France: History and Landscape

France is the most visited country of Europe- with around 75 million tourist ,the World Tourism Organization puts it well in the lead of Spain and the United States. With everything a tourist could possibly require in an area not quite the size of the state of Texas,France is noted for the beauty of its countryside,the antiquity of its cities, the richness of its culture, the diversity of its cuisine, and the style of its fashionable people.

France's turbulent political life has left its indelible mark on the landscape. Wonderful historic buildings give its towns indicates villages and communes a great range of architectural interest and beauty. France:History and Landscape provides a truly splendid visual survey of this history from Roman times as exemplified by graceful amphitheaters and aqueducts.

The Middle Ages and Renaissance are well illustrated by such photogenic sites as the walled cities of Carcassonne and le Puy or the myriad castles all over the country,many of them dating from the Hundred Years War against the English. The apogee of French Royal power was the glorious reign of the Sun King Louis XIV whose legacy is the beautiful palace of Versailles. But it would be wrong to think that all France's beauty is in its older buildings. France has always been a country of innovation as shown by Paris's signature Eiffel Tower or the great arch of La Defense.