Located 13 miles southwest of Paris, the Palace of Versailles was the political capital of France for over a century, home to the royal court from 1682 to 1789. Now the Palace of Versailles is one of the best tourist attractions in France. Visitors come to see the lavish palace, the abundant gardens, and the surrounding sights. Versailles makes an outstanding side trip from Paris during a holiday in France.

The Chateau de Versailles was built in the 17th century by Louis XIV. No luxury or extravagance was spared. Every corner, ceiling, and wall is detailed with carvings, woodwork, marble, or another exquisite covering. Visitors may tour the palace. The gardens hold sculptors from many talented artists from the late 17th century. Versailles consists of four parts: The grand and lavish Palace of Versailles, the gardens, and two smaller palaces. The gardens contain numerous statures, fountains, hedges, and plants.

The Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919, as a supplement to the armistice that ended World War I. The Treaty of Versailles stated that Germany would take all responsibility for starting the war, and give up its holdings of surrounding countries. It also inhibited Germany's ability to make war by placing restrictions on its military.

France Map

Popular tourist attractions in France include the beloved city of Paris, home to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre museum, and Notre Dame Cathedral, as well as beautiful architecture, fantastic food, and a vibrant metropolis with something for everybody. The French Rivera has a plethora of jet set towns including Nice, Cannes, and Saint Tropez. Bordeaux is home to amazing French wine and Lyon is a historic and well located metropolis, perfect for blitzing into Switzerland, Italy, and the Alps. There are many other cities that play home to great tourist attractions in France.

Other noteworthy towns for a holiday in France include Marseille to the south, with its charming street markets, old port, and historic sections. Stout supporters of the revolution, Louis the XIV built two fortresses on the port, with guns facing the city. In addition, France's national anthem is named La Marseilles, named from the soldiers chanting the tune as the marched to Paris. Normandy is an historic area of France. Home to the D-Day beaches, as well as many charming and picturesque towns. Joan of Arch was burned in Rouen, an ancient, inland town with superb medieval buildings and museums. Mont-St-Michael bay contains a beautiful seascape, with a 264 feet granite wall. There are plenty of cities that make a great holiday in France.