Historic Churches of France

France is possibility the ultimate vacation destination. Paris is notably one of the most famous cities of the world, with rich history, culture, art, fashion, sidewalk cafes, gourmet dining and romantic ambiance attracting tourists from around the world.

France is in Western Europe. In ancient times, France was part of the Celtic territory, known as Gaul. The Germanic people conquered the area in the 5th century. The meaning of the name, France, is literally the "country of the Franks" in Latin. France became a separate country in the 9th century. France has played a major role in world events. Throughout France, are a number of important historic sites that travelers pilgrimage to.

The United Nations, UNESCO, has developed and maintained a list of significant places in the world, known as the World Heritage List, which is selected by a committee. Of the 851 world wide properties selected by the World Heritage List for their outstanding universal value, 30 are in France. Of the 30 selected UNESCO sites, seven are churches or cathedrals. Following are the outstanding significant historic churches in France.

Travelers to France may find it rewarding to add the historic churches of France to their vacation itinerary.

Chartres Cathedral French Gothic Cathedral was built starting in 1145. Fine sculptures from the 12th century and magnificent stained glass windows from the 12th and 13th centuries are in remarkable condition. The cathedral is one of the great achievements in architecture. It is almost perfectly preserved. The cycle of portal sculpture remains intact. Glowing stained glass windows are all originals. Chartres is the only cathedral that conveys a nearly perfect image of how it looked when it was first built over 800 years ago. Since the early Middle Ages, Chartres has been major pilgrimage destination. Legend has it that Chartres housed a tunic of the Blessed Virgin Mary, known as the Sancta Camisia. It is said that the holy relic was a gift from Emperor Charlemagne. Massive spires of the cathedral dominate the quaint medieval city of Chartres. The interior of the cathedral is elegant, with a spacious nave, clustered columns, and magnificent stained glass windows.

Vezelay, Church and Hill: The Benedictine Abbey of Vezelay was founded in the 9th century. The church acquired relics of St. Mary Magdalene early in its time. The church became an important place of pilgrimage. St. Bernard preached at the church. Richard the Lion Hearted and Philip II Augustus met at the church to leave for the Third Crusade in 1190. The 12th century monastic church is a masterpiece of Burgundian Romanesque architecture and art.

Amiens Cathedral: Located in the heart of Picardy, Amiens Cathedral is one of ther largest 'classic' Gothic churches of the 19th century. The church has a three tier interior elevations and a fine display of sculptures.

Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay: Burgundian monastery founded by St. Bernard in 1119. The church contains a cloister, refectory, sleeping quarters, bakery and ironworks. Selected as an excellent example o the self sufficiency of the early Cistercian monks.

Abbey Church of Saint-Savin sur Gartempe: The 11th and 12th century murals in this "Romanesque Sistine Chapel" are remarkably preserved.

Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Former Abbey of Saint-Remi and Palace of Tau, Reims: Imposing masterpiece of Gothic art. The abbey retains the beautiful nave from the 9th century. The former episcopal palace was rebuilt in the 17th century. The full French name of Notre Dame is Cathedrale Notre-Dame do Pairs. The English translation is "Our Lady of Paris". The magnificent cathedral is a major tourist attraction. Notre Dame is one of the world's most famous cathedrals. The Notre Dame cathedral is built on the site of the first Christian Church in Paris, which itself was built at the site of the Roman Temple to Jupiter. The first version of Notre Dame was built by Childevert I, the King of the Franks, in 528. In 1160 the building was deemed unworthy of its function as the "parish church of the kings of Europe" and was demolished. In 1163 construction on the current cathedral began. During the French revolution, many of the church's treasure weres stolen or destroyed. Restoration in 1845 took 23 years. The cathedral has been the site of many historical events over the centuries. Notre-Dame remains state property, with rights of use granted to the Roman Catholic Church.

Bourges Cathedral The Cathedral of St. Etienne of Bourges was built between the late 12th and 13th centuries. The cathedral is considered one of the great masterpieces of Gothic art. The structure attests to the power of Christianity in medieval France.