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Notre-Dame de Reims is the Reims Cathedral, where the kings of France used to be crowned. It replaced an older church (burned in 1211) built on the site of the basilica where Clovis was baptized by Saint Remi, bishop of Reims, in A.D. 496. The cathedral was completed by the end of the 13th century, with the exception of the west front (illustration, right).
The cimetière de Montmartre, a famous cemetery located at 37 Avenue Samson, Paris, France.
Once a small castle located between the royal residences of Vincennes and Fontainebleau in France, the estate of Vaux-le-Vicomte was purchased by a 26 year-old parliamentarian, Nicolas Fouquet in 1641.
Romanesque – 10th to 11th century
After the collapse of the Roman Empire, Christianity brought a sort of unity and calm to France. As witnessed by the multitude of churches, religion was omnipresent during these turbulent times of Barbarian invasions. The churches of this era, inspired by Roman architecture (thus the name romanesque), are charaterized by round arches, barrel-vaulting and large walls, a simple but heavy style.
Gothic – 12th to 14th century
During the Middle Ages the fortress style of the romanesque buildings was refined and improved by French masons and architects.
Renaissance – 15th to 16th century
The Renaissance style refers to the style of the historic period primarily marked by King Francois I.
Baroque – 17th to early 18th century
The exuberance of the Absolute Monarchy preponderant in the 17th century led to enormous baroque edifices.
Neoclassicism – 18th century
After the Revolution of 1789, architecture in France found inspiration in classic Greek and Roman models.