Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Ancient & Roman Architecture
France's oldest architecture can be found in
Brittany, where megalithic builders left behind
many impressive stone monuments, includ-
ing the 3000-odd menhirs of the Alignements
de Carnac. In contrast, the nation's Gallo-Ro-
man legacy is mainly concentrated in the
south, including the impressive amphi-
theatres in Nîmes and Arles, Orange's Ro-
man theatre and the huge Pont du Gard
aqueduct near Nîmes.
Modern Buildings
1 MUSÉE DU QUAI BRANLY (
Gothic Architecture
During the Gothic period France's architects
really went in for scale, as demonstrated by
monumental Gothic buildings such as Avign-
on's pontifical palace and the massive
cathedrals of Chartres, Reims, Metz and Par-
is' Notre Dame. Tell-tale signs of French
Gothic buildings include flying buttresses,
ribbed vaults, pointed arches and plenty of lu-
minous stained glass.
3 PYRAMIDE DU LOUVRE (
4 CENTRE POMPIDOU-METZ (
The Renaissance
During the 15th and 16th centuries architects developed a taste for extravagance,
epitomised by the lavish châteaux of the Loire Valley. Embellished with sweeping
staircases, gabled windows, lacy turrets and decorative motifs, these castles were
built to impress rather than to defend against attack. The era of architectural showi-
ness reached its peak with the royal palaces of Fontainebleu and Versailles, both
near Paris.
Neoclassicism & the Belle Époque
The 18th and 19th centuries were about order and elegance. This was the era of
the grand boulevard and the great public square, exemplified by Arras' Place des
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