Chartres Cathedral

The Chartres Cathedral of France is situated in Chartes
about eighty kilometers southwest of Paris.
It is one of the best & most famous churches in the entire France.
It is counted third best among the Gothic style of architecture.
It’s full name is the Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres.
It is a beautiful sight to see from a distance, between the wheat fields and only when tourists come closer to the church, it stands on the top of the hill and stands out in beauty.
The Chartres Cathedral was built in the 16th century and it has two Spires
the first one is 349 feet and the other is 377 feet tall.
As far as the history of the cathedral goes, this cathedral was said to be the most imperative building in the city. It acted as a big landmark for the local public
and also for the nearby visitors. All important activities were entered around the cathedral. Sometimes during the middle age, the cathedral worked as the market place.
In the middle of all this, the priests however were always against the cathedral being used as a market place.
So much so, that they did not allow people selling wine in the crypt.
The cathedral was a common assembly point for different kinds of workmen to find jobs for themselves.
The Chartres Cathedral is one of the most visited Gothic churches in the entire France.
The Chartres was a place where pilgrims used to come
quite often and during older days, the church used to be a hospital to take care of the sick.

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Eiffel Tower - At Night

The Eiffel Tower is an iron tower built on the Champ de Mars beside the River Seine in Paris.
It is the tallest structure in Paris and among the most recognized symbols in the world.
Named after its designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel, it is a premier tourist destination.

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Eiffel Tower

Architect : Gustave Eiffel
Location: Paris, France map
Date :1887 to 1889 timeline
Building Type: exposition observation tower
Construction System : exposed iron
Climate: temperate
Context :urban exposition
Style :Victorian Structural Expressionist
- A symbol of Paris worldwide. 985' high rugged tracery of iron work.
Commission from competition victory.

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France - Arc De Triomphe

Arc De Triomphe, one of the worlds largest triumph arc, is a great monument
located in Paris which stands in the centre of “Charles De Gaulle”.
The arc was built as the honor for those who fought for France especially during
the Napoleonic wars.
There are names of the generals and the wars fought engraved inside
and at the top of the arch. Underneath
the arch there is tomb of a soldier of World War I who is still unknown.
This great arch has a height of 50 meters, a width of 45 meters and a depth of 22 meters which makes it as a second largest triumph arc in the world.
It is composed of three arcs, where two are small arcs and the other is a large arc.
The large arc is 9 feet wide and 21 feet height.
The design of the arc was inspired by the roman arch of Titus.
This great arc is compared as linchpin of the historic axis.
It was commissioned in the year 1806 after the victory at Austerlitz by Napoleon. Laying the foundation of the arc took about 2 years.
When Napoleon entered into Paris with his bride in the year 1810
he had a wooden mock-up of the completed arch constructed.
The architect, Jean Chalgrin, died in the year 1811 and the construction was halted.
Then it was succeeded by Jean Nicholas Huyot.
“An artist has no home in Europe except in Paris.”

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France - Amiens Cathedral

Amiens cathedral, also know as the cathedral of our lady of Amiens, is the tallest cathedral in France.
Amiens Cathedral is the heart of Picardy which is a couple of hours north of Paris.
The interior volume is estimated as 200,000 meters cube .
It is listed as one of world heritage site by UNESCO in the year 1981.
It is the tallest gothic church in from the Gothic era.
The height of the ceiling is about 43 meters and the width of the nave is about 14.7 meters.
The interior ceiling is a modern 14-story building.
This cathedral was built in the year 1152 and was influenced by the roman style.
The cathedral was burnt in the year 1218 due to a lightening strike.
The reconstruction of the cathedral was started in the year 1220 and completed in 1245.
Although there are several cathedrals in the surrounding area
the Amiens Cathedral is the largest and very popular cathedral in France.

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St. Valery sur Somme - north of France

St Valery sur Somme - a wonderful medieval town from
where William the Conqueror set sail for England.
Situated on the mouth of the River Somme
with some of the best ornithology sites in Northern France
as a backdrop at least 315 bird species have been identified in the area
this town consists of a cobbled old town with narrow streets and lanes
and more modern section which does not detract from the overall look and feel of the town.
The town is built along and extends outwards from the banks of the estuary,hence it has a great seaside feel,with a busy port both commercially and for the tourist trade.
Le Beau Rivage is great for Pizza - either served on the premises or take-away.

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St. Omer - north of France

St.Omer was a famous trade city in the Middle Age.
Not a lot remains of this glorious past, unhappily, but you can still see its old market and the ruins of an abbey where died the last Merovingian king, at the end of the VIIth century.
Located at the border between Flanders and Artois, Saint Omer is also famous
in the region for its swamp, the "marais audomarois": there, people cultivate vegetables and sell them on small boats.
I recommend you the inhabitants, among the friendliest French.
it's worth a stopover just for that! P.S.:
There is no train station at Saint Omer; one must go down at Hazebrouck, 20 Km away... This last is incorrect - it is served by trains between Calais and Lille.

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Olhain - north of France

he Olhain park is close to Lille and Arras and is perfect for a day trip.
The park provides you with the opportunity to escape the cities and enjoy the outdoor.
Thanks to its 450 hectares of forest ( 300 of which are national forest )
its numerous sports and leisure activities equipments (golf, tennis, swimming pool, brasserie, camping-site...)
and its festive animations (exhibitions, shows, meetings...)
Olhain Park constitutes a must as the Leisure Activities destination .
There are many walking paths (hiking or mountain bike)
a particularly rich and varied flora and fauna which will succeed to seduce the nature lovers.

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Lille Culture Capital of Europe in 2004

Lille, in northern France, has been named the 2004 Culture Capital of Europe
which means lots of money has been spent on Lille cultural attractions.
Eurostar trains stop at Lille, so it's an easy destination
to visit on your way to Paris.

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Lille - north of France

To many people thinks that Lille sounds like a boring, industrial, coal mining town.
Are they in for a suprise! Lille has got a vey nice historic centre
with old houses and mansions that look like those of Brussels or Amsterdam,
Although the North of France still suffers high unemployemnt rates, this region is getting back to its feet. Lille is becoming an important regional hub again
with fast trains connecting it to Brussels, Paris and London.
Lille has been designated a "European City of Culture" for 2004.

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Epernay - north of France

Épernay is a commune in the Marne department in northern France.
Épernay is located 88 miles ENE of Paris on the main
line of the Eastern railway to Strasbourg.
The town is situated on the left bank of the Marne
at the extremity of the pretty Cubryvalley which crosses it.

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Dunkerque - north of France

Dunkerque is a small town in the northernmost tip of France.
It is very close to the border with Belgium
and is actually located on the shores of the North Sea.
Dunkerque’s cultural heritage is illustrated by the wide variety of resources and events: museums, cinemas, theatre, conference centre, cafes with live music, festivals, architectural and historic sites and, of course, the Carnival.
For two months (late January to early March), Dunkerque celebrates the festival that once gave a cheerful send-off to fishermen sailing north to fish
in the dangerous icy waters round Iceland.
Each weekend a different group holds a procession, with crowds of carnival revellers led by a band, and featuring visiting "giants" such as the Scandinavian warrior Reuze Papa
and his wife from Cassell. In the evenings each group holds a lively ball.
Colourful Flemish tradition dates back to the Counter-Reformation in the early 16th century.
It came from Spain and Portugal, when Flanders was part of the Spanish Netherlands.
The Catholic church set out to encourage popular expressions
of piety to ward off the threat of Protestantism.
Large figures were carried in annual religious processions to mark occasions such as the day cock of the town's patron saint.
Most were biblical figures like Goliath or St. Christopher, and they gradually acquired various attendants in masks and costumes.
Each town has a voluntary association, which keeps up the tradition, looks after and repairs the giant figure, and provides the bearers and attendants who accompany
the giant as he or she dances through the streets - while bands play a special giants' tune.
The giants were traditionally made of flexible wickerwork
and they could actually dance with the music of the procession.
Seven hundred hectares of dunes, 15 kilometres of beaches
and a recognised sailing resort make the Flanders coast an increasingly popular seaside resort for tourists who can find quality activities and entertainment all year round.
More than a hundred sports clubs mean you can practice virtually any sport, with excellent facilities.
The availability of plentiful amenities and the organising
of regular international events bear witness to Dunkerque’s sporting dynamism

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Fontainebleau - France

Fontainebleau, a lovely historical town located to the south of Paris, France.
It is renowned for its large and scenic forest of Fontainebleau
the largest state forest in France, covering an area of 50,000 acres.
The town is enriched with a population of 17,000 people enclosed by an area of 175 square kilometers.
Fontainebleau is a favorite weekend getaway for Parisians.
It is also famous for the historical palace
Chateau de Fontainebleau and INSEAD, one of the world’s best business schools.
Inhabitants of Fontainebleau are called Bellifontains.
In spite of a large number of tourists visiting every day
the town retained its old world charm and ancient looks which makes it an attractive French town.
As we enter into the Fontainebleau palace from the town, there is an attractive royal gate which leads to the palace grounds.
Then comes the horse shoe shaped staircase which leads into the palace.
The palace is the largest French royal building
which is arranged around a series of courtyards and parks.
It is also known as the dictionary of architecture.
One of the several attractive buildings to be found
in the centre of France is the Fontainebleau church which is located in the town’s main street.
The town of Fontainebleau can be easily reached
from the centre of the Paris as there are number of trains from
Gar De Lyon station.

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Fontainebleau Castle - France

A hunting forest since the Middle Ages (right), Fontainebleau has
had the favor of the kings of France since the 16th century. They built there one of their greatest castle (below).
Francois 1er, the king who bought the Mona Lisa, built most of the magnificent Renaissance castle in the early 16th century.
The castle was also a favorite of Napoleon, who left power there in 1814.
One of the largest French forests with its 25 000 hectares
the Fontainebleau forest, 50 km south of Paris by the A6 freeway, is a favorite of Parisian alpinists, who can train there on weekends.
Its rocky hills (above) make it the perfect training ground before going
to the Alps in the summer.
The Fontainebleau forest is as well a favourite destination for everyone wanting to escape the hustle of Paris for a day.
Fontainebleau is a very pleasant combination for a one day relaxing excursion from Paris.
The easiest way to visit Fontainebleau is to go
there on a bus tour from Paris.
You can also combine the visit of Fontainebleau with the
famous village of Barbizon and magnificent Vaux le Vicomte castle near-by.

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Chantilly - north of France

From the 10th to the 14th century, Chantilly belonged to the Lords of Senlis that built the first castle which there are no remains today. Between 1386 and 1394, Pierre dÍOrgemont built a medieval fortress. The only remains today are the tower foundations in the moat.

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Boulogne - north of France

Boulogne is a starting place for those coming from England. Speedferries
now sail directly from Dover in only 55mins
quicker than the ferries, and directly in to the port in the centre of town.
Many people skip the town on route to elsewhere, which is a pity.
The old town is full of character and the ancient
city walls are quite impressive, you can walk around
the parapit with wonderful view across this part of Northern France.
Stay one night, or at least have lunch in the Old Town, Le Pierre Chaud is a favorite, but there are quite a few good resturants to choose from.
A little shopping, maybe, Auchan is good for everyday drinking
wines and other "French " goods, this is based out of town at St. Martin. It's worth filling up with fuel here as it's very good value in
France and positively "cheap " compared to the U.K.
So, if you are in Boulogne, stay awhile, you might be
presently surprised with this pretty little coastal town.

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Berck sur Mer - north of France

For a beach holiday in the north of France, Berck sur Mer offers you everything you could want - except maybe the hot mediterranean sun of the Midi.
The sandy beaches are great, there is a casino
and there are many activities in and around Berck.
The ideal place for an active beach holiday.
The towns of Boulogne, Arras and Lille are not far
and even Paris is within reach for a day trip.
For thos looking for a bit of culture, Berck has a museum and a few churches worth visiting.

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Arras - France

Arras, the birthplace of Robbespierre, has an historic centre
with many houses going back to the 17-th and 18-th century.
The town hall, the grand square and the range of narrow
houses with underground passages are great for a sight seeing tour.
Other sights include the Petite Place (boarded with Flemish typical houses)
the belfry (rebuilt after the First World War)
the Saint-Vaast’s palace (ancient abbey church of the 18th century)
the cathedrale and the house of Robespierre.

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Northern France

Even if the pound falls to parity with the euro, the cost of hotels and cottages and eating out in northern France will still be roughly on a par with prices in Britain. Ferry fares are also much better value than they were a decade ago, so a beach holiday on the coast of Normandy or Brittany looks as though it will offer the best value for families who want to go overseas this summer.

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Taita Falcon

The Taita Falcon is one of the smallest Falcons in the Southern African Sub-region.
It was first found in the Taita Hills of Kenya whence comes its name.
It is spread throughout the eastern portion of subsaharan Africa but is mostly found in Kenya.
There are a few nesting sites in Zimbabwe and Northeastern South Africa.
It is also rather scarce and relatively endangered.
In Southern Africa itself, there are a few regular breeding sites where
the birds can regularly be found.

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Barbary Falcon

The Barbary Falcon is a medium-sized falcon about the size of a crow.
This bird of prey breeds in the Canary Islands
and on the coasts of north Africa. It is mainly resident.

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