cemetery like many other battlefield cemeteries created at the time.
Lichfield Crater in Thélus on Chemin des Ânes
All of the men buried here died on 9 or 10 April 1917 with one exception, a soldier who died in April 1916, whose grave was found on the edge of the crater after the Armistice and is the only one marked by a headstone.
Canadian National Vimy Memorial in Givenchy-en-Gohelle on Chemin des Canadiens
The Battle of Vimy Ridge was the first time all four divisions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force participated in a battle as a cohesive formation, and it became a Canadian national symbol of achievement and sacrifice.
Belfry in Douai on Rue de la Mairie
See above belfry comment.
Le Quesnoy communal Cemetery extension in Le Quesnoy on D2934
The Cemetery Extension adjoins that part of the Communal Cemetery where the British graves are placed. It was begun by the New Zealand Division after the capture of the town, and used later by the 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station. Twenty-four graves were brought in from the German Extension.
Belfry in Cambrai at 2 Rue du 11 Novembre
See above belfry comment.
Cambrai Memorial in Doignies at 1 Hameau de Louverval
Memorial to the missing at Louverval military cemetery.
Belfry in Arras at 4 Place des Heros
See above belfry comment.
The Citadel in Arras on Boulevard Vauban
See previous Vauban comments.
Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery in Arras at 8 rue Berthe Warret
Here are recorded the names of 35942 officers and men of the forces of the British Empire who fell in the Battles of Arras or in air operations above the Western Front and who have no known grave.
Belfry in Lucheux ( 2 Rue Raymond Dubois ) + Doullens ( Rue du Bourg )
See above belfry comment.

Hauts de France region South [capital = Lille]

Rancourt Military Cemetery in Bouchavesnes-Bergen at 1 D1017
Rancourt National Cemetery holds the remains of soldiers who died for France during the Battle of the Somme.
Pozières British Cemetery in Ovillers-La-Boisselle at 515 route d'Albert
The memorial encloses a Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery, in which 2,758 Commonwealth servicemen are either buried or commemorated.
Thiepval Memorial in Thiepval at 10 Rue de l'Ancre
The main arch is surmounted by a tower. In the central space of the memorial a Stone of Remembrance rests on a three-stepped platform.
Mill Road Cemetery in Thiepval on D73
The cemetery now contains the graves of 1304 Commonwealth soldiers, 815 of which are unidentified.
Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial in Beaumont-Hamel at 1 Rue de Beaucourt
The Battle of the Somme was the regiment's first major engagement, and during an assault that lasted approximately 30 minutes the regiment was all but wiped out.
Hunter's Cemetery in Beaumont-Hamel on D4151
Hunter's Cemetery (the origin of the name may refer to a Chaplain attached to the Black Watch, the Rev. Hunter) is, in fact, a great shell-hole, in which soldiers of the 51st Division, who fell in the capture of Beaumont-Hamel, were buried after the battle.
Louvencourt Military Cemetery in Louvencourt at 2 Rue de l'Eglise
There are now 151 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in this cemetery and 76 French war graves dating from 1915. The cemetery also contains three graves from the Second World War.
Belfry in Amiens at 1 Place Maurice Vast
See above belfry comment.
Cathedral in Amiens on Place Saint-Michel
It is notable for the coherence of its plan, the beauty of its three-tier interior elevation and the particularly fine display of sculptures on the principal fassade and in the south transept.
Australian National Memorial in Corbie on Rue Charles de Gaulle
To the Glory of God and in memory of the Australian Imperial Force in France and Flanders 1916–1918 and of eleven thousand who fell in France and have no known grave.
The Church of Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur and Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Folleville at 20 Rue Saint-Vincent de Paul
See above Santiago de Compostela pelgrimage comments.
Saint-Vincent Chapel in Folleville at 2 Rue Saint-Vincent
See above Santiago de Compostela pelgrimage comments.
Saint-Jacques Church in Compiegne at 9 Place Saint-Jacques
See above Santiago de Compostela pelgrimage comments.
Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial in Belleau at 32 Rue des Chevaliers Colombs
The cemetery itself is laid out in the form of the capital letter T, with the Memorial Chapel crowning the T-shape on a small hill to south, the cross-bars making up the two burial plots and the pathway leading into the cemetery making up the stem of the letter-shape.

Ile de France region [capital = Paris]

Banks of the Seine in Paris see detail
From the Ile St Louis to the Pont Neuf, from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower, and the Place de la Concorde to the Grand and Petit Palais, the evolution of Paris and its history can be seen from the River Seine.
House la Roche in Paris at 8-10 Square du Dr Blanche
Maison La Roche is now a museum containing about 8,000 original drawings, studies and plans by Le Corbusier (in collaboration with Pierre Jeanneret from 1922 to 1940), as well as approximately, 450 of his paintings, 30 enamels, 200 works on paper, and a sizeable collection of written and photographic archives.
Le Corbusier's Apartment-studio in Paris at 24 Rue Nungesser et Coli
When you step into Le Corbusier’s Studio-Apartment in Paris, you step into a realm where architecture, natural light, and personal life converge into a harmonious entity.
Villa Savoye in Poissy at 82 Rue de Villiers
The villas designed by Le Corbusier in the early 1920s demonstrated what he termed the "precision" of architecture, where each feature of the design needed to be justified in design and urban terms.
Palace and Park in Versailles on Place d'Armes
The Palace of Versailles was the principal residence of the French kings from the time of Louis XIV to Louis XVI. Embellished by several generations of architects, sculptors, decorators and landscape architects, it provided Europe with a model of the ideal royal residence for over a century.
Palace and Park in Fontainebleau on rue Denecourt
Used by the kings of France from the 12th century, the medieval royal hunting lodge of Fontainebleau, standing at the heart of a vast forest in the Ile-de-France, was transformed, enlarged and embellished in the 16th century by Francois I, who wanted to make a 'New Rome' of it. Surrounded by an immense park, the Italianate palace combines Renaissance and French artistic traditions.
Town of Medieval Fairs of Provins see detail
The fortified medieval town of Provins is situated in the former territory of the powerful Counts of Champagne. It bears witness to early developments in the organization of international trading fairs and the wool industry. The urban structure of Provins, which was built specifically to host the fairs and related activities, has been well preserved.

La Reunion oversea's territory [capital = Saint-Denis] (Indian Ocean)

Piton des Neiges in Salazie @
Piton des Neiges is the highest point on Reunion and is considered to be the highest point in the Indian Ocean. The volcano was formed by the Réunion hotspot and emerged from the sea about two million years ago. Now deeply eroded, the volcano has been inactive for 20,000 years and is surrounded by three massive crater valleys, the Cirques.
Cirque de Cilaos in Cilaos @
The first inhabitants of the cirque of Cilaos were thus "black-browns" who believed themselves to be at the top of the world and completely safe. However, these first runaways were recaptured very quickly, tracked and hunted by well-organized and well-armed slaveholders. In these runaways' attempts to escape recapture, several were killed.
Plaine des Remparts in Saint-Joseph @
Located at the northern end of the communal territory of Saint-Joseph, it is bounded on the west by the cliffs dug by the tributaries of the Remparts River and on the east by the Plain of Sands , which it overlooks from above. from the ramparts of the Sands . In fact, it stretches in length on a narrow width between the summit called Morne Langevin in the south and the space crossed by the GR R2 hiking trail to the north. In doing so, it maintains an altitude of between 2,236 and 2,448 meters , the highest point being the Basalt peak.
Piton de la Fournaise in Plaine-des-Cafres @
It is currently one of the most active volcanoes in the world, along with Kīlauea in the Hawaiian Islands, Stromboli and Etna in Italy and Mount Erebus in Antarctica. A previous eruption began in August 2006 and ended in January 2007. The volcano erupted again in February 2007, on 21 September 2008, on 9 December 2010, which lasted for two days, and on 1 August 2015. The most recent eruption began on 14 July 2017.
Trou de Fer in Salazie @
The canyon has two distinct parts: a large crater, which is fed by six prominent waterfalls, and a narrow slot canyon at its outlet, which constitutes most of the canyon's length.
Cirque de Salazie in Salazie @
The most impressive is indisputably that of the "Bride's Veil" (Voile de la Mariée), an immense waterfall that splits into several small ones, which you can admire from the road between Salazie and Hell-Bourg!
Cirque de Mafate in Ilet-Cimendal, La Possession @
The cirque is entirely enclosed by mountains, especially tall cliffs, known as remparts, save for the sole river exiting, the Rivière des Galets ("river of the pebbles"). Inside the cirque, there are considerable declivities. The îlets are pieces of more-or-less flat lands, on which the hamlets are located.

Martinique oversea's territory [capital = Fort de France] (Atlantic Ocean)

Carbet Mountains in Le Morne-Vert @
The Carbet Mountains (French: Pitons Du Carbet, or Carbet Nails) are a massif of volcanic origin on the Caribbean island of Martinique. The mountain range is a popular tourist, hiking, and rock climbing destination.
Morne Jacob in Le Morne Rouge
Morne Jacob is a viewpoint inside of Parc naturel régional de la Martinique.
Mount Pelée in Saint-Pierre @
The volcanic mountain range represents 12% of Martinique's territory.
Piton Mont Conil in Grand'Rivière
There is dense forest vegetation, accompanied by water-demanding crops such as bananas.

Normandie region [capital = Rouen]

City of Le Havre
Le Havre is exceptional among many reconstructed cities for its unity and integrity. It combines a reflection of the earlier pattern of the town and its extant historic structures with the new ideas of town planning and construction technology. It is an outstanding post-war example of urban planning and architecture based on the unity of methodology and the use of prefabrication, the systematic utilization of a modular grid, and the innovative exploitation of the potential of concrete.
Vauban towers in Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue on route de la Hougue + ile de Tatihou
See previous Vauban comments.
Bay in Mont-Saint-Michel @
Perched on a rocky islet in the midst of vast sandbanks exposed to powerful tides between Normandy and Brittany stand the 'Wonder of the West', a Gothic-style Benedictine abbey dedicated to the archangel St Michael, and the village that grew up in the shadow of its great walls. Built between the 11th and 16th centuries, the abbey is a technical and artistic tour de force, having had to adapt to the problems posed by this unique natural site. It's also a landmarks on the routes to Santiago de Compostela.

Nouvelle Acquitaine region nord [capital = Bordeaux]

Historic City of Bordeaux see detail
The Port of the Moon, port city of Bordeaux in south-west France, is inscribed as an inhabited historic city, an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble, created in the age of the Enlightenment, whose values continued up to the first half of the 20th century, with more protected buildings than any other French city except Paris.
Fortifications of Vauban in Blaye at La citadelle + le fort Pate et Medoc
See previous Vauban comments.
Notre-Dame-de-la-fin-des-Terres Basilica in Soulac-sur-Mer on rue de la Plage
See above Santiago de Compostela pelgrimage comments.
Cordouan Lighthouse in Le Verdon-sur-Mer on rue du Phare de Cardouan
In the middle of the sea, at the mouth of the Gironde estuary, off the coast of Royan and the Grave headland, the famous Cordouan Lighthouse, built between 1584 and 1611, is the oldest working lighthouse in France. Known as the Versailles of the sea, this imposing sentinel of white Saintonge stone, a listed Historic Monument, stands 67.5 metres tall and has six storeys in the Renaissance style.
The Pilgrims Hospital in Pons at 70 Rue Georges Clemenceau
See above Santiago de Compostela pelgrimage comments.
Saint Eutrope Basilica in Saintes at 56 Rue Saint-Eutrope
See above.
Royal Abbey in Saint-Jean-d'Angely at 1, rue Louis-Audouin-Dubreuil
See above.
Church Saint Pierre in Aulnay on chemin de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle
See above.
Fortifications of Vauban in Saint-Martin-de-Re on Cours Vauban
Its defensive system comprises four bastions, three demi-lunes and a counterguard, surrounded by a moat and a covered walkway. It contained an arsenal, food and powder stores, barracks and officers' accommodation. The citadel opens on to the sea via a small fortified port. From 1873 onwards it became a stop-off point for penal colony prisoners on the way to New Caledonia until 1897 and later to Guyana until 1938. Today it remains a prison for more than 400 detainees and is not open to the public.
Saint-Hilaire Church in Melle on Rue du Pont Saint-Hilaire
See above Santiago de Compostela pelgrimage comments.
Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand Church in Poitiers at 26 Rue Saint-Hilaire
See above.
Abbey Church in Saint-Savin on Place de la Liberation
Known as the 'Romanesque Sistine Chapel', the Abbey-Church of Saint-Savin contains many beautiful 11th and 12th century murals which are still in a remarkable state of preservation.
Collegiate Church in Saint-Leonard-de-Noblat at 2 Place Wilson
See above Santiago de Compostela pelgrimage comments.
Prehistoric sites in Vezere Valley in Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil see detail
This property comprises 15 prehistoric sites that bear witness to a strong Paleolithic occupation: decorated caves, funerary places, workshops, exploitation areas for raw materials, habitats, hunting scenes.
Holy Quitterie Church in Vanzac on Le Bourg S
See above Santiago de Compostela pelgrimage comments.
Jurisdiction of Saint-Emilion in/around Saint-Emilion see detail
It is an exceptional landscape devoted entirely to wine-growing, with many fine historic monuments in its towns and villages.

Nouvelle Acquitaine region south [capital = Bordeaux]

Cite Fruges in Pessac on rue Le Corbusier
It was intended as a testing ground for the ideas Le Corbusier had expressed in his 1922 manifesto Vers une Architecture and was his first attempt designing low-cost, mass-produced collective housing in his trademark aesthetic.
Bell tower in Mimizan at 39 Rue de l'Abbaye
See above Santiago de Compostela pelgrimage comments.
Abbey Church in Saint-Sever at 7 Place du Tour de Sol
See above
Abbey Church St Jean de Sorde in Sorde-l'Abbaye on Place de l'Eglise
See above
Sainte-Marie Cathedral in Bayonne at 15 Rue des Prebendes
See above
Porte Saint-Jacques in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on chemin de la Porte Saint-Jacques
See above
Stretch of route to Santiago de Compostela from Ostabat-Asme to Aroue-Ithorots-Olhaiby
See above
Church in L'Hopital-Saint-Blaise on Le Bourg
See above
Cathedral in Oloron-Sainte-Marie on Place de la Cathedrale
See above

Nouvelle Caledonie oversea's territory [capital = Noumea] (South Pacific Ocean)

South lagoon from Prony to Kuto (Ile des Pins)
The tropical lagoons and coral reefs of New Caledonia are an outstanding example of high diversity coral reef ecosystems and form one of the three most extensive reef systems in the world. They are the location for the world's most diverse concentration of reef structures, with an exceptional diversity of coral and fish species and a continuum of habitats from mangroves to seagrasses and a wide range of reef forms, extending over important oceanic gradients.
West Coast from Bourake to La Roche Percee
See above.
East Coast from Ometteux to Pouebo
See above.
Ouvea & Beautemps-Beaupre atolls from Ohnyot to Mouli
See above.
North lagoon from Tiabet to Panan
See above.
Entrecasteaux atolls at north of Panan
See above.

Occitanie region south east [capital = Toulouse]

The Citadel in Mont-Louis on D118
See previous Vauban comments.
Fortifications of Vauban in Villefranche-de-Conflent at the enclosure, the fort and the Cova Bastera
See above.
Canal du Midi from Agde to Toulouse
This 360-km network of navigable waterways linking the Mediterranean and the Atlantic through 328 structures (locks, aqueducts, bridges, tunnels, etc.) is one of the most remarkable feats of civil engineering in modern times.
Historic Fortified City of Carcassonne @
In its present form it is an outstanding example of a medieval fortified town, with its massive defences encircling the castle and the surrounding buildings, its streets and its fine Gothic cathedral.
Church Notre-Dame du Bourg in Rabastens at 12 Rue du Pont del Pa
See above Santiago de Compostela pelgrimage comments.
Episcopal City of Albi see detail
The Episcopal City of Albi forms a coherent and homogeneous ensemble of monuments and quarters that has remained largely unchanged over the centuries.
Devil's Bridge in Aniane at Pont du Diable
Among the oldest existing French medieval bridges, it incorporates the early techniques of Romanesque art in the region, including two main arches and two secondary arches (gills, which cope with the torrent in times of flood), demonstrating the strength and solidity of its construction.
Abbey in Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert on Place de la Liberte
See above Santiago de Compostela pelgrimage comments.
Abbey Church in Saint-Gilles du Gard at 10 Rue de l'Hotel de ville
See above Santiago de Compostela pelgrimage comments.
Maison Carrée in Nimes at place de la Maison Carrée
The architecture and elaborate decoration symbolically communicated the ideological programme of Augustus, who transitioned Ancient Rome from republic to empire, opening a new golden age known as Pax Romana.
Pont du Gard in Remoulins at 400 route du Pont du Gard | La Begude
The Pont du Gard was built shortly before the Christian era to allow the aqueduct of Nimes (which is almost 50 km long) to cross the Gard river. The Roman architects and hydraulic engineers who designed this bridge, which stands almost 50 m high and is on three levels - the longest measuring 275 m - created a technical as well as an artistic masterpiece.

Occitanie region north east [capital = Toulouse]

Mediterranean agro-pastoral Cultural Landscape from Ganges over Cassagnas to Mende
Villages and substantial stone farmhouses on deep terraces of the Causses reflect the organization of large abbeys from the 11th century. Mont Lozere, inside the property, is one of the last places where summer transhumance is still practiced in the traditional way, using the drailles.
Stretch of route to Santiago de Compostela from Nasbinals to Saint-Chely-d'Aubrac
See above Santiago de Compostela pelgrimage comments.
Pont des Pelerins in Saint-Chely-d'Aubrac at Le Pont Neuf
See above.
Stretch of route to Santiago de Compostela from Saint-Chely-d'Aubrac to Saint-Come-d'Olt
See above.
Stretch of route to Santiago de Compostela from Saint-Come-d'Olt to Espalion
See above.
Bridge in Espalion at Pont Vieux
See above.
Stretch of route to Santiago de Compostela from Espailion to Estaing
See above.
Hospitalite Saint Jacques in Estaing at 8 Rue du College
See above.
Saint Faith Abbey Church in Conques-en-Rouergue at Place De L'Abbaye
See above.
Stretch of routes to Santiago de Compostela from Montredon to Figeac
See above.
Stretch of routes to Santiago de Compostela from Faycelles to Cajarc
See above.
Hospital Center St-Jacques in Saint-Cere at 11 Avenue du Dr Roux
See above.

Occitanie region west [capital = Toulouse]

Basilique Saint Sauveur in Rocamadour on D673
See above.
Cathedral in Cahors at 17 Place Jean Jacques Chapou
See above.
Velentre Bridge in Cahors at Pont Valentre
See above.
Stretch of routes to Santiago de Compostela from Cahors to Bach
See above.
St-Peter's Abbay in Moissac at 6 Place Durand de Bredon
See above.
Collegiate church of St-Peter in La Romieu on rue du docteur Lucante
See above.
Stretch of routes to Santiago de Compostela from Lectoure to Condom
See above.
Bridge in Larressingle at Pont d'Artigues
See above.
Cathedral in Auch at 5 Rue Arnaud de Moles
See above.
Basilica Saint-Sernin in Toulouse on Place Saint-Sernin
See above.
Hotel-Dieu Saint-Jacques in Toulouse at 2 Rue Viguerie
See above.
Church in Cintegabelle at Tramezaigues
See above.
Cathedral in Saint-Lizier at 105-107 La ville
See above.
Saint-Just Basilica in Valcabrere at 10 Route de Saint-Just
See above.
Sainte Marie Cathedral in Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges at Parvis de la Cathedrale
See above.
Paleochristian Basilica in Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges at Le Plan
See above.
Chapel of St. Lawrence in Arreau
See above.
Templar Chapel in Aragnouet
See above.
Church St Jacques in Germs-sur-l'Oussouet
See above.
Lost Mount in Gedre
The site, with a total area of 30,639 ha, includes two of Europe's largest and deepest canyons on the Spanish side and three major cirque walls on the more abrupt northern slopes with France, classic presentations of these geological landforms. The site is also a pastoral landscape reflecting an agricultural way of life that was once widespread in the upland regions of Europe but now survives only in this part of the Pyrenees.
Our Lady of the Snow in Gavarnie on D923
See above Santiago de Compostela pelgrimage comments.

Pays de la Loire region [capital = Nantes]

Castle of Serrant in Saint-Georges-sur-Loire on D 723
To discover its prestigious collections of furniture and works of art, you will first need to cross the big alley to reach the entrance of this majestic château. This place is vast and the landscaped park is overflowed with all kinds of birds.
Castle in Angers at 2 Promenade du Bout du Monde
Founded in the 9th century by the Counts of Anjou, it was expanded to its current size in the 13th century.
Castle in Saumur at Le Fort
We discover today the rich collections distributed in the former apartments of the Dukes of Anjou within a didactic museography.
Royal Abbey in Fontevraud-l'Abbaye on Rue Jean de l'Habit
This order was composed of double monasteries, in which the community consisted of both men and women in separate quarters of the abbey, all of which were subject to the authority of the Abbess of Fontevraud.

Polynesie oversea's territory [capital = Pape'ete] (South Pacific Ocean)

Marae Taputapuatea in Opoa
The property includes two forested valleys, a portion of lagoon and coral reef and a strip of open ocean. At the heart of the property is the Taputapuatea marae complex, a political, ceremonial and funerary centre.
Marquesas Islands in Te Henua Enata see detail
Marked by sharp ridges, impressive peaks and cliffs rising abruptly above the ocean, the landscapes of the archipelago are unparalleled in these tropical latitudes. The archipelago is a major centre of endemism, home to rare and diverse flora, a diversity of emblematic marine species, and one of the most diverse seabird assemblages in the South Pacific. Virtually free from human exploitation, Marquesan waters are among the world’s last marine wilderness areas. The property also includes archaeological sites ranging from monumental dry-stone structures to lithic sculptures and engravings.

Provence, Alpes, Cote d'Azur region [capital = Marseille]

Shed of Le Corbusier in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin on Sentier Massolin
The Cabanon de Cap-Martin is both a total work of art and the archetype of the minimum cell, based on an absolute ergonomic and functionalist approach.
Winter Resort Town of the Riviera in Nice @
The diverse cultural influences of the winter residents and the desire to make the most of the climatic conditions and scenery of the place, shaped the urban planning and eclectic architectural styles of those areas, contributing to the city’s renown as a cosmopolitan winter resort.
Housing Unit from Le Corbusier in Marseille at 280 Boulevard Michelet
The Unité d’habitation de Marseille, the founding work of architectural Brutalism, is the major test of a new mode of housing based on the balance between the individual and the collective.
Roman and Romanesque Monuments in Arles see detail
It has some impressive Roman monuments, of which the earliest - the arena, the Roman theatre and the cryptoporticus (subterranean galleries) - date back to the 1st century B.C. During the 4th century Arles experienced a second golden age, as attested by the baths of Constantine and the necropolis of Alyscamps. In the 11th and 12th centuries, Arles once again became one of the most attractive cities in the Mediterranean. Within the city walls, Saint-Trophime, with its cloister, is one of Provence's major Romanesque monuments.
Historic Centre of Avignon see detail
The Palais des Papes, an austere-looking fortress lavishly decorated by Simone Martini and Matteo Giovanetti, dominates the city, the surrounding ramparts and the remains of a 12th-century bridge over the Rhone. Beneath this outstanding example of Gothic architecture, the Petit Palais and the Romanesque Cathedral of Notre-Dame-des-Doms complete an exceptional group of monuments that testify to the leading role played by Avignon in 14th-century Christian Europe.
Roman Theatre and the Triumphal Arch in Orange on Rue Madeleine Roch + Avenue de l'Arc de Triomphe
Situated in the Rhone valley, the ancient theatre of Orange, with its 103-m-long facade, is one of the best preserved of all the great Roman theatres. Built between A.D. 10 and 25, the Roman arch is one of the most beautiful and interesting surviving examples of a provincial triumphal arch from the reign of Augustus.
Fortress in Mont-Dauphin on Place Vauban
See previous Vauban comments.
Fortifications of Vauban in Briançon see detail
See above.