Inspired by the Karaouine Mosque in Fez, the old capital of Morocco, the Grande Mosquée de Paris combines ceramics, engravings, sculptures and calligraphy to provide a peaceful retreat amid the hustle and bustle of the French capital.
Located in the heart of the Haute-Savoie, the Plateau des Glières was an important place for the Resistance during the Second World War. It is the site of the Monument National à la Résistance des Glières, a modern work of art by Emile Gilioli symbolising Resistance and Hope.
On the banks of the Loire and midway between Orleans and Tours, the Royal City of Blois is well-placed in the very heart of the Loire valley. Seven kings and ten queens have occupied the famous chateau overlooking the city of Blois, an obvious appeal for the nobility to build their famous residences.
Sèvres Cité de la Céramique is a state-owned ceramic manufacturing site and museum on the outskirts of Paris with a ceramic collection from antiquity onwards and retained skills since the 18th century.
Paris is the organ capital of the world, housing 234 instruments, 126 of which are the property of the City of Paris. With nearly 8,000 pipes, the organ of Saint-Eustache is considered one of the most prestigious in France alongside that of Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris.
We visited Chambord (the castle) in the off season on a cold and rainy day. The largest crowd-occupying space was the usual queue outside the ladies toilets, a common sight at most French tourist attractions. I wondered how long the queue would be in Summer.