64 Old Ruins to Explore in France

A beautiful and small island which was located on the north coast of Brittany. There is a prehistoric site in the center of the island which is called as known as Ty-Lia or Ty-ar-C'horrandoned, built in the neolithic times. There are also so many things to explore around this island. These things make this island the main tourist attraction.

One of the beautiful and historic castles which was a nice example of the architectural intelligence of France and Its flamboyant gothic style is testimony to the feudal architecture of the Renaissance. It was Owned by the Rohan family, which is one of the oldest in Brittany. The castle remains a residence of Josselin de Rohan, fourteenth Duke of Rohan, who was President of the region of Brittany from 1998 to 2004.

La Vieille Bourse is undoubtedly one of the most prestigious monuments in the city. Located between the Grand'Place and the Place du Théâtre, it is one of the witnesses of the intense economic activity that took place in Lille during the Grand Siècle. It was classified as a historical monument in 1921 and 1923. The quadrangular building is in fact an interlocking of 24 identical residences that contain what is called the inner courtyard, a place where booksellers, florists, chess players, stroll

Fort Carre was built in the late 16th century by King Henry II of France. It was used to guard the nearby border with the County of Nice and to defend the town of Antibes. it is now classified as a historic monument.

Le Gros-Horloge is a beautifully decorated astronomical clock that was made in the year of 1389. It is one of the oldest working clocks in Europe. This popular tourist landmark in the old town of Rouen is flanked by a Gothic belfry from the 14th century. It was heavily damaged during the second world war. Above the clock face, a globe shows the phases of the moon. Many depictions of sheep show the importance of the wool trade. it was one of the prime attractions in this area.

A complex of buildings which was commissioned in 1670 by Louis XIV in order to provide accommodation and hospital care for wounded soldiers. Later the parts of Les Invalides were converted into the Museum of Arms, the Museum of Contemporary History, and the Museum of Plains-Reliefs and into tombs for Napoleon I and others. It was one of the must-see locations in this area.

Maison Carrée or “square house” is an ancient Roman temple located in Nîmes in southern France. It is an extremely well preserved ancient Roman building and represents a nearly textbook example of a Roman temple as described by the architectural writer Vitruvius. This temple was Inspired by the temples of Apollo and Mars Ultor in Rome and it measures 26 metres long by 15 metres wide and 15 metres high.

A beautiful and majestic castle which was listed as a historical monument. It stands atop the wooded hill of Meinberg and was constructed between 1419 and 1434. , it was occupied by the Duke of Marlborough during the War of Spanish Succession. Now it was a tourist attraction and invites visitors to enjoy several historical and architectonical highlights. You can visit this castle for free and can enjoy this beautifully restored site.

It is a tidal island and mainland commune in Normandy, France. An important medieval pilgrimage destination, Mont Saint-Michel is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Both the 11th- to 13th-century Abbey of Saint-Michel and the Bay of Saint-Michel are protected under this designation. The island has had strategic fortifications since ancient times. It is 247 acres in size and it has a population of 44. People that live there are called the Montois.

The Castre Museum is a museum located in Cannes, France. It houses collections of primitive arts of the Himalayas-Tibet, the Arctic, pre-Columbian America, Mediterranean antiquities. Castre Museum also presents musical instruments around the world and the landscape paintings of the 19th century.

The Château d'Annecy is a restored castle that dominates the old French town of Annecy in the Haute-Savoie département. It was bought by the town, restored and transformed into a museum, le musée-château d'Annecy. The castle is listed as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture since 1959. There is an important collection of vernacular furniture, dating from the 15th century onwards, sculpted objects, photographs and models of Alpine chalets.

The Palace of the Kings of Majorca is a palace and a fortress with gardens overlooking the city of Perpignan in Pyrenees-Orientales, Occitanie, France. A fortified palace in the Gothic style organized around three courtyards 60 m square. One of the majestic buildings which is famous among tourists.

The Palais Rohan de Strasbourg was built between 1732 and1742 to plans by Robert de Cotte, Principal Architect to the King, for Cardinal Armand-Gaston de Rohan-Soubise, Prince-Bishop of Strasbourg. It is a major architectural, historical, and cultural landmark in the city which was Reflecting the history of Strasbourg and of France.

Pech Merle is one of the most striking cave art sites which was open to the public. A large cave with over two kilometers of underground tunnels and caverns which was decorated with prehistoric paintings. The walls of seven of the chambers at Pech Merle have fresh, lifelike images of a woolly mammoth, spotted horses, bovids, reindeer, handprints, and some human figures. One of the nice location which is famous in this area.

The Pont Neuf is the oldest bridge in Toulouse which links Gascogne to the Languedoc. It was commissioned by the King of France, François I. The Pont Neuf has largely preceded the other bridges built over the Garonne such as the Pont Saint-Michel in 1836, or the Pont Saint-Pierre in 1852. It is one of the famous landmarks in this area and also it attracts a lot of tourists.

The Pont d'Avignon is one of the most famous historic bridges in France, forming part of a World Heritage Site. According to the legend, the bridge was built in the 12th century by a young shepherd from Ardèche - Bénezet. It was later washed away several times by flood waters and rebuilt until it was abandoned in the 17th century. Today, all that remains are four arches and a chapel.

Pont Valentré is a 14th-century six-span fortified stone arch bridge crossing the Lot River to the west of Cahors, in France. This massive bridge took 70 years to complete from 1308 to 1378 and never saw combat, although its arduous construction lead to a legend of a deal with the devil. The bridge was classified in 1998 as a world heritage site and it can only be crossed by foot.

Filitosa is a prehistoric site classified as a historic landmark. A flagship of island megalithic art and considered by scientists to be one of the most enigmatic cultural sites in the Mediterranean and one of the nice prehistoric art in |Europe. the site comprises full of pre-Roman megalithic structures that may or may not be penises. Archaeological evidence suggests that the site was inhabited as early as 3300 BCE.

Rouen, situated on the banks of the River Seine, is Normandy’s vibrant, historic and cultural capital. Wandering around the old town of Rouen, visitors will enjoy the historical ambience found in the winding cobblestone lanes, which are lined with maisons à colombages. Today, it deserves a visit for its monuments, Gothic art being particularly well represented, but also for the charm of its alleyways and the many half-timbered houses there are.

Glanum was a prosperous and ancient town dating back from the 7th century BC. The site is renowned for its two well-preserved 1st century BC monuments, known as "Les Antiques"- a mausoleum, and a triumphal arch.