FRANCE
Pyramid-at-louvre-Museum
France – one of the most interesting European countries. Every year, France has more than 70 million tourists. If you’re going to France – mandatory acquaint yourself with the sights, places, mandatory for visits. Paris is considered the cultural capital of Europe, on the site you will find much new information about the capital of France.
Eiffel Tower
“Iconic” attractions of the city – the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame de Paris, Montmartre and Sacre-Coeur, the Louvre, Champs Elysees, the Tuileries Gardens and the Arc de Triomphe. This is something that everybody knows and what one might call a mandatory program of every tourist who has visited Paris.The shortest walking route to the Tower – from the metro station Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel, it is on the yellow line “C” on the map on the left, in the western part of town.
According to recent study of quality of life in the European Union, conducted by a British company uSwitch, the best country to live in the EU – it is France and Spain, while Britain and Ireland – the worst. UK ranks 9 th in the ranking (consisting of 10 European countries), due to the high cost of living in the country, the low government subsidies for health and education, a small number of weekends and vacation days, and late retirement.
Chartres Cathedral
Not only is Chartres Cathedral one of the greatest achievements in the history of architecture, it is almost perfectly preserved in its original design and details. Chartres’ extensive cycle of portal sculpture remains fully intact and its glowing stained-glass windows are all originals. Chartres is thus the only cathedral that conveys an almost perfect image of how it looked when it was built.In addition to its architectural splendor, Chartres Cathedral has been a major pilgrimage destination since the early Middle Ages. Its venerable history, exquisitely preserved architecture, and centuries of fervent devotion make for an atmosphere of awe and holiness that impresses even the most nonreligious of visitors.
History of Chartres Cathedral
According to tradition, the cathedral of Chartres was the seat of the robe of the Virgin Mary, the Sancta Camisia from 876. The relic was given to the cathedral of Charlemagne, who received a gift during a trip to Jerusalem. Because of this relic, Chartres has been a Marian pilgrimage center very important and the faithful continue to arrive from around the world to honor.
The present cathedral is one of the masterpieces of several French Gothic building because the fire had destroyed its predecessor. After the first cathedral of any great substance burnt down in 1020, was a glorious new Romanesque basilica with a massive crypt was built under the direction of Bishop Fulbert and later Geoffroy they lived.
Cathedral has been in a fire in 1134 destroyed much of the rest of the city, but it was not so lucky on the night of June 10, 1194, when lightning sparked a fire that destroyed everything but the towers to the west front and the crypt.
The people in despair, when it seemed that the Sancta Camisa was also killed in the fire. But three days later, was found unharmed in the Ministry of Finance, that the bishop was a sign of Mary was proclaimed the second, even more spectacular, the cathedral was built in Chartres. Donations from all over France and the reconstruction began almost as soon as 1194 Chartres volunteers visit the stone quarries required 5 miles away.
The construction project plans developed by the first architect to maintain the harmonious appearance of the cathedral. Work first began on the ship and in 1220 the main structure was completed, the old crypt, the towers of the west and west incorporated into the new building. October 24, 1260, the cathedral was consecrated in the presence of King Louis IX and his family.
Chartres Cathedral was never destroyed or looted during the French Revolution and the numerous restorations have not altered its glorious beauty. It was always the same: a triumph of Gothic art. The cathedral was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
