Necropolis of the kings of France from the Carolingians to the Bourbons, the Saint-Denis basilica is also the birthplace of Gothic architecture in France.
A must-see visit in the Parisian region, the Palace of Versailles with its famous Hall of Mirrors was an architectural model throughout Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries.
The castle of Maisons-Laffitte
On the edge of the Saint-Germain-en-Laye forest, about twenty kilometres from Paris, the Palace of Maisons-Laffitte is François Mansart's masterpiece. In a classical style, it inspired his grand-nephew, Jules Hardouin-Mansart for Versailles.
Get off the beaten track, come and visit this architect's house. Known in the world as a pioneer in Modern Architecture, Le Corbusier applied the 5 points of modern architecture to the Villa Savoye. Located to 30 km from Paris, this weekend house was built between 1928 and 1931 for a Parisian couple.