France — Media Gallery

The Roman aqueduct at Pont du Gard, built during the mid-first century A.D., was part of a 50 km (30 mi) long aqueduct system that brought water to the city of Nemausus (today's Nimes). Built entirely without the use of mortar, its construction is thought to have taken about three years using 800 to 1,000 workers.

The Isle of Jersey (officially called the Bailiwick of Jersey) is the largest of the Channel Islands in the Bay of Mont St. Michel off the northwest coast of France. This Terra satellite image vividly displays the island's agricultural patchwork terrain. Image courtesy of NASA.

Gardens before the Church of St. Etienne in Caen. Formerly referred to as the Men's Abbey, the structure was completed in 1063 and is now dedicated to St. Stephen.

Rich in antiquities and picturesque landscapes, the island provinces of Corsica, France, (top) and Sardinia, Italy, (bottom) have captured the imaginations of historians and poets alike for centuries. Corsica, crowned with snow-capped mountains, jeweled with shimmering lakes, and cloaked in misty emerald forests, is situated in the Mediterranean Sea southeast of mainland France. The island has almost 1,700 hills and mountains, and is carved by an extensive network of rivers. Across the Strait of Bonifacio to the south is Sardinia, the Mediterranean's second largest island. Stretching across the central, eastern part of Sardinia is the rugged terrain of Gennargentu - mountainous, thickly vegetated, and mostly uninhabited. The port city of Cagliari sits on the large bay on Sardinia's southern coast. Photo courtesy of NASA.

The Graffe Gate is one of the oldest remaining parts of Nancy's fortifications. It was erected in the 14th century, and its towers were used as prisons for many years. Its bell also formerly tolled the curfew. The facade displays a distinctive Lorraine Cross, since the city was the former capital of the Duchy of Lorraine.

The Abbaye aux Hommes (Men's Abbey) is a Romanesque church dedicated to St. Etienne (St. Stephen) in Caen. Built by order of William the Conqueror, the former Benedictine abbey was completed in 1063.

The Chateau d'Usse was rebuilt in the 15th century on a stronghold site dating back to the 11th century. By tradition, this is the castle Charles Perrault had in mind when he wrote the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale.

The Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau was built on an island in the Indre River between 1515 and 1527 and is one of the earliest of French Renaissance chateaux.

The royal Chateau d'Amboise in the Loire Valley was rebuilt in the late 15th century over a stronghold dating back to the 11th century.

The Chateau de Chenonceau in the Loire Valley was built in the early 16th century. It is one of France's most popular tourist attractions.

Pilgrims and visitors at Lourdes. The Rosary Basilica in the foreground serves as an entranceway to the larger Basilica of the Immaculate Conception behind. Lourdes is the reputed site of 18 Marian apparitions in 1858. The town is one of the world's greatest pilgrimage sites hosting some 5 million visitors annually.

Approaching the fortified medieval town and artist's haven of Saint-Paul de Vence in Provence.

The Louvre Pyramid, built in 1989, serves as the main entrance to the Louvre, one of the world's largest and most visited museums. Objects dating from prehistory to the 19th century are on display there.

Buildings along a canal in Colmar, an Alsatian town known as "Little Venice." Situated on the Lauch River, Colmar connects to the Rhine via a canal.

The old custom's building (L'Ancienne Douane) on the Grande Ile in Strasbourg. Constructed in 1358, the structure housed the port and tax authorities, and was used to store and transform goods and merchandise going up and down the Rhine River. Today the building houses a restaurant.

Colorful house in the medieval Alsatian town of Riquewihr. The locale is renowned not only for its historic architecture, but also for the fine wines it produces.

A view of the western side of Strasbourg Cathedral. Only one spire was ever completed.

The cloisters at Mont-Saint-Michel.

Flowers drip from balconies in the town of Saint-Paul de Vence in Provence.

Area comparison map

Area comparison map

Area comparison map

Area comparison map

Area comparison map

The Little Chapel in Guernsey was built in 1914 using donated pieces of china, seashells, and pebbles by a monk who wanted to create a miniature version of the Shrine of Our Lady at Lourdes (France). Much of the broken china was donated by the Wedgewood and Royal Doulton companies. The chapel has room for about eight people and has been described as "probably the biggest tourist attraction in Guernsey."

Area comparison map

A street market in Beaune, a town located in the heart of the Burgundy wine region.

Area comparison map

Area comparison map

The 110 m-long Chaban-Delmas Bridge over the River Garonne in Bordeaux was opened in 2013. The center span can be raised to 77 m allowing tall ships to pass through. The bridge is named in honor of Jacques Chaban-Delmas, a former French prime minister and a former mayor of Bordeaux.

Europe-US area comparison map

View of the marina outside the walled city of Saint-Malo in Brittany. The city began as a 6th century monastic settlement. Over time its citizens developed a reputation for asserting their autonomy. From 1490-93, Saint-Malo declared itself an independent republic. During the 16th-18th centuries, it was famous as the home of the corsairs (French privateers). Jacques Cartier, the French explorer, called Saint-Malo home. The first colonists of the Falkland Islands came from Saint-Malo.

Area comparison map

Area comparison map

Area comparison map

Area comparison map

The brightly lit metropolitan areas of Torino (Italy), Lyon, and Marseille (both in France) stand out amidst numerous smaller urban areas in this dramatic photo from the international space station. The image captures the nighttime appearance of the France-Italy border. The southwestern end of the Alps Mountains separates the two countries. The island of Corsica is visible in the Ligurian Sea to the south (image top). The full moon reflects brightly on the water surface and also illuminates the tops of low patchy clouds over the border (center). Photo courtesy of NASA.

The Palais des Ducs de Bourgogne (Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy) in Dijon.

Area comparison map

Africa-US area comparison map

Fort Medoc was built between 1689 and 1721 on the orders of King Louis XIV to protect the seaward approaches to Bordeaux on the Gironde estuary.

Area comparison map

View of the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain taken April 1985. The snow-covered mountains, which form a formidable physical barrier between France to the north (left) and Spain to the south (right), are the main focus of this low-oblique, southeast-looking photograph. Scarcely interrupted by accessible passes and pierced in only two places by railroad tunnels, the Pyrenees are an ideal natural boundary between the Iberian Peninsula and the rest of Europe. The northern flank of the Pyrenees is characterized by a series of large alluvial deposits that fan out across southwestern France. The darker, roughly triangular area in southwest France is part of the forested Aquitaine Basin. The southern flank of the Pyrenees (Spain) is characterized by aridity and very rugged, mountainous conditions. Human settlement is sparse throughout the Pyrenees. However, because the region is rich in mineral waters, there are dozens of mineral water resorts, and winter sports attract visitors from southwestern France. The very small mountainous country of Andorra (not distinguishable in this photograph) has survived in an inaccessible upper valley of the Pyrenees. Image courtesy of NASA.

Chateau Lansessan in Cussac-Fort Medoc on the left bank of the Bordeaux wine region.

Strolling through the streets of Eguisheim.

Half timbered houses along a shopping street in old Colmar.

Altar in the church of Saint-Ferdinand-des-Ternes in Paris.

Asia-US area comparison map

Chateau de Reignac in Saint Loubes near Bordeaux. The area is famous for its wine production.

The mansion of Clos Luce in Amboise is connected to the nearby royal Chateau by an underground passageway. It served as the residence of Leonardo da Vinci for the last three years of his life (1516-1519). The mansion currently is the museum for the surrounding region and displays 40 models of machines developed by Leonardo.

The Chateau de Saint-Malo in Britanny now serves as the town museum and town hall.

The city of Avignon in southeastern France is well known as the former seat of the papacy in the 14th century. Shown is the Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes) on the right and the Romanesque Cathedral Notre Dames-des Doms on the far left.

Built on marshy soil, Fort Medoc does not have tall walls. Its defenses reflect the military design principles of the 17th century, which included short, thick earthen walls impervious to cannon fire.

View of Bordeaux, the capital of the historic region of Aquitaine.

Street scene in the Alsatian town of Colmar.

The ancient Roman arena at Nimes is still in use today. Built about A.D. 70, it was remodeled in 1863 and can seat some 16,300 spectators.

Strasbourg Cathedral was begun in 1176 and completed in 1439. Although it displays some elements of Romanesque style, it is widely considered to be among the finest examples of high Gothic architecture. Inside is an unusually accurate clock that has been built and rebuilt three times over the centuries, and which indicates a variety of astronomical data. The animated figures still move to indicate the hours of the day.

A street scene in Dijon, the capital of the Burgundy region. The city was first settled by the Romans and then became the domain of the Dukes of Burgundy, who ruled the area until the late 1400s. It is known for its many architectural styles and hosts the annual Dijon International and Gastronomic Fair.

A street scene on a rainy day in the fortified town of Carcassone.

The Chateau fort de Lourdes, which overlooks the town, occupies a strategic position in the Pyrenees. Parts of the structure date back to Roman times.

The village square in Gordes is adjacent to the Castle.

The main square in Equisheim with the Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. This church, built in 1808, replaced one dating to medieval times.

The tomb of William the Conqueror in the Church of St. Etienne in Caen.

Area comparison map

Flower festooned boat on the Seine River in Paris.

View of the Strasbourg Cathedral roof from its spire. Some of the flying buttresses supporting the cathedral walls can be clearly seen.

The massive courtyard at the Chateau de Versailles (Palace of Versailles). Most of the construction at the sprawling site was carried out in four phases between 1664 and 1710, during the reign of Louis XIV.

The fortified island abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel off the coast of Normandy. At one time the site was disconnected from the coast at high tide, but silting has since connected the island to the mainland. Today, an operation is underway to desilt the area around the island. It was not until the 8th century that the first monastic establishment appeared on the island. Before that it was a stronghold of Romano-Breton culture and power. In the Hundred Years War, the French successfully prevented the English from capturing the island. During the Reformation, the popularity of the Mont declined, and during the French Revolution it became a prison which finally closed in 1863. In 1874, Mont-Saint-Michel was declared a historic monument; in 1979, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Village church in Roussillon, Provence.

A cafe on a canal in Colmar. The town, situated on the Alsatian Wine Route, was founded in the 9th century. In 1226, it became a Free Imperial City of the Holy Roman Empire. It was conquered by Louis XIV and the French in 1673 and over subsequent centuries alternated between German and French control. It reverted to France in 1945.

View of the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain taken April 1985. The snow-covered mountains, which form a formidable physical barrier between France to the north (left) and Spain to the south (right), are the main focus of this low-oblique, southeast-looking photograph. Scarcely interrupted by accessible passes and pierced in only two places by railroad tunnels, the Pyrenees are an ideal natural boundary between the Iberian Peninsula and the rest of Europe. The northern flank of the Pyrenees is characterized by a series of large alluvial deposits that fan out across southwestern France. The darker, roughly triangular area in southwest France is part of the forested Aquitaine Basin. The southern flank of the Pyrenees (Spain) is characterized by aridity and very rugged, mountainous conditions. Human settlement is sparse throughout the Pyrenees. However, because the region is rich in mineral waters, there are dozens of mineral water resorts, and winter sports attract visitors from southwestern France. The very small mountainous country of Andorra (not distinguishable in this photograph) has survived in an inaccessible upper valley of the Pyrenees. Image courtesy of NASA.

Shops in the town of Cognac, where the famous brandy (distilled wine) was first developed.

The Chapel of Saint-Leo IX stands in the main square of Eguisheim next to the Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

The Eglise Saint-Matthieu (Dominican Church of St. Matthew) in the Alsatian town of Colmar was built in the 13th century.

Statue of Dom Perignon (1638-1715) in the town of Epernay. The Benedictine monk made many important contributions to the production and quality of champagne wines.

Farmers market in Nice.

Old wine press along the streets of Eguisheim.

A section of the fortifications at Chateau Comtal, part of the larger defenses at the fortress of Carcassone.

View of the Palais de Chaillot as seen from the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The two curved buildings making up the site house a number of museums.

Street scene along the flower-lined streets of Eguisheim.

Much of the architecture in Roussillon is colored with earthen tones from a nearby ocher quarry.

Entrance to the D-Day Landing Museum in Arromanches, Normandy.

The Eglise du Dome is the church at the building complex named Les Invalides in Paris. Containing a hospital and retirement home for war veterans, the site also consists of museums and monuments relating to the military history of France.

A sightseeing boat along the Ill River in Strasbourg.

Close up of some of the impressive fortifications at Mont-Saint-Michel.

View of the village of Roussillon in Provence. The village sits atop the highest hills between the Coulon Valley and the Vaucluse Plateau.

The Neptune Fountain is one of four waterworks erected by Barthelemy Guibal in Stanislas Square in Nancy; this one was completed in 1751.

The Maison Carree in Nimes, one of the best preserved of surviving Roman temples, dates to 16 B.C. In subsequent centuries it served as a church, a meeting hall, a storehouse, and a stable. In 1823 it became a museum.

View of an alley in the village of Roussillon in Provence.

A beach at Nice. The city is a major tourist center and a leading resort along the French Riviera.

Rows of crosses at the American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy. Located on a bluff overlooking Omaha Beach (one of the landing beaches for the Normandy Invasion of 1944), the cemetery contains the remains of 9,387 American military dead.

Some of the massive walls at the fortified town of Carcassone. Restored in 1853, the fortress became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

The Castle on the village square in Gordes, Provence, was partially rebuilt in 1525.

Rose windows, such as this one in Strasbourg Cathedral, are a common feature of Gothic architecture.

A street scene in old Colmar. The picturesque town is a tourist magnet; it annually hosts the Alsatian Wine Fair.

The road into Ingersheim on the Alsatian Wine Route.

Street scene in Eguisheim along the Alsace Wine Trail.

The famous west portal of the Strasbourg Cathedral is in the Gothic style and has hundreds of figures sculpted into it.

The Place de la Concorde in Paris is the largest square in the French capital. In the center of the Place stands a giant obelisk, transported from Egypt and erected in 1836.

Vineyards along the Alsatian Wine Route.