France is a country with years of history and activity, with many wonderful icons to observe! It often ranks as the number one country for international tourists to visit—there's just so much to see and learn about!

La Tour Eiffel (the Eiffel Tower) is a great example of this! Did you know it was originally constructed to mark the entrance to the 1889 World's Fair? How appropriate for our own World's Fair here at The Galaxy Cauldron Forums! ♥ This wrought-iron lattice-work tower was the tallest man-made structure in the world when it was built. It was an architectural feat to complete the construction—many insisted that it could not be built, while other criticized the appearance of the design. Now, it's a beloved structure with one of the most recognized appearances in the world! Pretty neat!

So... let's see what you can tell us about landmarks in France!

Who can name more French landmarks than anyone else? Let's find out!

• How to Play •
• Claim a historic or cultural landmark of France, by posting the name of the landmark and one (1) fact about it!
Use this format:
Name: One fact about that landmark.
• If someone else has already named that landmark in a previous post, don't post it again!
• Do not post twice in a row! (No double-posting!)
• Continue naming landmarks!
• When the game ends, whoever has named the most landmarks is the winner!

Here's an example of what a post should look like when this game is being played:

HikawaDude wrote:

Eiffel Tower: Although it was built to withstand forces of nature, the Eiffel Tower sways by up to 9cm when there is strong wind!

• Important Dates •
Saturday, September 30 - Last day to play!
Sunday, October 1 - Winner announced!

The Pont des Arts bridge: There was a long withstanding tradition to put locks on the chain-link fence with you and your partner's initials on it-so that your love would go on forever! The tradition and locks were removed in 2015 though, due to how cluttered the bridge was getting.

Arc de Triomphe: This famous arch in Paris was commissioned originally by Napoleon Bonaparte, but it wasn't completed until 1836, 15 years after his death in 1821.

Notre-Dame de Paris: Arguably the most famous cathedral in France, the building today sits on the site of what was an ancient Roman temple to the god Jupiter. Construction of what we know now as Notre-Dame began in 1163 and ultimately took nearly two centuries to complete.

Champs-Élysées: A grand avenue in Paris, running between the Place de la Concorde and the Place Charles de Gaulle, where the Arc de Triomphe is located, it was originally formed as an extension of the garden axis to the Palais des Tuileries.

Château de Versailles: the Palace of Versailles began life as a hunting lodge for King Louis XIII, in 1660 his son Louis XIV decided to turn the château into a palace. Construction started in 1682 and took six years to complete, allowing Louis XIV to move the royal court to Versailles.

The Louvre: A historic palace now-turned art museum. It has many roman sculptures in it, as well as Lenonardo Da Vinci's "Mona Lisa."

Le Jardin du Luxembourg-was built  in 1612 by Marie de' Medici, the widow of King Henry IV of France. It was a palace surrounded by a grand garden.

Pont du Gard: A 1st century Roman aqueduct bridge that crosses the Gardon River, near the Southern coast of France. It is no longer in use but survives as the highest of all elevated Roman aqueducts and one of the best preserved.

Mont Saint -Michel: an island church originally built in 709. (WOW!) It was classified as a world heritage site in 1979

Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur d'Aix-en-Provence: a 12th century cathedral in Aix-en-Provence in the south of France, it has Romanesque, Gothic, and Neo-Gothic architectural elements in its design. (I've actually visited this cathedral, and it was awesome!)

Abbey of Saint-Remi: An abbey in Reims, France, it was founded in the sixth century. The Bishop of Reims converted Clovis, King of the Franks, into Christianity.

Chartres Cathedral: Known as a prime example of French Gothic architecture, the cathedral in Chartres has a labyrinth laid into the pavement of the nave. However, it is better known for the stained glass windows (I've only seen pictures, but they are beautiful) - and the fact that there are 176 of them in the cathedral.

Bourges Cathedral: Dedicated to Saint Stephen of Bourges the current cathedral sits at the very same site of the city's major church as far back as at least the 3rd century during the times of the Carolingian dynasty. While it's not entirely known when construction started Bourges Catherdral was completed and consecrated on 1324.

Sacré-Cœur Basilica: This church is located at the summit of the highest point in Paris, Montmartre.

Panthéon: The Panthéon in Paris, France was built as a church, but it was later secularized and now it serves as a necropolis for notable Frenchmen like Voltaire and Rousseau.

L'église de la Madeleine-is a Roman Catholic church that was designed in its present form as a temple to the glory of Napoleon's army.

Musée de Cluny: also called the Musée national du Moyen Âge (National Museum of the Middle Ages), this museum in Paris is dedicated to medieval art and artifacts. It is famous for its tapestry collection, with The Lady and the Unicorn tapestries being one of its most well known collection.

Pont de Normandie: Opened in 1995, thiis is a the last bridge to cross the river Seine before it empties into the sea.  It is a toll bridge, but you can walk across or ride your bicycle across for free.

Quartier Latin: An area surrounding the Sorbonne (University of Paris), on the bank of the Seine river. It is home to many higher education institutions and is therefore known for its dynamic atmosphere of student life.

Hôtel des Invalides-containing museums and monuments, all relating to the military history of France (including the entombed Napoleon Bonaparte), as well as a hospital and a retirement home for war veterans, the building's original purpose.

Monet's Garden: Located in Giverny, this landmark is divided into two gardens (Clos Normand and the Japanese garden), and is famous for the beautiful scenes painted by Claude Monet.