Online dictionary of France travel and tourism: tourist resort

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Honfleur

French words: Honfleur
alternative words: Honfleur harbor
keywords: normandy , sea , tourist resort , town
related topics: Le Havre
related web sites: http://www.ville-honfleur.fr , http://www.ot-honfleur.fr
explanation: Located at Seine's estuary, Honfleur had used during 11th century as a transition harbor for Richard III between his fiefs Normandy and England but its prosperity arrived after 100 year war. In fact, from 16th century, many French adventurers such as Jacques Cartier left Honfleur to exploit America and Canada. Though, its importance has declined after the opening of Le Havre, Honfleur remains an attractive tourist spot thanks to its picturesque houses, immortalized by impressionism artists like Boudin.

La Rochelle

French words: La Rochelle
keywords: sea , tourist resort , town
related topics: Nantes , Bordeaux
related web sites: http://www.larochelle.fr , http://www.larochelle-info.com/larochelle/accueil.php
explanation: Located on the Atlantic cost facing Re island, La Rochelle was founded in 10th century and developed quickly as major harbour between Nantes and Bordeaux. During 16-17th century, La Rochelle had become a strong hold of French protestant movement, Huguenots but they lost it after a long siege (1627-1628) let by Louis XIII's chief minister, Cardinal Mazarin. La Rochelle is the capital of Charente-Maritime prefecture and the population 77,000. A bridge connecting Re island with La Rochelle was opened in 1988.

Le Mans

French words: Le Mans
alternative words: Lemans
keywords: loire region , tourist resort , town
related web sites: http://www.ville-lemans.fr , http://www.lemans.org
explanation: Well known for its car race "24 heures du Mans", Le Mans is in reality one of the oldest towns in France. In fact, called Vindinum, it had been a regional capital of the Roman Empire. During 12th century, Le Mans was disputed between dukes of Normandy and counts of Anjou, then English and French troops during 100 years war. Built between 11th and 15th century, Saint Julian cathedral is one of the largest in France. Owning an university, Le Mans is the capital of Sarthe prefecture. The population is 141000.

Les Baux-de-Provence

French words: Les Baux-de-Provence , Baux-de-Provence
alternative words: Baux-de-Provence
keywords: castle , southern france , tourist resort
related topics: Aix-en-Provence , Avignon
related web sites: http://www.lesbauxdeprovence.com
explanation: Raised on a tableland between Avignon and Arles, Les Baux-de-Provence had been, during the middle ages, the castle of a small but independent principality: they asserted descendents of a biblical Magi, Balthasar. In 15th century, After having become a part of Provence earldom, Baux was annexed by France together with it. A destruction of the castle by Louis XIII in 1632 and the abandon of the town have allowed a whole medieval city conserved until now. The mineral of bauxite was discovered in 1822 nearby.

Les Invalides

French words: Les Invalides , Hôtel des Invalides , Musée de l'Armée
alternative words: Les Invalides museum, Les Invalids, Tomb of Napoleon
keywords: church , museum , paris , tourist resort
related web sites: http://www.invalides.org , http://www.paris-tourism.com/hotels/fr/object.php?idContent=33 , http://www.paris.org/Musees/Invalides/
explanation: Concerned with the fate of invalid soldiers, French king, Louis XIV decided to build a hospice for them in 1670, following the architect plan of Liberal Bruant. After its completion in 1676, a royal chapel with the famous golden dome was added in 1706. Mortuary ash of Napoleon Bonaparte, died in St Helena in 1821, was moved there in 1861. "Esplanade des Invalides", a huge terrain used for military parades, stretches to Seine river. North-west wing of the hospice is now served as a military museum.

Lourdes

French words: Lourdes
alternative words: Fountain of Lourdes, Source of Lourdes, Cave of Lourdes
keywords: church , tourist resort , town
related web sites: http://www.lourdes-france.com , http://www.lourdes-france.org , http://www.lourdes.fr , http://www.lourdes-infos.com
explanation: Located in the south-west of France near Pyrenean mountains, the town of Lourdes is renowned for its miracle fountain where a shepherdess girl, Bernadette Soubirous would meet Virgin Mary in 1858. She was canonized later in 1933 for this miracle. Between March and October, the town is crowded with pilgrims who are seeking healing waters from this source. Lourdes is also well known for a siege of Muslim army retreating from Pointiers by Charlemagne in 732. The population of Lourdes is about 16000.

Louvre museum

French words: Musée du Louvre , Palais du Louvre , Le Louvre
alternative words: Louvre palace, Louvre gallery, Louvre
keywords: castle , human heritage , museum , paris , tourist resort
related web sites: http://www.louvre.fr , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louvre , http://www.insecula.com/musee/M0001.html
explanation: Located on the northern shore of Seine river in Paris, Louvre was built as royal palace by French King, Francois 1st, in 16th century then transformed to a museum in 1793. Since 1983, Grand Louvre plan has begun with the construction of a central glass pyramid and achieved in 1997. With the surface of 160,000 m2, Louvre contains an innumerable collection of world treasures such as Mona Lisa and Venus of Milo.

Lyon

French words: Lyon
keywords: human heritage , tourist resort , town
related web sites: http://www.lyon-france.com , http://www.lyon.fr
explanation: Located at the confluence of Rhone and Saone, Lyon is the 3rd largest town of France. Called Lugdunum, Lyon had been the capital of Gaulle province, presently France of the Roman empire. During the medieval period, Lyon was a prosperous merchant town thanks to fairs and silk industry. During WWII, Lyon was a center of the French resistance. Owning many industries and universities, Lyon is the capital of Rhone-Alpes region and the population is 468000. Old Lyon was enlisted in Unesco world heritage in 1998.

Madeleine church

French words: Sainte Marie-Madeleine , Eglise de la Madeleine
alternative words: Madeleine temple, Sainte Marie Madeleine
keywords: church , paris , tourist resort
related topics: Concorde square , Paris Opera
related web sites: http://www.eglise-lamadeleine.com , http://www.insecula.com/salle/MS01186.html
explanation: Located near Faux-Bourg Saint Honore Street, between Paris Opera and Place de la Concorde, the reconstruction of Madeleine church was decided in 1757, by replacing a small old church. Due to repeated architect and regime changes, the construction stagnated and achieved finally in 1842 during the reign of Louis Philippe, into a Greco-Roman style church with majestic colonnades. Everyday excepting for Monday, a flower market is organized around the place. The famous delicatessen shop, Fauchon is in north.

Maison Carree

French words: Maison Carrée
alternative words: Square house
keywords: church , roman remains , southern france , tourist resort
related topics: Nimes , Madeleine church
related web sites: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maison_Carree , http://www.insecula.com/oeuvre/O0000781.html
explanation: Built at the forum of Nimes around 19 B.C. by a Roman general, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, for the memory of his 2 sons, died very young, Maison Carree is one of the Roman monuments best preserved until now. Raised on a podium of 3m high, Maison Carree was a classic Augustan temple with 26m long by 15m wide, but transformed to a Christian church in 4th century. Hubert Robert drew a mythical ambience of this temple in his painting of 1787. Madeleine church in Paris has been inspired by Maison Carree.

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104 articles extracted from postgresql database.