Top 5 must-visit churches in France

Exploring the rich cultural heritage of France is a must when traveling there. Among them, French churches are a combination of architectural art and religious beliefs, and they are worth visiting. Whether it is the giant Gothic cathedrals or the exquisite Romanesque churches, they can be found everywhere in France. This article will introduce the top 5 must-visit French churches, allowing you to appreciate the profound religious heritage and outstanding architectural styles.

Reims Cathedral of Our Lady

In the city of Reims, France, there is a historic and significant cathedral. Although not as famous as Notre Dame in Paris, the Cathedral of Reims holds a significant place in French history. It is said that the first king of France, Clovis, was baptized here, and his decision ultimately led to the capital of France being established in Paris. From Henry I in 1027 to Charles X in 1825, the Cathedral was a coronation site for kings, adding to the history and grandeur of the Cathedral. With its exquisite and elaborate architectural style and 2303 sculptures, the Cathedral of Reims is at the peak of French architectural art.

The Cathedral of St. Catherine

The Cathedral of Chartres is one of France's famous religious pilgrimage sites. According to legend, the Virgin Mary appeared here, and the church houses the holy relic of her robe. Although the front facade of the church is not particularly outstanding, it has stood strong for thousands of years, showcasing a grand and sacred space. Here, you can not only admire the advanced architectural craftsmanship and feel the historical depth of these remarkable churches, but also explore the mysterious legends of Mary's robe and experience the spiritual charm of the cathedral.

Amiens Cathedral

In a small city in France, there is a grand cathedral known as the "Cathedrale de Saint-Denis", which is considered a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. It is one of the largest churches in France and is known for its magnificent and impressive design. In fact, it is even larger and more impressive than the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and is one of the earliest examples of Gothic architecture in the world. The cathedral, overseen by its visionary, Saint Denis, is said to be a story that educates faith. Unfortunately, the two towers differ in appearance due to differences in construction time, which some interpret as "asymmetrical beauty", but which may be difficult for ordinary people to understand.

Rouen Notre-Dame Cathedral

Located in Rouen, France, this church is a stunning building with a spire reaching 150 meters high, making it one of the tallest churches in France. Its facade is also one of the largest in the country, truly impressive. Monet once came here to create his famous artwork, using the technique of controlling light to practice painting. However, unfortunately, his subject was the "Rouen Cathedral" while this is the "Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc Church", they are different.

The Notre-Dame de Paris

This world-renowned Gothic cathedral is remarkable not only for its carved fancy facade, but also for the historical events it has witnessed. The construction of the cathedral dates back centuries and is considered one of the outstanding representatives of Gothic architecture, standing in the center of this city. Two centuries later, a great writer took it as the inspiration for one of his famous works. Another of the greatest figures in history also spent his most glorious moments here. The cathedral seems to carry the marks of time, freezing the images of history and allowing us to meet those great souls under the same sky.

We arrived in Paris on the 13th and stayed for 6 days, then drove to Fontainebleau, Lyon, Nice, Monaco, Genoa, Florence, and arrived in Rome yesterday. We were on edge the whole way... First of all, the temperature here is not hot. The wind is quite cold. We have to wear down jackets and woolen hats to keep warm. It is not recommended to drive in the city of Paris. It is difficult to find parking spaces on the road surface. The entrances and exits of underground parking lots are too narrow and difficult to find. Navigation mainly relies on the map built into the Apple phone, which is actually a collaboration with Tom Tom and is very accurate. The maps we downloaded at home are not very reliable, including Google Maps. We were misled several times, even guided to a snow-covered mountain road at night. Maybe it's because we didn't enter the address accurately. Remember to enter the postal code of the region. Google Play needs to be installed to have offline maps, so you must have wireless WiFi. The high-speed rail here is very fast. France is 130 and Italy is 110. I think this is the lowest speed. There will always be cars following me to drive. After all, the car company gave me a top-of-the-line Mercedes-Benz E200 station wagon, black German license plate, which is too eye-catching. This caused me to park in the underground garage and dare not park on the road, for fear that my car windows would be broken and my bag would be stolen. All overtaking must be done from the left side, and then the left lane must be given up. It is forbidden to occupy the left lane for a long time. Right-hand overtaking is strictly prohibited, which is very dangerous! Highways need to prepare some 50, 20, 10, 5, 2, 1, and 0.5 euro banknotes and coins in advance. Do not enter the electronic payment channel by mistake. France and Italy have many dark tunnels that are relatively narrow. Overtaking and turning do not slow down. It feels like you're driving a race car, so small cars are popular here. Their control performance is good. Remember not to rent big cars! My Mercedes-Benz is too long, and the city control is really a bit difficult. Those streets, tunnels, and parking lot passages are really narrow! Bring fewer luggage when you go out ? France Q&A

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