unesco world heritage in france. Loire Valley in France - unesco world heritage List of unesco sites in france
The UNESCO heritage in France is represented by world-famous sights. Among architectural monuments, of course, it is worth mentioning the palace and park complex in Versailles. It is located in the suburbs French capital and is a true masterpiece. Since the reign of Louis XIV, Versailles has been the residence of monarchs. It was then, in the 17th century, that the complex was revived in a new light. The best architects and gardeners of the country worked on its construction and subsequent reconstructions. No expense was spared for the interior decoration of the palace, and it turned out to be magnificent and magnificent. In addition to its aesthetic value, Versailles has become an important historical site. In particular, a peace treaty was signed here that put an end to the First World War.
Under the protection of UNESCO in France, there are also unique rock paintings in caves along the Weser River. Archaeologists agreed that the approximate age of these images reaches seventeen thousand years. They were protected from water thanks to marble, which allowed the drawings to be quite well preserved. The most famous drawings are located in the Lascaux cave. They depict scenes of hunting and life, as well as animals. They are of the greatest cultural value, since they can be used to determine that primitive artists already then began to use some painting techniques. Imagination prompted them the principles of perspective and shading.
The UNESCO list in France includes many ancient Roman sights. Among them, it is worth noting the ancient monuments in the city of Arles. It was loved by the ancient Roman emperors, which led to the active construction of various buildings and objects on its territory. The remains of the theater, underground galleries and other structures have survived to this day. In French city Orange also houses the ruins of an ancient Roman theatre. It is located on the banks of the Rhone and was built by the Gauls. In addition to the theater, the Arc de Triomphe, also built in the ancient Roman era, stands on its territory.
UNESCO is an organization dealing with international cooperation of peoples and states in the field of education, culture and science. The Organization sets as its goal the strengthening of peace and the promotion of security throughout the world, based on the expansion of cooperation between peoples.
The scope of the organization's activities includes combating discriminatory phenomena in the field of education, combating illiteracy, studying national cultures and training national personnel. UNESCO also deals with the problems of geology, social sciences, biosphere and oceanography.
History of creation
In the midst of World War II, to discuss measures to restore the education system in Europe after the onset of peace, the President of the British Education Council, Richard A. Butler, took the initiative to hold a conference to which representatives of eight allied countries were invited, including the ministers of education and culture. The meetings were held in London from 16 November to 05 December 1942.
In the period from 1942 until the end of the war, about sixty meetings were held with the active support of the world community. After the end of the war, at a meeting of the London Conference of the United Nations on November 16, 1945, dedicated to the issue of founding an international organization that would oversee education, science and culture, the Charter of the organization was developed and the UNESCO Preparatory Commission was formed.
The commission created for the preparation of UNESCO moved to Paris on September 6, 1946, settling in the Hotel Majestic, restored after the war, on avenue Kléber. Working conditions were far from comfortable: secretaries lived and worked in bedrooms, mid-level workers had to huddle in bathrooms, using them to store documents. The Majestic Hotel served as a temporary office, first for the Preparatory Commission and then for the Organization itself, until a building was built in Paris in 1958 to house the headquarters of UNESCO.
Modern UNESCO building in Paris
At present, the headquarters of UNESCO is located in a building built on the left bank of the Seine, on Place Fontenoy in Paris, the grand opening of which took place on November 3, 1958. It was designed by an international team of architects including Marcel Breuer from the USA, Pier Luigi Nervi from Italy and Bernard Serfus from France. The construction was led by an international committee, which included famous architects Charles Le Corbusier from France, Walter Gropius from the USA, Lucio Costa from Brazil, Sven Markelius from Sweden and Ernesto Rogers from Italy. Finnish architect Eero Saarinen, who was not on the committee, also took part in reviewing the project.
Marcel Breuer- American architect and designer, a native of the Hungarian city of Pest. He is considered one of the recognized founders of industrial design. He is considered to be one of the most successful and influential architects of the 20th century.
Pier Luigi Nervi- Italian engineer and architect, professor at the University of Rome. He took part in the construction of a number of buildings in Rome, Florence, Naples and other Italian cities. After working on the project of the Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence, he became widely known in Europe. Thanks to the reinforced concrete construction he invented, he was nicknamed the “poet of reinforced concrete”.
Bernard Zehrfuss- A French architect who brilliantly graduated from the School of Fine Arts in Paris. Born in 1911 in Angers. Serfrys is a representative of functionalism, an architectural trend that pays great attention to the use of the achievements of science and technology, the simplicity of forms and rationalism.
The UNESCO building is known all over the world not only because it houses the headquarters world organization, but also thanks to the unique architectural solutions. The complex in the shape of a three-pointed star, reminiscent of the Latin letter Y, was erected on seventy-two concrete columns, the space between which is occupied by various service premises and lobby.
This is a seven-story building of three buildings, deployed to each other at an angle of 120 degrees. The glass façade of 1068 windows, providing all rooms with enough light, gives the building a special lightness. Acoustics is provided by a special system of ribbed walls and reinforced concrete coatings. It houses a library that stores all UNESCO publications, a rich philatelic and numismatic collection, as well as a department of souvenirs.
The UNESCO architectural ensemble complements the building, which was named "Accordion". It houses the Oval Hall for plenary sessions, designed for 900 seats; a building built in the shape of a cube, as well as a third building, the windows of which overlook the green courtyards. There is a beautiful Japanese garden in front of the Permanent Mission Building.
The interior of the buildings is decorated with unique works of famous artists and sculptors of the 20th century. On the walls of the UNESCO building you can see the paintings by Picasso, the frescoes of Tamayo, the bas-relief of Arpa, the sculptures of Alexander Calder and Henry Moore.
Everyone who wants to see the building itself and admire the unique works of great artists can come here on an excursion.
How to visit UNESCO?
Organized from Tuesday to Friday group tours at UNESCO headquarters. Those wishing to visit the UNESCO building must pre-register. Applications are accepted at: visit(at)unesco.org. The application specifies the purpose of the visit, the number of group members and the desired date and time of the visit. Group visits are organized at 10:00 and 15:00. The duration of the visit is approximately 30 minutes. The tour includes a short presentation, a visit to a meditation hall designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando, and a tour of a Japanese garden and artwork.
Exhibitions and various events
UNESCO is the United Nations organization dealing with education, culture and science. The main goals declared by the organization are to contribute to strengthening the security of the world, thanks to the expansion of cooperation between peoples and states in the field of science, education and culture; observance of law and justice, universal respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights, which are proclaimed in the Charter of the Organization, absolutely for all peoples, without belonging to any race, sex, language or religion.
On November 16, 1945, an organization was created, the headquarters of which is located in the capital of France. The activities of the organization cover the problems of discrimination in the field of education, as well as illiteracy; studies national cultures and trains national personnel; problems of geology, social sciences, biosphere and oceanography.
On September 16, 1946, the Preparatory Commission for UNESCO moved to the Majestic Hotel from London, which served as temporary premises until 1958. The construction was hastily restored after the liberation of the city from the German occupation. Working conditions in it were not ideal, since the largest bedrooms were provided for the work of secretaries, many of whom used a single wardrobe for storing documents. Professional mid-level employees worked in the former bathrooms, because this was the only place to store documents.
On the Place Fontenoy in Paris on November 3, 1958, the inauguration of the current headquarters of UNESCO took place. The building, which is shaped like the letter Y, was designed by three architects from different countries, and the construction of the headquarters was carried out under the leadership of an international committee.
The complex, which is known throughout the world not only for the location of the UNESCO headquarters in it, but also for its architectural merits, was erected on several dozen concrete columns in the shape of a three-pointed star.
The building houses a library with a large numismatic and philatelic collection, all publications of the Organization and a department of UNESCO souvenirs.
Complementing the complex are three other buildings. The first, called "accordion", has a large oval hall. This is where the General Conference meets in plenary. The second building was built in the shape of a cube. In the third building in the center of the green area, two underground levels deep, there are six open patios, into which the windows of the offices located along the perimeter open. These buildings, containing a large number of unique works of art, are currently open to the public.
Since the beginning of the construction of the UNESCO building on Place Fontenoy, works of art have been commissioned from famous artists, which, in addition to decorative and artistic design, would symbolize the world, the preservation and strengthening of which the organization sets as its task. Over time, other works of art were also acquired. Most of the works were donated to the Organization by Member States.
On the UNESCO website in the virtual museum you can see the works of Picasso, Miro, Bazin, Corbusier, Tapies, and many other famous and little-known artists.
9. Chartres Cathedral
10. Reims
11. Historic center of Avignon
12. Pilgrimage to Santiago de Campostela
The route passes through the cities:, Potier,, etc.
13. Episcopal city of Albi
14. Fortifications of Vauban
Vauban's fortifications consist of 12 groups of fortified buildings and sites along the borders of France. They were designed by the military architect Sebastien Le Prestre de Vauban (1633–1707) during the reign of King Louis XIV.
17. Mountain ranges Cevennes and Grand Cross
mountain ranges Cevennes and Grand Cross(Les Causses and les Cévennes) (2011)
18. Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel
19. Palace and Park of Fontainebleau
24. Pont du Gard
- Ancient Roman near (1985), region. The Pont du Gard is an ancient Roman aqueduct bridge built in the first century AD to deliver water over 50 km to the Roman colony of Nemaus (now a city). It crosses the Gardon River near the town of Ver-Pont-du-Gard in southern France. The Pont du Gard is the highest of all Roman aqueduct bridges and one of the best preserved. It was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1985 due to its historical significance.
25. City of medieval fairs Provins
- city medieval fairs(2001) in . This is one of the best examples of a medieval merchant city in Europe.
26. Historic center of Lyon
— in (1998). Lyon has preserved an important architectural heritage dating from Roman times to the Renaissance and as such, the districts of Vieux Lyon, the hill of Fourvière, the peninsula and the slopes de la Croix-Rousse are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
27. Prehistoric sites in the Alps
Prehistoric Sites in the Alps (2011). A series of prehistoric settlements (or stilt houses) in and around the Alps. It is a cross-border attraction shared with Austria, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland, 11 out of 111 sites are in France: Clairvaux-les-Lacs; Marigny, Doucier, Fontenu; Aiguebelette-le-Lac, Saint-Alban-de-Montbel; Brison-Saint-Innocent; Chindrieux; Saint-Pierre-de-Curtille; Tresserve; Chens-sur-Leman; Saint-Jorioz; Sevrier; Sevrier, Saint-Jorioz.
28. Grande Île and Neustadt in Strasbourg, Alsace
- in, (1988). Strasbourg in different time belonged either to France or to Germany. Its rich and turbulent history has left a remarkable architectural legacy. Its city center, located on the Grande Île, has been fully UNESCO World Heritage since 1988 and includes, among others, Notre Dame Cathedral in Strasbourg and the Petite France district. In 2017, the perimeter was extended to part of the Neustadt, an area built by the German authorities since 1880.
Quote message UNESCO World Heritage: France. Palaces and parks of Versailles. Part 1
The UNESCO World Heritage List in the French Republic includes 37 items (for 2011), which is 3.8% of the total (936 for 2011). 33 objects are included in the list according to cultural criteria, with 17 of them recognized as masterpieces human genius(criterion i), 3 properties are included according to natural criteria, each of which is recognized as a natural phenomenon of exceptional beauty and aesthetic importance (criterion vii), as well as 1 mixed property, also falling under criterion vii. In addition, as of 2010, 33 sites in France are among the candidates for inclusion in the World Heritage List. The French Republic has ratified the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and natural heritage June 27, 1975
UNESCO experts have decided that the French gastronomic culture, with its rituals and complex organization, is worthy of being included in the prestigious Intangible List. cultural heritage. For the first time in the world, this status was given to national cuisine, which indicates "its universal recognition".
The experts of the Intergovernmental Committee of UNESCO satisfied the request of France in the art of Alencon lace - included in the List of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
Food is part of the French national identity. Normandy, Provencal, Burgundy and Alsatian cuisines differ from each other in the same way as the inhabitants of these regions. “It must be said that French cuisine is subject to numerous influences, which allows it to create new dishes and new tastes. It is difficult to overestimate the importance of this openness, especially given the characteristics of modern society,” says Hubert de Canson, Deputy Permanent Representative of France to UNESCO.
Versailles - palace and park ensemble in France (fr. Parc et château de Versailles), the former residence of the French kings in the city of Versailles, now a suburb of Paris; tourism center of world importance.
Versailles was built under the leadership of Louis XIV from 1661, and became a kind of monument to the era of the "Sun King", an artistic and architectural expression of the idea of absolutism. The leading architects are Louis Le Vaux and Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the creator of the park is Andre Le Nôtre. The ensemble of Versailles, the largest in Europe, is distinguished by a unique integrity of design and harmony of architectural forms and the transformed landscape. From the end of the 17th century, Versailles served as a model for the front country residences European monarchs and aristocracy, but there are no direct imitations of him.
From 1666 to 1789, until the French Revolution, Versailles was the official royal residence. In 1801 it received the status of a museum and is open to the public; since 1830, the entire architectural complex of Versailles has become a museum; in 1837 in royal palace The Museum of the History of France was opened. In 1979, the Palace of Versailles and the park were included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.
Many significant events in French and world history are associated with Versailles. So, in the 18th century, the royal residence became the site of the signing of many international treaties, including the treaty that ended the American War of Independence (1783). In 1789, the Constituent Assembly, which worked in Versailles, adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen.
Chapel_and_Gabriel_Wing_Palace_of_Versailles
northern view
South facade. Versailles 2
In 1871, after the defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War, in Versailles, occupied by German troops, the creation of the German Empire was proclaimed. Here, in 1919, a peace treaty was signed that completed the First world war and laid the foundation for the so-called Versailles system - political system post-war international relations
View of the palace from the park
Versailles_-zicht_op_de_Écuries
The history of the Palace of Versailles begins in 1623 with a very modest feudal-style hunting castle, built at the request of Louis XIII of brick, stone and roofing slate on the territory purchased from Jean de Soisy (Jean de Soisy), whose family owned the lands from the 14th century. The hunting castle was located in the place where the marble courtyard is now located. Its dimensions were 24 by 6 meters. In 1632, the territory was expanded through the purchase of the Versailles estate from the Archbishop of Paris from the Gondi family, and a two-year rebuilding was undertaken.
La Victoire sur l "Espagne Marsy Girardon Versailles
Louis XIVSince 1661, the "Sun King" Louis XIV began to expand the palace in order to use it as his permanent residence, since after the Fronde uprising, living in the Louvre seemed unsafe to him. The architects André Le Nôtre and Charles Lebrun renovated and expanded the palace in the classicist style. The entire facade of the palace from the side of the garden occupies large gallery (mirror gallery, Galleria Louis XIV), which makes a stunning impression with its paintings, mirrors and columns. In addition to it, the Battle Gallery, the palace chapel and the Royal Opera are also worth mentioning.
After the death of Louis XIV in 1715, the five-year-old King Louis XV, his court, and the Regency Council of Philippe d'Orléans returned to Paris. The Russian Tsar Peter I, during his visit to France, stayed in May 1717 in Grand Trianon. The 44-year-old Tsar, while at Versailles, studied the arrangement of the Palace and parks, which inspired him to create Peterhof on the shores of the Gulf of Finland near St. Petersburg (Verlet, 1985).
Versailles changed during the reign of Louis XV, but not as extensively as it was under Louis XIV. In 1722 the king and his court returned to Versailles and the first project was the completion of the Salon of Hercules, the construction of which had begun in last years reign of Louis XIV, but due to the death of the latter, it was not completed.
The Small apartments of the King are recognized as a significant contribution of Louis XV to the development of Versailles; The chambers of Madame, the chambers of the Dauphin and his wife on the first floor of the Palace; as well as the private chambers of Louis XV - the small apartments of the King on the second floor (later rebuilt into the apartments of Madame Dubarry) and the small apartments of the King on the third floor - on the second and third floors of the Palace. The main achievement of Louis XV in the development of Versailles was the completion of the construction of the Opera House and the Petit Trianon Palace (Verlet, 1985).
Petit Trianon Palace
Small apartments of the king. Office of the golden service
Playroom Louis 16
Madame Dubarry
An equally significant contribution is the destruction of the Ambassadors' Staircase, the only ceremonial route to the Grand Royal Apartments. This was done for the construction of apartments for the daughters of Louis XV.
One of the gates
The inviolability of power. The French royal court.
In the decoration of the gate, the symbols of the king-"sun"
Golden Gate.
Palace of Versailles; stone Saint Leu,
There were no significant changes in the Park, compared with the times of Louis XIV; the only legacy of Louis XV in the parks of Versailles is the completion of the Neptune Basin between 1738 and 1741 (Verlet, 1985). In the last years of his reign, Louis XV, on the advice of the architect Gabriel, began the reconstruction of the facades of the courtyards of the Palace. According to another project, the Palace was to receive classical facades from the city side. This Louis XV project also continued throughout the reign of Louis XVI, and was only completed in the 20th century (Verlet, 1985).
mirror hall
All accounts related to the construction of the palace have survived to our time. The amount taking into account all expenses is 25,725,836 livres (1 livre corresponded to 409 g of silver), which in total amounted to 10,500 tons of silver or 456 million guilders for 243 g of silver / Recalculation to the modern value is almost impossible. Based on the price of silver at 250 euros per kg, the construction of the palace absorbed 2.6 billion euros / Based on the purchasing power of the then guilder as 80 euros, the construction cost 37 billion euros. Putting the cost of building the palace in relation to the state budget of France in the 17th century, we get the modern amount of 259.56 billion euros.
Facade of the palace. Clock of Louis 14.
Almost half of this amount was spent on the creation of interior decoration. The best masters of the Jacob era, Jean Joseph Chapuis created luxurious boiserie. [source not specified 859 days] These expenses were distributed over 50 years, during which the construction of the Palace of Versailles, completed in 1710, was underway.
Emperor Augustus
Roman busts
The site of the future construction required a huge amount of land work. Recruitment of workers from surrounding villages passed with great difficulty. Peasants were forced to become "builders". In order to increase the number of workers in the construction of the palace, the king banned all private construction in the vicinity. Workers were often imported from Normandy and Flanders. Almost all orders were carried out through tenders, the expenses of the performers, exceeding those originally named, were not paid. In peacetime, the army was also involved in the construction of the palace. Finance Minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert kept an eye on frugality. The forced presence of the aristocracy at court was an additional precaution on the part of Louis XIV, who thus secured for himself complete control over the activities of the aristocracy. Only at court was it possible to receive ranks or posts, and those who left lost their privileges
Fountains of Versailles
On May 5, 1789, representatives of the nobility, clergy and bourgeoisie gathered in the Palace of Versailles. After the king, who by law was given the right to assemble and dissolve such events, closed the meeting for political reasons, the deputies from the bourgeoisie declared themselves the National Assembly and retired to the Ballroom. After 1789, the Palace of Versailles could only be maintained with difficulty.
architectural elements palace decoration
On October 5-6, 1789, at first a crowd of Parisian suburbs, and then the national guard under the command of Lafayette came to Versailles demanding that the king and his family, as well as the National Assembly, move to Paris. Subject to forceful pressure, Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, their relatives and deputies moved to the capital. After that, the importance of Versailles as the administrative and political center of France declined and was not restored in the future.
Since the time of Louis Philippe, many halls and rooms have been restored, and the palace itself has become an outstanding national historical museum, which exhibited busts, portraits, paintings of battles and other works of art of predominantly historical value.
Proclamation of the German Empire in 1871
The Palace of Versailles was of great importance in German-French history. After the defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War, from October 5, 1870 to March 13, 1871, it was the residence of the main headquarters of the German army. On January 18, 1871, the German Empire was proclaimed in the Mirror Gallery, and Wilhelm I was its Kaiser. This place was deliberately chosen to humiliate the French.
The peace treaty with France was signed on February 26, also at Versailles. In March, the evacuated French government moved the capital from Bordeaux to Versailles, and only in 1879 again to Paris.
At the end of the First World War, a preliminary truce was concluded at the Palace of Versailles, as well as the Treaty of Versailles, which the defeated German Empire was forced to sign. This time, historical place was picked up by the French to humiliate the Germans.
The harsh conditions of the Treaty of Versailles (including huge indemnity payments and recognition of sole guilt) laid a heavy burden on the shoulders of the young Weimar Republic. Because of this, it is widely believed that the consequences of the Treaty of Versailles were the basis for the future emergence of Nazism in Germany.
Marble Court of Versailles
After World War II, the Palace of Versailles became the site of German-French reconciliation. This is evidenced by the celebrations on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Elysee Treaty, which took place in 2003. Palace of Versailles
The following kings and members of their families were born in the Palace of Versailles: Philip V (King of Spain), Louis XV, Louis XVI,
Many palaces in Europe were built under the undoubted influence of Versailles. These include the castles of Sanssouci in Potsdam, Schönbrunn in Vienna, the Great Palaces in Peterhof, the Rapti Manor in Luga, Gatchina and Rundale (Latvia), as well as other palaces in Germany, Austria and Italy.
Busts and sculptures
Bust of Louis XIV by Gianlorenzo Bernini
Busts in the Hall of Mirrors
Buste de Louis XV, Jean-Baptiste II Lemoyne (1749), apartments of the Dauphine, Louis 15
Madame Clotilde
Buste de Charles X, 1825, Francois-Joseph Bosio
Marie Antoinette
Francois Paul Brueys
mirror gallery
Salle des croisades
Sleeping Ariadne
Escalier Gabriel
Petit_appartement_du_roi
lobby ceiling
Entrance from the lobby
Lobby
Salle des gardes de la reine
Salon Louis 14, medallion depicting a Roman legionnaire
Salon de Venus, Louis XIV en empereur romain, Jean Varin
Coat of arms of Louis Philippe
Paintings
Reception of the Persian ambassadors by Louis 14, COYPEL Antoine
Creator: Claude Guy Halle (Français, 1652-1736)
Louis 14, author unknown
Sun King, Jean-Léon Gérôme (Français, 1824-1904)
Ambassador ladder model
Staircase.of.ambassadors
lobby decor,
Mary Josephine of Saxony and the Count of Burgundy, Maurice Quentin de Latour (author)
La remise de l "Ordre du Saint-Esprit, Nicolas Lancret (1690-1743)
Apartment Louis 14
Dauphine Apartments
Allegories, ceiling painting,
The birth of the Duke of Burgundy at Versailles on 6 August 1682 by Antoine Dieu
Royal bedchamber in gold.
blue cabinet
Chambers in the Grand Trianon
Marie Antoinette
Bed Madame Pompadour
Napoleon's quarters
Palace decor
Angels, the ceiling of the reception room
mirror gallery
Coat of arms of Louis 14
Chandeliers and candelabra
Dining rooms and fireplaces
Porcelain
Josse-François-Joseph Leriche, Queen's toilet
Coyau