A Travel Guide to Ile-de-France
Many historical battles were fought in Ile-de-France. These battles allowed numerous monarchs to slowly and steadily extend their authority over various regions of France. Whenever possible, the monarchs escaped into the luxurious hunting lodges located in the bountiful forests of Ile-de-France. The landscapes in the region have inspired many famous artists. While the Epte River became the subject of Monet's art, the Barbizon village was captured by Corot in his paintings and many of Sisley's work were inspired by Villeneuve-la-Garenne.
It is believed that Paris inspires more than 5 million romantic moments in a day. The city has suffered a violent past including the French Revolution and the German occupation in the Second World War. Due to the beautiful lightings that illuminate the city in the night, Paris is also called the City of Lights. Most visitors have almost the same list of famous sites that they want to visit. Some of the most visited attractions are the Musee de Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame de Paris, Sacre-Coeur, Jardin du Luxembourg and Musee d'Orsay.
The Chateau de Versailles is located just 10 miles to the West of Paris. The attractions in Versailles are truly breathtaking. Chateau Versailles is both inspiring and ostentatious. It has been among the world heritage list of UNESCO for 30 years. It is regarded as the biggest achievement of France's 18th century Art. Initially the site was a hunting lodge for Louis XIII’s after which his son transformed it, and later on he moved the government and the court to Château de Versailles in 1682. All three of the French kings that lived there beautified the palace even more. In 1789 after the palace ceased to be the seat of power in France, it became a history Museum in France. Parc de Versailles, the ground that surrounds the palace is also an amazing place to spend time in.
The Chartres Cathedral was built in between the 12th and 13th century. It is one of the best examples of Gothic architecture in Europe. The Cathedral is exceptionally preserved and most of the stained glass windows are still intact. The Cathedral has been a busy tourist destination starting from the 12th century.
There is a wide variety of self catering holiday accommodation in Ile-de-France ranging from apartments to rent in Paris to gites and cottages in the countryside.
