When Napoleon rose to power, he turned it into the art museum that it is today. When he was in Italy during his Italian campaign, he plundered the nation for treasures to bring back and fill up his new museum. Such works as the Venus de Milo, the Winged Victory, the Mona Lisa, and Michelangelo's two finished slaves were all brought back to be shown in his new Museum. The Rosetta stone (the stone found by Napoleon in Egypt that cracked the hieroglyphic code) was also stored in the Louvre before it was surrendered to the English after the Battle of Waterloo.
La Cote d'Azur (The French Riviera)
The premier vacation spot in all of Europe. Resorts line the Mediterranean. In the area are Roman aqueducts, the system used to bring water from the mountains to the cities. It contains the largest standing aqueduct in the world.Cannes
A resort town of around 70,000, Cannes is a relatively quite town much of the year. Each May, however, that all changes when they hold the famous Cannes film festival. Thousands of stars come to present their new movies. To many, it is more important that the Academy Awards.Nice
A longtime resort for the English aristocracy, Nice is France's fifth largest city and by far the largest resort. The economy is slightly socialist in nature, with the city owning all of the resorts and restaurants and such. Small villages dot the hills surrounding the city.Loire Valley
Amboise
Chateaux Amboise rests on a hill overlooking the town of Amboise. It was built by Charles VIII during the 15th Century. The chateau is most famous due to one of its owners, Leonardo Da Vinci, who also died and is buried there.Chambord
Built on by the order of Francois I, Chambord is one of the largest palaces in the Loire Valley totalling over 440 rooms. It holds the world-famous double helix staircase designed by Leonardo Da Vinci. Also famed for its roof.Chenonceau
The Chateaux Chenonceau was built by Thomas Bohier in 1515, but was quickly sold to the royal family of Francois I. Famous because of its six arches that cross the Cher river, it is easily one of the most recognizable chateaux in all of France. Catherine d'Medici used the palace when she was the Queen Mother of Francois II, and constructed her famous Medici Gardens.Usse
Built up against a hillside on the site of a medieval fortress, it contains artwork done by the famed Italian artist Luca della Robbia. Chateau d'Usse is said to be the home of the Sleeping Beauty of Charles Perrault
Normandy
Normandy has changed hands numerous times between the French and the English. It for the most part has always been French. Home of the Normans, the area produced William the Conqueror, the only person ever to invade and conquer all of England. He is affectionately know to the English as Bill the bastard.Mont Saint Michel
An ancient abbey, turned castle, turned fort, turned small town, turned major tourist attraction. It is accessible only by a bridge which, when the tide is up (tides change by as much as 30 feet) is not crossable. Built on top of a small mountain, the 1200 year old monastery exemplifies the architecture of its time.Normandy Beaches
Site of the famous D-Day invasion, where the Allies (England, United States and Canada) launched a major assault on the Nazis in order to gain a foothold in Europe. The United States engaged in the hardest combat, for their beaches was not bombed the night before, while the two British and one Canadian beach were. The Americans landed on Utah and Omaha, the English on Sword and Gold and the Canadians on Juno. The Canadians finished all three of their objectives in little more than three hours: the Americans were still trying to land on Omaha beach, the bloodiest of all the beaches. The dead were buried in national cemeteries in the area. The United States Cemetery is the only American owned territory (gift from the French) in Europe.Paris
L'Arc de Triomphe
Construction on L'Arc de Triomphe was ordered by Napoleon. A long time admirer of the Roman Empire, Napoleon planned to use the arch to show his military victories, and to have his soldiers walk through the arch while all of France cheered. Finished over 20 years after his defeat at Waterloo, his dream never came true. Now it serves as a memorial to those who died in World War I, with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier underneath with an eternal flame. On national holidays the French flag is stretched across the arch. It stands on one end of the Champs-Elysees, with the Louvre and the Tuilerie gardens at the other end.Champs Elysees
The Champs Elysees is the most famous street in the world. Barely two miles long, it runs between L'Arc de Triomphe and Place de la Concorde. It is in the center of Paris, and is the most fashionable street in the world, with stores such as Armani and Versace lining it. It is also one of the most expensive streets in the world, where a meal at the world famous Fouquet's for one person can approach a hundred dollars. Used during the July 14th Independence Day celebration for parades, the street serves as the end of the most famous cycling race in the world, the Tour de France.La Louvre
Originally the fortress of Phillipe Auguste in 1190, until in 1546 Francois Ier had the old castle destroyed and a small palace built. Henri II and Charles IX added the two wings ontop of the buried fortress. When Catherine de Medici built the Tuileries palace built at the other end, Henri IV elongated the wings to combine them into one large palace (the Tuilerie palace later burned down). Legend has it that one french king went fox hunting down the mahagohny halls, much to his son's humour. During excavations during the addition of I.M. Pei's pyramid (I.M. Pei is an American architect also known for Kennedy's Library in Boston), the original castle was discovered. Rather than moving or destroying the ruins, the French decided to work around them. For example, the carport and underground walkway is part of Charles V's moat. It is currently the largest art museum in the world, and the building and its contents can only be valued in trillions of dollars.La Tour Eiffel (The Eiffel Tower)
Built for the Worlds Fair, La Tour Eiffel is the symbol of modern day Paris. Acredited to George Eiffel, famous French architect, the plans were really stolen from two unknown french architects under the promise that the tower would be named after them. Originally considered an eyesore and nearly destroyed by the public, the Eiffel tower still remains standing as it is now part of the Paris scenery.Notre Dame Cathedral
Located on Ile de la Cite (Cite Island) in the middle of the Seine River, Notre Dame exemplifies Gothic and Middle Age architecture in Paris. It took two centuries to complete, and now is one of the most famous cathedrals in the world, one of the many symbols of Paris. Notre Dame is famous for its rose windows (large stained glass windows in the shape of a circular rose) and its flying buttresses, the outside support beams along the sides of the exterior.