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TopClicks
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The World
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Western Europe
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France
An Overview of French Culture - Politics, customs, history, and of course, famous French art and architecture all get top billing at this site. Read about Charlemagne, Joan of Arc, the Notre Dame cathedral, and the influence of World War II on France. Discover a variety of facts on France--this is a great place to learn about the country or to use as a starting place for a school project on France.
Chateau de Versailles - What started out as a hunting lodge built by Louis XIII in 1623 has since been rebuilt many times over by various kings. Today the Chateau is both a royal residence and Museum of French History. The structure itself is a grand example of French architecture and landscape art. Within its walls is a diverse collection of French interior design, paintings, and drawings. This site describes the Chateau's history and the contents of the grounds and buildings along with pictures of some of the art and architecture.
Official Site of the Eiffel Tower - Symbol of Paris, the Eiffel Tower was finished on March 31, 1889. How tall is it? Well, in 1889 it was 1,024.5 feet (312.27 meters) high, including the flagpole. But in 1994 it grew an antenna and got taller: now it's 1,045.6 feet (318.7 meters) high. Visit this site to learn all about the history of the tower and activities and things you can see at each level. Don't like the color of this famous landmark? Choose to Play with the Tower (in the Summary section) and try various fashion statements of your own. We like the giraffe look or perhaps the cloud camouflage.
The Cave of Lascaux - A virtual visit of the famous cave in France. Click your way through the cave to see pictures of the paintings and more!
The Elysee Palace - Walk right up the virtual red carpet and take a tour of the President of France's official residence. At this site you can also learn about the national symbols of France, including "Marianne," a sculpted figure representing liberty and wisdom. She is pictured on stamps, coins, and this Web page. The origin of the name is unclear. Another famous symbol is the Gallic rooster. It is a play on words: gallus means "rooster" in Latin as well as Gaul, the ancient name of the region of which current-day France was once a part. The rooster appears on the seal of state.
The French Embassy - Friendship between France and the United States goes back a long, long way! At the French Embassy page you'll learn the history of that relationship. You can also spend time touring the countryside and even learn a verse or two of the French national anthem. This site has a special section just for kids and might be the place to head for help with a school project. Viv la France !
The Louvre Museum - This museum was originally designed as a palace. In medieval times, it was a fortress. Now you can walk in what used to be the moats, but your feet will stay dry! The collections include not just French art but also paintings, sculpture, and works of art from many countries and times. To jump right to the paintings on this site, go to The Collections and click on Paintings. Whose eyes are those peering out at you? Click on them to find out.
The Paris Pages - Here's a more serious look at Paris. It's bilingual, with both French and English versions. The city, its culture, its tourist sites, train stations, museums, monuments--it's all here. In the Culture section are special expositions featuring historic postcards, including a photo history of the August 1944 liberation of Paris during World War II.
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