People have worshiped atop the tidal crag of Mont Saint Michel (ot-montsaintmichel.com) for more than a thousand years. The Benedictine monastery -- and the village that has grown around it on the slopes of the rock -- is an icon of French national spirit in an inspirational setting and a two-hour train ride from Lower Normandy's capital, Caen. The soaring cathedrals of France embody the exalted spirit of medieval Christianity -- and the skills of the stonemasons and artists that built and decorated them. Chartres, an hour's drive from Paris, and Reims, a 90-minute drive, mark the high points of French Gothic. In Provence, the monumental, larger-than-human-scale Papal Palace of Avignon, more a fortress than a palace or place of contemplation, speaks of the religion entangled in earthly politics and power struggles. Avignon is less than three hours by TGV train from Paris, or under six hours by Eurostar from London.
Some of Europe's oldest art comes from France: the Lascaux caves in the Vezere Valley in Dordogne, 300 miles south of Paris, showcase expressive wall paintings of animals in motion that are 20,000 years old. Much of the art that followed, and flourished, is seen in world-famous museums such as the must-see Parisian trio. You'll need at least half a day for the Louvre (louvre.fr), which holds Da Vinci's iconic Mona Lisa. Just keep in mind that it closes on Tuesdays. Musée d'Orsay (musee-orsay.fr), in a converted train station, displays the most impressive set of impressionist and post-impressionists in the world. Pompidou Center (centrepompidou.fr), a landmark of architecture in itself, houses the largest museum of modern art in Europe. Don't miss the nearby quirky Stravinsky Fountain.
The French excel at public art and striking monuments. In Paris, the Eiffel Tower (tour-eiffel.fr), the most famous of them all, was a controversial structure when erected in 1887. Don't miss the hourly nighttime illuminations. Also in Paris, Arc de Triomphe (arcdetriompheparis.com) commemorates those who fought for France, monumentally dominating the west end of the Champs-Élysées. In the suburb of Puteaux, the ultra-modern white-marble-and-glass Grande Arche creates a centerpiece for La Defense business district, completing the “Axe Historique” of Parisian monuments stretching in a straight line from the Louvre through the Arc de Triomphe to the Grande Arche. Take a Metro or RER train to visit La Defense.
The three tiers of arches of Pont du Gard (pontdugard.fr) span the banks of the river Gard just a 30-minute drive from the southern French city of Nimes. One of the best preserved Roman aqueducts, Pont du Gard's builders achieved not just an engineering feat, but creation of a structure that seamlessly blends man-made with surrounding landscape. Also in the south, a seven-hour drive from Paris, the turret-spiked fortifications encircling Carcassonne bring fairy-tale castles to mind. Well preserved and creatively restored, Carcassonne is the archetypal medieval city, complete with castle and cathedral. The art of living took a more luxurious turn during the Renaissance when many of the Loire Valley castles were built. Of them, Chambord (chambord.org), a two-hour drive from Paris, is one of the most spectacular, with a riot of round, lantern-topped towers, landscaped gardens, a moat and horse shows in season.
