Not long after the Centre Pompidou, one of the most famous landmarks in Europe, the Louvre Museum, was to be modernized, again striking fear into Parisian hearts. When the new design (by I.M. Pei) was first shown to the French, emotions evolved quickly: disbelief at first, followed by disgust.

The Hôtel des Invalides in Paris isn’t a hotel at all, but a complex built by Louis XIV as a home for veterans. You can easily recognize its characteristic golden, under which Napoleon Bonaparte is buried. His is quite the tomb: red quartzite on a base of green granite, surrounded by a mosaic containing the names of Napoleon’s war victories.

Lascaux, sometimes referred to as the 'Sistine Chapel of cave art,' is a wonder of prehistoric artistry located in the Dordogne region. The wall paintings are believed to have been crafted between 17,000 and 20,000 years ago, providing a snapshot of the prehistoric world – or how it was imagined at the time.

This former hospital for the poor was built in 1443, a jewel of medieval Burgundian (and very gothic) architecture. Think about it: the first patient was admitted here 40 years before Columbus arrived in America, and the last patient would leave in 1982...

Another French landmark of note is Bordeaux's Grosse Cloche. It is one of the oldest belfries in France and one of the most recognizable landmarks in Bordeaux, even featuring on Bordeaux's coat of arms. The belfry was built from the 13th century remains of the Porte Saint-Éloi, which was one of the main gates to medieval fortified Bordeaux.

Lyon is a much underrated city, yet oh-so-worthy of a visit. It has one of the quirkier landmarks of France, the Fourvière Basilica, which guards the city from above, with its mixture of byzantine, gothic, romanesque... and some would even say Moorish styles, not to mention the panoramic view of Lyon you'll get from its lookout.

The tower's builder, Gustave Eiffel, was born with a different last name: Bönickshausen. His father had been a military officer of German origin but in 1877, in the wake of France's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, Gustave officially changed his name to avoid being tainted as a Prussian spy. Of course by the time the tower was built, Bönickshausen had been replaced by Eiffel.

So many monarchs have been linked to Fontainebleau, southwest of Paris! There’s little in French history that isn’t somehow connected to this château. Fontainebleau burst onto the royal scene at the hands of François I, the builder king, who turned what had been a medieval fortress into an Italian-style palace, having come to love this style during his military campaigns in Italy.

Chambord, as we know, is the largest of the giant châteaux in the Loire Valley, built as a "humble" hunting lodge by François I, he who loved to build. Picture this: a mixture of medieval and Renaissance with 440 rooms, 282 fireplaces and 80 or so staircases, including the famous double-helix which some believe may have been inspired by Leonardo da Vinci, a friend of the king.

Chenonceau is the Loire Valley's best known and most visited château, one of the most famous buildings of France. It is commonly known as the Ladies' Castle, because women have been involved throughout its history: a woman built it (Catherine Briçonnet, wife of a royal financial superintendent), another woman embellished and expanded it (Henri II’s mistress Diane de Poitiers), and yet another reclaimed it (Catherine of Medici, Henri II's wife).

The Centre Pompidou was inaugurated in 1977, but not before it set many tongues wagging, confirming that Parisians don't seem to take instantly to what is modern. The peculiarity of this building is that it is turned inside out: all the pipes, conduits and shafts are placed outside the building rather than inside, as is usual.

One of the iconic historical monuments in Paris, the Arc de Triomphe commemorates Napoleon's victory at Austerlitz. The Arc de Triomphe is at the center of Place Charles De Gaulle (more commonly known as the Place de l'Étoile) in the 8th arrondissement, which marks the west end of the Champs Elysées and connects all 12 major avenues in Paris.

The Palais des Papes, or Papal Palace, is one of the most famous French landmarks and the site of one of the stranger episodes in the history of both France and Christendom. Medieval France and Italy both contained Papal States and popes weren't as stationary then – they traveled around Europe and resided in certain cities for a time.

The Arles Amphitheater, built in the first century CE, was where gladiator fights and chariot races were held, providing a regular dose of bloody sports to some 20,000 spectators. In later years, after the Romans had gone, buildings sprouted within the arena, turning it into a veritable village, replete with housing and churches.

Amiens Cathedral, which recently celebrated its 8ooth birthday, is the largest cathedral in France. Notre Dame Cathedral could fit inside it, with room to spare. But that’s not the only thing that’s special about this grand gothic structure: beyond being one of those fabulous French famous landmarks, the cathedral holds a surprising secret.

Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe, standing at 4,808 meters (15,774 ft) above sea level. Located on the border between France and Italy, it is part of the Graian Alps and has been a symbol of alpine grandeur and adventure since the first recorded ascent in 1786. The mountain attracts mountaineers, skiers, and nature lovers from around the world and offers breathtaking views from its summit.