Strasbourg, France - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Strasbourg, France

Weather: Showers early then scattered thunderstorms, 59/79F.

Route: From Nancy 160 km east on N4 and A4.

Population: 284,677

Places to visit: Cathedrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg, Parc de l'Orangerie, Barrage Vauban, Musee Alsacien, Palais de Rohan, Musee historique de la Ville de Strasbourg, Le Vaisseau, Musee d'Art Moderne et Contemporain.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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Half timbered buildings date back to medieval times (whc.unesco.org)

Notre-Dame Cathedral (from whc.unesco.org)

Nancy, France - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Nancy, France

Weather: Showers early becoming a steady light rain later in the day, 58/75F.

Route: From Reims 245 km ESE on A4 and A31.

Population: 104,885

Significance: The World Heritage Site is centered on three squares built in the mid-18th century by Stanislas Leszczynski, Duke of Lorraine.  The buildings in these squares are baroque design - meant to be a connection from the old medieval city and the new city.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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Place de la Carriere (from whc.unesco.org)

Place Stanislas (from whc.unesco.org)

Reims, France - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Reims, France

Weather: Partly cloudy early, showers in the afternoon, 58/76F.

Route: From Provins 117 km NE on A4.

Population: 182,211

Significance: Reims was the place where French kings were coronated for centuries. The main historical buildings are the cathedral, the former abbey, and the Tau palace.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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The cathedral of Notre-Dame (from whc.unesco.org)

One of the smiling angels on the walls of Notre-Dame (from whc.unesco.org)

Provins, France - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Provins, France

Weather: Mainly sunny, 57/80F.

Route: From Fontainebleau 53 km ENE on D210 and D403.

Population: 12,000

Significance: A story of benign neglect, where an economic downturn to a town benefits us today by freezing a place in time - Provins is a great example of a medieval walled town.  It has a large Caesar tower built for defensive purposes. The large church was never finished because the town ran out of money.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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The main gate (from whc.unesco.org)

The Ceasar Tower (from whc.unesco.org)

Fontainebleau Palace, France - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Fontainebleau Palace, France

Weather: Sunny skies, 53/74F.

Route: From Paris 69 km SSE on A6.

Significance: It started as a hunting lodge in the 12th century. In the 16th century it was turned into a renaissance style palace by Francois I. Restored by Napoleon after the revolution - it was said to be his favorite place to live.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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The main palace buildings (from whc.unesco.org)

Large park surrounds the palace (from whc.unesco.org)

Paris, France - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Paris, France

Weather: Generally sunny, 54/74F.

Route: From Versailles 24 km ENE on A13.

Population: 2,175,601

Places to visit: Musee d'Orsay, Notre-Dame de Paris, Sainte-Chapelle, Eiffel Tower, Musee de l'Orangerie, Louvre Museum, Luxembourg Gardens, Musee Rodin, Jardin des Tuileries, Pere-Lachaise Cemetery.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Videos:

UNESCO Video

Video by me of our trip to Paris in 2009

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Aerial view of Ile de la Cite, including Notre-Dame (from whc.unesco.org)

Panorama of Paris with Eiffel Tower in the background (from travelpulse.com)

Versailles Palace and Park, France - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Versailles Palace and Park, France 

Weather: Mostly cloudy in the morning then periods of showers later in the day, 51/70F.

Route: From Chartres 88 km ENE on A11 and A10.

Significance: The ideal palace of the 17th century, Versailles was built to impress foreign dignitaries and control the aristocracy. The famous hall of mirrors and vast gardens are still impressive today.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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The palace from one of the many water features (from whc.unesco.org)

The hall of mirrors (from whc.unesco.org)