Online dictionary of France travel and tourism: human heritage

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Saint Savin abbey

French words: Abbaye de Saint Savin , Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe
alternative words: Saint-Savin church, Saint-Savin
keywords: church , human heritage , tourist resort
related web sites: http://www.art-roman.net/stsavin/stsavin.htm , http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Savin_(Vienne)
explanation: Located 30km east of Poitiers, Saint-Savin abbey had been built between 1050 and 1090 in order to enshrine the relic of Saint Savin and Cyprien , martyred on the shore of Gartemp in 5th century. Though, most of building were destroyed during the religious war of 16th century between Catholics and Huguenots, thanks to many wall painting of 11-12th century on the nave still preserved, Saint-Savin abbey was enlisted in UNESCO's human heritage in 1984.

Saumur

French words: Saumur
keywords: human heritage , loire region , tourist resort , town , wine
related topics: Angers
related web sites: http://www.ville-saumur.fr , http://www.ot-saumur.fr , http://perso.wanadoo.fr/saumur-jadis/
explanation: Abbey of Saint Florent old near Angers being devastated by Vikings in 9th century, the count of Blois founded a new abbey of Saint Florent and the town of Saumur nearby in 956. Saumur was taken by count of Angers, Foulque III in 1026. It was taken in turn by French king, Philippe Auguste in 1203. During 16-17th century, Saumur reached the apogee as a home of French Protestantism, Huguenots. Located between Angers and Tours on the bank of Loire river, Saumur is renowned for its wine. The population is 30000.

Strasbourg

French words: Strasbourg
alternative words: Strasburg, Strassburg
keywords: human heritage , tourist resort , town
related topics: European parliament
related web sites: http://www.strasbourg.fr , http://www.ot-strasbourg.fr , http://www.alsace-passion.com
explanation: Located in north-east of France near German boarder, Strasbourg was built as Roman's military outpost in 12 B.C. During the middle ages, Strasbourg was a free city inside Holy Roman empire and Gutenberg invented a printing method there. In 1681, France annexed Strasbourg but it had become German in 1871 until the end of WWI in 1918. Now, Strasbourg is the seat of European parliament. It is also the capital of Alsace and the population 261000. Old Strasbourg was enlisted in Unesco world heritage in 1988.

Toulouse

French words: Toulouse
keywords: human heritage , tourist resort , town
related topics: Canal du midi
related web sites: http://www.mairie-toulouse.fr , http://www.ot-toulouse.fr , http://www.promotoulouse.com
explanation: Founded by a Celtic tribe in 4th century B.C. on the bank of Garonne river, Toulouse became an important colonial town of the Roman empire. During the middle ages, Toulouse had been the capital of powerful Languedoc earldom but conquered by Albigensian Crusade. After the WWII, an aeronautical industry has developed. Toulouse is the capital of Midi-Pyrenees region and the population 411000. Saint-Sernin Basilica was enlisted in Unesco's human heritage in 1998 as a monument of Santiago de Compostela pilgrim.

Tours

French words: Tours
keywords: human heritage , loire region , tourist resort , town
related web sites: http://www.ligeris.com , http://www.tours.fr
explanation: Located at the place where Cher pours into Loire, Tours had been already inhabited by Celtic tribe, Turones. After the fall of Roman empire, the troops of Charles Martel pushed away the Muslim army (Battle of Tours-Poitiers) in 732. During the middle ages, Tours was disputed between Counts of Anjou and of Blois. In 16th and 17th centuries, Tours was prosperous thanks to a silk industry managed by Huguenot. Owning an university, Tours is the capital of "Indre et Loire" prefecture. The population is 132000.

Versailles palace

French words: Versailles , Château de Versailles , Palais de Versailles
alternative words: Chateau of Versailles, Versailles castle, Versailles
keywords: castle , human heritage , paris suburb , tourist resort
related topics: Vaux-le-Vicomte castle , Grand Trianon palace , Petit Trianon palace
related web sites: http://www.chateauversailles.fr , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Versailles , http://www.mairie-versailles.fr , http://www.versailles-tourisme.com
explanation: There was a hunting lodge for French king, Louis XIII at 20km west of Paris. In order to avoid a turbulent Paris and also to outdo Vaux-le-Vicomte castle, Louis XIV decided in 1664 to build his residence at the same place by enlarging it and moved there in 1682. After his death in 1715, his successors, Louis XV and Louis XVI added small buildings such as Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon. A proclamation of German empire in 1871 as well as Versailles treaty to end WWI in 1919 took place at Versailles palace.

Vezelay

French words: Vézelay
alternative words: Vezelay Hill
keywords: bourgogne , human heritage , tourist resort , town
related web sites: http://www.ville-vezelay.com , http://www.vezelaytourisme.com
explanation: This tiny village, located at the hilltop near Avallon in Bourgogne region, played important roles during the middle ages. In fact, Vezelay was an assembling point for the pilgrimage of "Santiago de Compostela". Saint Bernard preached there, in the presence of the French King Louis VII, to the second crusade in 1146. Though Vezelay has declined since then, Mary Magdalene Basilica is considered as a master piece of Romanesque art. Since 1979, Vezelay and its environment belong to a human heritage of UNESCO.

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47 articles extracted from postgresql database.