Monuments to visit France

Toulouse's Roman amphitheater is still the only ancient monument in Toulouse that can be visited in its entirety. Of course, it is necessary to start by visiting the Saint-Raymond Museum, but the visit of this amphitheater located at the tram station in Rome, on the left bank of the Garonne, is also essential. It was built in the vicinity of the century, to host circus games and gladiators until the fourth century.

This hotel is the most luxurious and best preserved witness of the baroque residences of the nobility and bourgeoisie. Property of the Comtes Lascaris-Vintimille, it was built at the end of the sixteenth century by Jean-Paul Lascaris de Castellar, great master of the order of the Knights of Malta with the help of his nephew Jean-Baptiste. In Genois style, this building is built around two inner courtyards. A very beautiful staircase, real well of light, gives access to the first floor where the weapons of the Lascaris are proudly trashed: a bicephal eagle adorned with a cross of Malta. Original paintings date from the seventeenth century while baroque elements were added in the eighteenth century. The apartments are decorated with vaulted vaults and the ceilings are decorated with frescoes with mythological subjects, including a magnificent Phaéton Fall. During your visit, do not miss the furniture of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the Flemish tapestries, the apothicecerie founded in 1738 of roquaille style, the complete collection of vases, violes and chevettes as well as the regional collections of art and popular traditions. In 1942, the City of Nice bought the building: fully restored and classified as Historic Monument in 1946, the Lascaris Palace became the Musée de la Musique de Nice and the second of France by the importance of its collection, which gathered around 500 old European pieces from the saqueboute of Schnitzer (1581) to Grafton saxophone (1960). This collection also features many instruments manufactured before 1800: Baroque guitars, luths, violes and Denner's scarcity flute.

Located on Cimiez hill, these arenas are classified Historical Monument. Real open-air archaeological museum, they form an enclosure of 67 by 56 meters and is one of the smallest known Roman amphitheaters in France. Built by the Romans in the first century BC the "Cemelenum arenas" were the scene of many events: gladiator fights, games and other great shows held there regularly in the pure traditions of the Roman Empire. Today, with a capacity that is estimated around 5,000 spectators, they have a beautiful setting to host some Nice cultural and folkloric events. Just next door, the park with the same name is an ideal place for a picnic in the middle of olive trees, close to the Matisse Museum and the Archaeological Museum.

The second longest bridge-canal in France (539 meters), the structure is unique or almost unique, only three bridges are similar in France. It offers a splendid panoramic view of the Garonne and the Hermitage hillside! Built in Quercy stone, this jewel will take ten years to be completed. A popular place for joggers and cyclists in particular, the building is a beautiful starting point for a family walk. In 2016, the renovation of the bridge-canal was completed and it is now lit at night. Café Vélo and skatepark nearby.

If you see Porte Guillaume in a distant horizon, know that you are at the entrance to Vieux Dijon, in the heart of the historic centre. Indeed, this triumphal arch is set on the large place Darcy, completely pedestrian, and at the entrance to the long rue de la Liberté which is also pedestrian. Dated from the 18th century, it was built in the exact location of a pre-existing medieval gate. Built by the architect Jean-Philippe Maret, this monument was erected as a tribute to the governor of Burgundy at the time, namely Louis Bourbon-Condé more commonly known as Prince de Condé. For this reason, it was first called Porte de Condé, then Porte de la Liberté at the Revolution and finally Porte Guillaume in tribute to Guillaume de Volpiano, former priest and Italian abbot of Saint-Bénigne. On the door, registered as Historical monument in 1938, you can admire four bas-reliefs.

It has the advantage of being located 5 minutes walk from the city centre. Opened in 1979, the deepwater port has 1,150 rings, 150 of which are open to visitors in all weathers and 24 hours a day. It also has a fuel pontoon. The port extends over 16,000 m². It is a very lively place in summer with its bars, restaurants... The stranding port (boulevard des Océanides ✆ 02 40 61 61 61 06) is intended for small boats (427 anchorages). Completely refurbished for the 2019 season, the bridge connecting the port to Pornichet, today almost a footbridge with grazing lighting at night, gives pride of place to soft traffic, pedestrians and bicycles and still offers a superb view of the Pointe du Bec, with its beautiful isolated villas and rocks, as well as the harmonious curve of Baie de La Baule. The port is also the starting point for sailing races such as the Match-Racing French Open.

They are classified by Historical Monuments and are a beautiful testimony to the architecture of the 1930 s. The 1927 passenger building is the work of the architects Adrien Grave and Roger Pons. The Ministry of Culture certified the «Heritage of the twentieth Century» building.