It is here that the world-famous Reims Cathedral is located, where most of the French rulers were crowned. In the ancient city, architectural masterpieces are found at every step — the Palais du Tau, the Basilica of St. Remigius of the early 11th century, the Church of Saint-Jacques, the Basilica of St. Clotilde, the building of the Jesuit College. The city center is quite small, it is pleasant to walk along it, many streets are for pedestrians only. One of the streets of the city with a length of 18 kilometers is completely occupied by wine cellars.

Reims Cathedral is one of the masterpieces of Gothic art of the 13th century. It is a national sanctuary, the site of the baptism of Clovis Merovingian, and the coronation of many kings of France, a patriotic symbol during WWI, and a symbol of Franco-German reconciliation. Reims Cathedral has been the seat of bishops since the time of the first bishops of Reims — St. Sixtus and St. Sinis (3rd century).

There is no holiday without a feast, the biblical story reminds us, the holiday brings together guests who share bread and wine. Medieval sources speak of a large gathering of guests in the hall of the archbishop’s palace. The feast of Louis XIII (in 1610) was attended by 100 people, while Louis XIV and beyond have no more than 30 to distinguish the king and 12 peers of France. The focus was on the king, flanked by 6 dukes and 6 earls, clerics and laity, representing the great vassals of the crown. This is how the Last Supper is symbolically depicted, where the king, the vicar of God, takes the place of Jesus. Bishops wear mitres and chasubles to the meal, which explains the absence of women at the feast.

Montmartre is a hill in the north of Paris, one of the most picturesque and curious areas of the French capital. The name — “hill of martyrs” — comes from the ancient legend about the first Parisian bishop Dionysius, who was executed here, who was recognized as a holy great martyr. For a long time, Montmartre and its environs remained an industrial area for the extraction of limestone and gypsum. Since the end of the XIX century, poor artists began to settle in Montmartre, whose work later brought France fame as the birthplace of new art. In the star list, the names of Van Gogh, Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec, Picasso, Modigliani, whose spirit still hovers in cabaret and legendary cafes of Montmartre.

The height of the hill is 130 meters, in fact, it is one of the highest points in Paris. The snow-white Basilica of the Sacré Coeur (“Basilica of the Sacred Heart”), crowning Montmartre Hill, is one of the main temples of all France and the pride of Montmartre.

Today, Montmartre is perhaps the most popular tourist area. A walk along it gives a lot of impressions. Couples are photographed at the Wall of Love, someone makes a wish in Dalida Square, and others stare at the unusual “Man Walking Through the Wall.” There are cozy restaurants, legendary theaters, unusual museums, and on the top of the hill there is an observation deck of the Sacré Coeur Basilica, which offers a stunning view — the whole of Paris, as if in the palm of your hand!

The capital of Northern France Lille borders Belgium. A former merchant city, Lille was founded in the middle of the seventh century. Lille was in turn under Flemish, Burgundian, and Spanish before becoming French in 1667 during the conquest of the city by Louis XIV. 

The old town, with its pleasant pedestrian streets and lofty bell towers, is a particularly nice place to take a stroll. You will find many beautiful baroque buildings with gracefully gabled roofs and chic 19th-century mansions. The Museum of Fine Arts in Lille is the second most important art museum in France after the Louvre in Paris. The museum’s collections include masterpieces of European painting, antiques, and sculptures.

Another city in Northern France - Amiens offers a fascinating glimpse into Jules Verne’s life, where the writer was inspired by its architecture. Fans of the writer can visit the Maison à la Tour Museum. The museum is located in the writer's house, where he lived for almost two decades at the end of the 19th century. Follow in his footsteps and explore the main landmarks. One of the most impressive and unmissable landmarks of Amiens is the 13th-century Notre-Dame Cathedral, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage List. The Saint-Leu quarter around the Cathedral is a canal area with traditional houses and lively cafes located along the canals.

History buffs will learn a lot about rescue Operation Dynamo in the Second World War, in late May 1940. Dunkirk means "church of the dunes" in translation. It became world-famous for the heroic evacuation of Allied forces. Dunkirk is now a place with historic beaches, shops, and plenty of places to sample local food, which is an interesting mix of traditional Flemish cuisine and seafood.

Pierrefonds Castle is located in Picardy, 75 km from Paris. It was built on the remains of a fortress of the XII century, once owned by the Pierrefond family of Chierzy. At the end of the XII century, this fortress became the property of the king. Charles VI in 1392 presented the estate to his brother — Duke Louis of Orléans.

By that time, only underground premises remained from the old fortress. Louis decided to build a new type of castle — powerful, grandiose, luxurious. Reconstruction began in 1396. Construction continued more than a decade. In 1407, the Duke of Orléans was killed, and Pierrefonds was completed under the new owner. The castle survived several wars. It was repeatedly attacked but withstood all sieges and enemy raids with honour. Cardinal Richelieu in 1617 managed to capture, but not destroy it — only the external fortifications and roofs of Pierrefonds were damaged. For more than two centuries, the ruined castle remained in ruins. And only in 1858, on the instructions of Napoleon III, the reconstruction of the castle began, which lasted 26 years. In 1885, due to lack of funds, the reconstruction was stopped, and the interior design of the castle was not completed.

Currently, ten rooms and an underground Giants Hall are available for visits. Within the walls of the castle there is the Museum of Fortification, an exhibition of carved wood products belonging to the hand of Viola le Duc, and a collection of figured metal products of the Monduit dynasty. Moreover, the Montduit collection is not copies, but duplicates of authentic exhibits. In Pierrefonds, the following films were shot: " On Guard», «The Visitors» and «Iron Mask».

A walking tour of the historic center of Paris, including an external and internal tour of Notre Dame de Paris and the main attractions of the old Latin Quarter, is a great opportunity to learn and join the origins of the French capital. 

Île de la Cité — formerly Lutetia — is the historic centre of Paris. The journey into the past will begin from the famous Notre Dame De Paris, a witness to the legendary events of French history, and will continue with a tour of the palace ensemble, consisting of the Conciergerie, the Chapel of Sainte-Chapelle and the Palace of Justice. The chapel of Sainte-Chapelle was built by King Louis IX (the Saint) in 1248 to store holy relics brought from Jerusalem. The chapel is a miracle of stone carvings in combination with stained glass windows of amazing beauty. The Conciergerie is part of the royal palace (architecture XIV century), later turned into a prison.

Next, the tour will pass through the narrow streets of the Latin Quarter, through the Roman Baths and the Museum of the Middle Ages cluny to the Sorbonne, the Pantheon, and the Luxembourg Gardens, where the Luxembourg Palace, built by Marie de Medici, is located, and today is the meeting place of the French Senate.

The Louvre, the former royal palace and, for two centuries, one of the largest museums in the world.  Its collections are presented in 8 departments, the largest of which are the departments of the Ancient East, Egypt, Greek and Roman antiquities, world sculpture and painting.  Just a few figures: 35,000 exhibits on a total area of 60,600 m², 2,410 windows, 3,000 castles, 10,000 steps.