France

World Heritage Sites

1. Abbey Church of Saint-Saving sur Gartempe, containing beautiful murals from the 11th and 12th centuries
2. Amiens Cathedral, one of the largest Gothic churches of the 13th century
3. Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments, containing Roman monuments dating back to the 1st century BC
4. Belfries of Belgium and France, which are local signs of the winning of civil liberties
5. Bordeaux, Port of the moon, a truly spectacular historic city created during the age of Enlightenment
6. Bourges Cathedral, a renowned masterpiece of Gothic art and design
7. Canal du Midi, a network of canals that link the Mediterranean to the Atlantic
8. Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Former Abbey of Saint-Rémi and Palace of Tau, Reims, an iconic piece of Gothic art
9. Chartres Cathedral, built during a high point of French Gothic art in the 12th century
10. Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay, founded in 1119 and a great example of the self-sufficiency preached by Cistercian monks
11. Decorated Cave of Pont d'Arc, known as Grotte Chauvet-Pont d'Arc, Ardèche, containing the earliest-known and best-preserved figurative drawings in the world
12. Episcopal City of Albi, a stunning ensemble of monuments and quarters that has remained largely unchanged over many centuries
13. Fortifications of Vauban, created by famed military engineer Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauband during the 17th century
14. From the Great Saltowrks of Salins-les-Bains to the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et Senans, the Production of Open-pan Salt, these sites bear witness to the importance of the region in salt mining, with evidence of use during prehistoric times already
15. Historic Centre of Avignon: Papal Palace, Episcopal Ensemble and Avignon Bridge, this city was the seat of the papacy in the 14th century
16. Historic Fortified City of Carcassonne, a great example of a medieval fortified town with history dating back to the pre-Roman period
17. Historic Site of Lyons, founded by the Romans in the first century BC as the capital of the Three Gauls
18. Jurisdiction of Saint-Emilion, a gorgeous wine-growing area with a rich history going back to Roman times
19. Le Havre, the City Rebuilt by Auguste Perret is a great example of post-war reconstruction, urban planning and architecture
20. Mont-Saint-Michel and its Bay, a Gothic-style Benedictine abbey dedicated to the archangel St Michael constructed between the 11th and 16th centuries
21. Palace and Park of Fontainebleau, a spectacular palace that combines Renaissance and French art set in a vast forest
22. Palace and Parks of Versailles, home to the French kings and a model of the ideal royal residence
23. Paris, Banks of the Seine, with so many masterpieces along this famous river UNESCO has decided to make this entire area one large Heritage Site
24. Place Stanislas, Place de la Carrière and Place dalliance in Nancy, an impressive example of combining a regent's need for prestige and functionality in one city design
25. Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct), a masterpiece of Roman engineering built shortly before the Christian era
26. Prehistoric Pile dwellings around the Alps, a site containing 111 individual sites built between 5000 to 500 BC
27. Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley, the cave paintings date back to the Paleolithic era and are known for their detail and rich color
28. Provins, Town of Medieval Fairs, was specifically designed to host fairs and related activities
29. Roman Theatre and its Surroundings and the 'Triumphal Arch' of Orange, one of the best preserved of all Roman theatres and a great example of architecture from the reign of Augustus
30. Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France, marked by a group of monuments important to pilgrims on their way to Santiago
31. Strasbourg - Grande île, the historic center of the capital of Alsace
32. The Causes and the Cévennes, Mediterranean agro-pastoral Cultural Landscape shaped over 3 millennia and a wonderful example of culture/environment interaction 
33. The Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loir and Chalonnes, containing a great many historic towns, villages, architectural monuments all set in a landscape of amazing beauty
34. Vézelay, Church and Hills, home to the remains of St Mary Magdalene, this is site is of great religious and historical importance
35. Gulf of Porto: Calanche of Piana, Gulf of Girolata, Scandola Reserve; this area is a nature reserve with outstanding examples of scrubland and home to a rich marine life
36. Lagoons of New Caledonia: Reef Diversity and Associated Ecosystems; this site is one the three most extensive reef systems in the world and home to an amazingly diverse coral reef ecosystem
37. Pitons, cirques and remparts of Reunion Island, are part of La Réunion National Park, home to 2 towering volcanic peaks surrounded by a highly bio diverse and ruggedly beautiful area
38. Pyrénées - Mont Perdu, home to two of Europe's deepest and largest canyons
39. Nord-Pas de Calais Mining Basin, an impressive landscape shaped by the extraction of coal between the end of the 18th century and the last quarter of the 20th century