French Architecture International Vacation Tips

Languedoc-Roussillon is one of the most famous destinations not only in France but throughout the whole of Europe. It offers a rich selection of options for a demanding and finicky visitor. Located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea it embraces a long stretch of stunning beaches.

Its plains are home to the finest grape vineyards dotted with many châteaux, which offer a wide selection of wines for tasting. Mountains, rivers and lakes are also a rich source of great scenery and wildlife viewing among others. But, my most favorite feature of the province of Languedoc-Roussillon is the major architectural elements. The colossal architectural value to be seen has been growing for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years.

Carcassonne is one of the most popular of the large free-standing architecture in the area. It is a perfect reproduction of the medieval fortified city whose formidable layout makes it a difficult challenge for the Marauder to attack and conquer.

The city\'s history can be traced back to Roman times, before the dawn of Christianity in the country. However, the fortifications today in Carcassonne were not consolidated until 1853 when the major restoration effort took lace under the highly appreciated architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc.

The fortified city of Carcassonne now stands on the scale of 53 towers and double wall rings. With due recognition of the genius behind the construction of this stunning castle, it was made into a UNESCO Heritage Site in 1997.

Another remarkable genius working in the area is the Canal du Midi. It is a navigable network of waterways that stretches 360 km in length linking the Mediterranean to the Atlantic Ocean, and the city of Tolulouse to the Mediterranean port of Sete.

It consists of 328 structures of locks, aqueducts, bridges and tunnels that are strategically placed in precise locations to make this extraordinary engineering masterpiece of modern times possible. Even more remarkable is the fact that it was built between 1667 and 1694.

The builders of the Canal du Midi successfully merged utility with aesthetics, has incorporated the neo-classical themes in the design of structures. The channel continued to serve commercial traffic since its opening in 1681 until drought forced its closure in 1989. Now it was a popular jaunt for tourists on luxury barges and water activities like canoeing and fishing. It was declared a UNESCO Heritage Site in 1996.

Next on the list is the Pont du Gard, a magnificent aqueduct which is regarded as a great work of art of the Roman Empire because of its outstanding stone and brickwork.

There is some debate about when the aqueduct was actually built, some say that it was started around 19 BC, but it is suggested that the building was started as early as 1 century BC. Regardless, the fact that the Pont du Gard has stood in its stately splendor for thousands of years is truly amazing .

It was originally designed to transport water from sources of Fontaines d\'Eure in Uzes over the Gardon river valley to the Castellum 50 km away. But because of negligence in passing centuries, it was useless and was converted as a bridge for pedestrians in the 18th century. It was then restored in the 18th and 19th century and has served as a major tourist attraction ever since. It was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site back in 1985.

Other notable structures and buildings in the Languedoc-Roussillon province that should be included in any traveler\'s itinerary are: Arles - Roman and Romanesque monuments dating back to the first century BC, the Roman Theatre and the ancient triumphal arch of Orange and the historic buildings in Avignon.

These structures are not only a feast for the senses, but also provide a wonderful insight into the historical conditions that led them to.

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