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Avignon  Bridge at Avignon  The Bridge at Avignon is known throughout the world due to the classic song "Sur le Pont d'Avignon". Built between 1177 and 1185 as a wooden bridge, it was for a long time the only bridge across the Rhône south of Lyon. Demolished after the fall of Avignon in 1226 by Louis VIII of France it was rebuilt as a stone bridge in 1234 but was completely abandoned in 1680. Today only four of the original 22 arches remain. READ MORE The Palace of the Popes in Avignon became the Papal residence between 1309 to 1377 when the Papal Curia moved there from Rome. Today it consists of two main buildings: The Old Palace, constructed in the Romanesque style by Benedict XII between 1334 and 1342, and the New Palace of Gothic design constructed by Clement VI between 1342 and 1352. It covers an area of 15,000 square meters and is one of Frances's most visited monuments. READ MOREGiverny Claude Monet’s House and Gardens  Claude Monet’s House and Gardens in Giverny, form harmonious and immersive factors where art and nature combine. The pink house with green shutters is richly decorated internally with vibrant rooms such as the yellow dining room and blue sitting room, adorned with Japanese prints and Impressionist reproductions. Outside, the Clos Normand contains a collection of seasonal flowers artistically arranged, while the Water Garden - complete with Japanese bridge and water lilies - reflects Monet’s fascination with light and reflection. Together, the house and gardens reveal Monet’s artistic vision not just on canvas, but in every detail of his living environment. READ MORESaint Radegonde Church  Saint Radegonde Church is a small, 11th-century Romanesque parish church that blends architectural simplicity with historical resonance. It has simple stone walls, a vaulted wooden nave, semi-circular stone apse, and modest Baroque altar with a colourful altar painting of Jesus. Inside are statues, some of which are damaged, that tell stories from history. It also contains an old wooden cart once used for carrying coffins. Outside, the graveyard holds the grave of artist Claude Monet, and his family, seven British airmen from World War II, as well as local people. READ MORELes Andelys Château Gaillard  Château Gaillard is a 12th-century fortress built by Richard the Lionheart above the Seine River in Les Andelys, Normandy. Constructed in just two years (1196–1198), it was a marvel of medieval military architecture, featuring concentric defences, dry moats, and early use of machicolations. Though it fell to the French in 1204 after a prolonged siege, its ruins still stand as a bold testament to Richard’s ambition and ingenuity. READ MOREChurch of Saint-Sauveur  Church of Saint-Sauveur in Petit-Andely is a 13th-century Gothic church built as a chapel for workers constructing Château Gaillard under Richard the Lionheart. Featuring a rare Greek cross layout, a 47-meter spire, and a richly sculpted portal with a polychrome statue of Christ Blessing, it blends medieval architecture with Baroque and Renaissance artistry. Inside, it houses stained glass windows from the 14th to 20th centuries, a Louis XIV altar-retable with paintings by Philippe de Champaigne, and a historic 1674 organ with nearly all original pipes. READ MORENotre-Dame de la Garde .JPG?212) .JPG?151) Paris Eiffel Tower  The Eiffel Tower is an iconic symbol of Paris, France, that was designed by Gustave Eiffel and built between 1887 and 1889 for the 1889 World's Fair. Made of puddle iron with 18,038 metal components held together with 2.5 million rivets. It stands 330 meters (1,083 feet) tall and has three floors with restaurants, exhibits, and a champagne bar at the summit. It receives over 5.8 million visitors annually, making it one of the world’s most popular landmarks. READ MORE Arc de Triomphe  The Arc de Triomphe is an iconic monument in Paris, commissioned by Napoleon I in 1806 to honour the victories of the French army. Completed in 1836, it stands 50 meters (164 feet) high and features intricate sculptures and engravings celebrating key moments in French history. Beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, with an eternal flame that burns in remembrance of fallen soldiers. READ MORENotre-Dame de Paris  Built between 1163 and 1345 on Île de la Cité in Paris. Notre-Dame de Paris is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is one of the most iconic cathedrals in the world. A masterpiece of French Gothic architecture, it features flying buttresses, ribbed vaults, and rose windows. It is also known for its three intricately sculpted entrances depicting biblical scenes and its twin Towers which rise 69 meters (226 feet) and dominate the western façade. The cathedral suffered severe damage in the 2019 fire, prompting an extensive restoration effort which was mainly completed in 2024. READ MOREDôme des Invalides - Napoleon Bonaparte's Tomb  The Dôme des Invalides is a monumental Baroque structure in Paris, originally commissioned by Louis XIV as part of the Hôtel des Invalides, a complex for wounded soldiers. Designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart and completed in 1706, the dome is crowned in gold and stands as one of the tallest church buildings in Paris. Over time, it evolved from a royal chapel into a national military shrine, most famously housing the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte. Its design blends classical symmetry, Renaissance inspiration, and Baroque grandeur, making it both a religious space and a powerful symbol of French military history. READ MORE Church of Saint Joan of Arc  an of Arc in Rouen is a modern Catholic church, completed in 1979, which is in Place du Vieux-Marché, the site of Joan of Arc’s execution in 1431. Designed by Louis Arretche, its sweeping curves evoke flames and an overturned longship, symbolizing Joan’s martyrdom and Christian heritage. The church incorporates stained glass windows salvaged from the 16th-century Church of Saint Vincent, before its destruction in World War II. READ MORENotre-Dame Cathedral  Notre-Dame Cathedral of Rouen has been a centre of faith, art, and history for over 800 years. An original church on the site dated to the 4th century; with a major Gothic reconstruction beginning in 1145. Severely damaged by fire in 1200, it underwent a major Gothic rebuild, including the nave and choir. It again suffered damage requiring extensive restorations during the Wars of Religion and during WWII. From 1876 to 1880, due to its 151-meter cast-iron spire, it was the Tallest Building in the World, until it was surpassed by the Cologne Cathedral. Its Interior includes a majestic choir, high altar, more than 15 side chapels, and a stone ambulatory lined with statues and tombs, including the tomb containing the heart of King Richard the Lionheart. It is also famous for its Booksellers’ Staircase, a 15th-century spiral staircase of carved stone, linking the cathedral to its historic library. READ MOREToulon Cathedral  Located in the centre of the old town near the waterfront of Toulon, construction on the Cathedral, known as the Cathedral Notre-Dame-de-la-Seds, started in 1096 on the orders of Gilbert de Boson, Count of Provence to offer thanks to the Virgin for his safe return from the Crusades. Built on the site of a former church which was on the site since the 5th century, the cathedral took 700 years to build and consists of a mixture of styles including Romanesque, Gothic and Classical. READ MOREAjaccio Maison Bonaparte (Napoleon Bonaparte’s House)  Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral  Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral was built between 1577 and 1593 and is an example of Counter-Reformation architecture. Known for its connection to the Bonaparte family, it contains the marble Baptismal font in which Napoleon was baptised on 21 July 1771, and the altar given by Napoleon’s sister Elisa in 1809. READ MORE |
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All Photographs were taken by and are copyright of Ron Gatepain
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