With ancient Roman ruins and medieval fortresses to World War battle sites, France is teeming with historic sites that speak to its long and varied past.
From the grandeur of the Palace of Versailles to the mesmerising Mont-Saint-Michel, here are eight historic sites to visit in France.
1. The Palace of Versailles, Paris
Listed as a World Heritage Site since 1979, the Palace of Versailles is celebrated as one of the greatest achievements of 17th century French art.
Located just west of Paris, the palace was originally the chateau and hunting lodge of King Louis XIII. However, during the 17th century, it was transformed by his son, Louis XIV, into the grand palace that stands today. As a powerful symbol of monarchical power, the palace became an epicentre of the French Revolution.
Inside, you’ll find the king and queen’s fully restored Grand Apartments, the Grand Chapel, and the famous Hall of Mirrors. Today, the palace is also a museum and contains over 60,000 works that tell a unique story of France’s history all the way from the Middle Ages to the late 19th century.
Amazingly, the palace itself, magnificent as it is, is only a small part of Versailles’ 2,000+ acre estate. There are also vast gardens, two other smaller castles (the Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon), and a fascinating replica of a small French village that was created for Marie Antoinette.
In the grounds, you’ll find lakes, pristine gardens, water features, and the Grand Canal. Stretching 1,670 metres long, the banks of the Grand Canal have been host to legendary parties throughout history – including in 1674 when its entire length was lit up with thousands of jars placed behind transparent decorations.
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2. D-Day Landing Beaches, Normandy
The D-Day operation of 6th June 1944 was an invasion of five beaches of Normandy, northern France, by Allied troops during World War II.
The naval D-Day invasion, codenamed Operation Overlord, was intended to liberate France from German forces; landing some 156,000 Allied soldiers on the beaches of Normandy in just one day. Within a few more days, around 326,000 troops, 50,000 vehicles, and 100,000 tonnes of equipment had landed. At the time, the invasion was the largest naval, air, and land operation in history.
When President Dwight Eisenhower, commander of the operation, gave the go-ahead for Overlord on 6th June 1944, he told the troops, “You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you.”
By August 1944, the whole of northern France had been liberated and, in the spring of 1945, the Allies defeated Nazi Germany. Many historians regard D-Day as the beginning of the end of World War II. However, despite their success, an estimated 4,000 Allied troops were killed by German soldiers defending the beaches.
Today, there are various remembrance sites commemorating the conflict and service men and women involved in the success of the D-Day landings. Guided tours available of the D-Day landing beaches are also available. The Normandy Tourism website can help you plan your visit.
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3. Nimes Arena, Nimes
From modern history to ancient history, Nimes Arena in Nimes is one of the world’s best-preserved Roman amphitheatres. Built in the first century AD, during the reign of Emperor Augustus, its magnificent archways, five circular galleries, and passageways and staircases, are a lasting display of Roman might.
Nimes Arena could seat up to 24,000 people in its 34 terraces. Citizens would gather here to watch everything from gladiatorial matches to animal hunts involving lions and tigers. Executions also took place in the arena, with those facing death being thrown to the animals.
Then, during the sixth century, Nimes Arena was used for military purposes under the Visigoths, who turned it into a fortress and emergency shelter for those who lived in the town in the event of an attack.
In the 12th century, it was transformed once again after becoming the seat of the Viscount of Nimes, who had a chateau built inside. Soon after, a small residential neighbourhood developed inside the arena’s walls, and by the 18th century some 150 houses existed in Nimes Arena. However, these were demolished in 1786 to revert the site back to its original Roman form.
Now fully restored, Nimes Arena allows visitors a fascinating insight into the extravagant (and gory!) world of Roman theatre and entertainment.
4. The Eiffel Tower, Paris
While it’d be impossible to name every must-see historic site in Paris, our list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the Eiffel Tower.
Completed in 1889, the Eiffel Tower stands 324 metres high and is the icon of modern France. It’s the tallest building in Paris, fifth tallest in the world, and one of the world’s most recognisable landmarks.
The tower was based on the design of engineer Gustave Eiffell (after whom it was also named). Eiffel’s design was chosen from 107 other proposals as part of a competition. Entrants submitted design ideas for iron structures that could commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the French Revolution and become the entrance way to Paris’ Universal Exhibition World Fair.
At the time it was built, the Eiffel Tower stood 312 metres high and was the tallest building in the world – only overtaken by New York’s Chrysler Building in 1929. Following the addition of antennas, the Eiffel Tower stands an extra 12 metres tall today. The Tower also rises a few milimetres taller in hot temperatures!
Around seven million people climb the Eiffel Tower every year – with millions more enjoying the beautiful park of Champ de Mars below.
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5. Battlefields of the Somme, northern France
The name Somme is derived from the Celtic ‘samara’, which means ‘tranquil’. And today, this quiet, peaceful region in northern France bears little resemblance to the place where, over a century ago, more than 300,000 soldiers lost their lives during one of the First World War’s bloodiest battles.
The Battle of the Somme (1st July to 18th November 1916) was a joint operation between British and French forces intended to achieve victory over the Germans on the Western Front. However, due to a small battlefield, deadly modern weaponry, and several failures by military leaders, the Battle of the Somme turned out to be one of the most bitter and costly battles in all of human history.
On the first day alone, British forces suffered over 57,000 casualties, including the death of over 19,000 soldiers. And by the time the battle ended nearly five months later, more than one million soldiers had been killed or wounded on both sides.
Today, there’s a 40-mile route, known as the Circuit of Remembrance, which winds past numerous memorials, museums, and battle sites connected to the Somme.
6. Carcassonne, Occitanie
Carcassonne is a fortified medieval town in southern France with a history dating back to pre-Roman times.
Due to its important strategic position between the Atlantic and Mediterranean, it’s believed Carcassonne began life as a hill fort during the sixth century BC. The city’s first stones were placed by the Romans during the first century BC, but then changed hands various times throughout the centuries – coming under the power of forces like the Visigoths and Franks.
However, much of the extensive defense system seen today was developed during the 13th century. This includes the 30-metre-high stone walls, barbicans, towers, and a magnificent cathedral and castle. Though, parts of the original Roman defenses are visible in many areas too.
Throughout its history as a stronghold and fortress, Carcassonne has widely been considered untouchable. Even before its main walls were built, it stood strong against two failed sieges during the 13th century – and an attack wasn’t even attempted during the Hundred Years’ War.
The old citadel gradually fell into ruin, until state-commissioned architect Viollet-le-Duc began restoring it in 1844. Today, Carcassonne is considered one of the largest and best-preserved medieval fortresses in Europe and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997.
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7. Le Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandy
The Mont-Saint-Michel, is a world-famous monument and one of France’s most beautiful sites. The mesmerising island, with its hill-top abbey and surrounding bay, attracts around 3.5 million tourists a year. Along with the Eiffel Tower, it’s France’s most visited site – responsible for a revenue equivalent to all of the monuments in France put together!
The origins of the mount becoming a great Christian pilgrimage site can be traced back to the early eighth century. Aubert, bishop of the nearby town of Avranches, claimed that Saint Michael came to him in a dream to request he build a church atop the island.
From 966 onwards, development of a major Benedictine abbey on the Mont-Saint-Michel was supported by the dukes of Normandy and French kings. Various monastic buildings were added throughout the Middle Ages and the site became renowned as a centre of learning and pilgrimage. It attracted some of the greatest minds in Europe, as well as vast numbers of pilgrims.
After the Hundred Years War broke out in 1337, the Mont-Saint-Michel became a fortress against the English. Large defensive walls were built to protect the village and abbey, which kept English forces out and gave the Mont-Saint-Michel the title ‘defender of the kingdom’.
Today, almost a thousand years after its construction, the Mont-Saint-Michel has stood the test of time and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. Its stunning location has captured people’s imagination for centuries.
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8. Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris
Notre-Dame is an iconic gothic cathedral in Paris that was built on a small island called the Île de la Cité in the middle of the Seine.
Construction began in 1163 during the reign of King Louis VII, and was completed in 1345. The cathedral was originally built as a religious focal point for Paris, dedicated to the Virgin Mary – the original ‘Lady of Paris’ or ‘Notre Dame de Paris’.
Over the centuries, Notre-Dame has undergone various changes, with many religious, royal, and political leaders determined to leave their mark. Several parts also had to be rebuilt after the French Revolution, during which much of its structure was damaged and neglected.
The cathedral has paid witness to a number of historical events too. Henry VI of England was crowned king of France inside Notre-Dame in 1431, and in 1804, Napoleon was crowned emperor here.
In 2019, a devastating fire broke out in the roof space of Notre-Dame, which engulfed the spire and a large section of the roof. However, thanks to an extensive reconstruction project, the cathedral is officially scheduled to reopen in December 2024.
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Final thoughts…
From Roman amphitheatres to world-famous pilgrimage sites and world war battle sites, France is full of historic sites that are not only a wonder to walk around, but offer unique insights into its past too.
For further reading, head over to the travel section of our website. Here, you’ll find other history-inspired travel ideas, including World War II sites you can visit in Europe and 8 countries for history lovers to visit.
What are your travel plans for this year? Which of the historic sites on our list would you most like to see? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.