Online dictionary of France travel and tourism: southern france

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Maison Carree

French words: Maison Carrée
alternative words: Square house
keywords: church , roman remains , southern france , tourist resort
related topics: Nimes , Madeleine church
related web sites: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maison_Carree , http://www.insecula.com/oeuvre/O0000781.html
explanation: Built at the forum of Nimes around 19 B.C. by a Roman general, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, for the memory of his 2 sons, died very young, Maison Carree is one of the Roman monuments best preserved until now. Raised on a podium of 3m high, Maison Carree was a classic Augustan temple with 26m long by 15m wide, but transformed to a Christian church in 4th century. Hubert Robert drew a mythical ambience of this temple in his painting of 1787. Madeleine church in Paris has been inspired by Maison Carree.

Marseille

French words: Marseille
keywords: sea , southern france , tourist resort , town
related web sites: http://www.mairie-marseille.fr , http://www.marseille-tourisme.com , http://www.marseille-provence.net
explanation: Located in southern France on the Mediterranean coast, Marseille is the 2nd largest town of France and the largest Mediterranean harbor. It was founded by Phocaean Greeks in 600 B.C and called Massalia. Marseille was attached to France by the annexation of Provence dukedom in 1481. Its growth as industrialized city began with a colonization of North Africa during the modern period. It owns a football club Olympics of Marseille. It is also the capital of Bouches-du-Rhone prefecture and the population 772000.

Monaco

French words: Monaco , Principauté de Monaco
alternative words: Principality of Monaco
keywords: french riviera , sea , southern france , tourist resort , town
related web sites: http://www.monte-carlo.mc , http://www.visitmonaco.com
explanation: Located in south-east of France on the Mediterranean coast near Italian border, Monaco is the second smallest country in the world. It was founded in 1215 as a Genoa's colony and Grimaldi house has controlled Monaco since 1297. Rainier III married a Hollywood star Grace Kelly in 1956. Having no income tax, Monaco organizes many activities to attract tourists such as, Grand Prix de Monaco, Rally Monte Carlo, Football (As Monaco), Casino, Opera etc. The current sovereign is Albert II and the population 32500.

Montpellier

French words: Montpellier
keywords: southern france , tourist resort , town
related web sites: http://www.ville-montpellier.fr , http://www.ot-montpellier.fr , http://www.montpellier-histoire.com
explanation: Located in southern France near the Mediterranean cost, Montpellier is a rare French southern town which should have no Roman background. It was founded in 10th century by a local warlord but quickly developed thanks to trades with Mediterranean regions. In 1180, the first medical school in France opened. In 1349, Montpellier passed from Aragon kingdom to France. Owning many chemical and food industries such as winery, Montpellier is the capital of Languedoc-Roussillon region and the population 236000.

Nice

French words: Nice
alternative words: Nizza
keywords: french riviera , sea , southern france , tourist resort , town
related topics: Marseille
related web sites: http://www.nice.fr , http://www.nicetourism.com
explanation: Located in south-east of France on the Mediterranean coast near Italian border, Nice was founded by Greeks from Marseille in 5th BC. During the medieval period, Nice had been a part of Holy Roman Empire. Nice was ceded to France from Sardinia kingdom by the unification process of Italy in 1860. Now, Nice is a well known international resort town for its carnival, casinos and beautiful beach, "Promenade des Anglais". Nice is also the capital of Alpes-Maritimes prefecture and the population is 330500.

Nimes

French words: Nîmes
keywords: roman remains , southern france , tourist resort , town
related topics: Gard bridge , Nimes amphitheater , Maison Carree , TGV
related web sites: http://www.nimes.fr , http://www.ot-nimes.fr
explanation: Nimes had been an important Roman city in southern France on the route linking Italy and Spain, as many vestiges witness it, such as amphitheater and Gard bridge. It was called 'Colonia Nemausus' (Colony from the Nile) because Roman legionary veterans from Egypt settled there. For a short time, Nimes had been occupied by Saracens but liberated by Pippin III in 754. Being a center of wine production, Nimes is the capital of Gard prefecture and the population 133000. Nimes is now from Paris in 3 hours by TGV.

Nimes amphitheater

French words: Arènes de Nîmes , Amphithéâtre de Nîmes
alternative words: Nimes arena
keywords: roman remains , southern france , theater , tourist resort
related topics: Nimes
related web sites: http://www.ot-nimes.fr , http://www.idaeus.com/arene_nimes/ , http://www.nimes.fr , http://nemausensis.ifrance.com/NEMAUSENSIS/Nimes/AccueilNimes.htm
explanation: Built around 1st century A.D. the arena of Nimes is one of the best preserved ones among more than 70 Roman amphitheaters known nowadays. Surrounded by 2 level of 60 arches each, it has an oval structure of 133m length, 101m width and 21m height, and could contain 20,000 spectators. In 476, Visigoths transformed it to a fortress. During Middle Ages, the arena was squatted by several hundreds of people but cleaned up by Napoleon. Now it is served to organize music concerts and bull fighting (tauromachie).

Orange antique theater

French words: Théâtre antique d'Orange , Théâtre Romain d'Orange
alternative words: Orange Roman theater, Orange theater, Orange amphitheater
keywords: human heritage , roman remains , southern france , theater , tourist resort
related web sites: http://www.ville-orange.fr , http://www.villa-kerylos.com/orange
explanation: Built in the 1st century under Emperor Augusta's reign, the theater of Orange with 9000 seats is one of the best preserved among Roman remains. It was closed in 391 after a christianization of the Roman empire, then vandalized with an invasion of barbarians. During the middle ages, the theater had been squatted by poor people until 1825 when Prosper Mérimée, responsible of historic monuments, restored it. It has belonged to Unesco's human heritage since 1981 and many outdoor entertainment takes place.

Pope palace

French words: Palais des papes , Palais des papes d'Avignon
alternative words: Palace of the popes, Palais des papes
keywords: castle , human heritage , southern france , tourist resort
related topics: Avignon
related web sites: http://www.palais-des-papes.com , http://www.avignon.fr/fr/culture/musees/palais.php
explanation: In order to avoid the conflict with Italians, Pope Clement V moved the pontificated to Avignon in 1309. The next pope, John XXII transformed his Episcopal residence to the pontifical. The 3rd pope, Benedict XII began to build an imposing castle (old palace) as he had been a Cistercian monk. Considering this site as definitive, the next pope, Clement VI enlarge it by adding an elegant edifice (new palace). The last pope, Gregory XI returned back to Rome in 1377 but Avignon elected an own pope (great Schism).

Saint Tropez

French words: Saint Tropez
keywords: french riviera , sea , southern france , tourist resort , town
related topics: Nice
related web sites: http://www.ot-saint-tropez.com , http://www.provenceweb.fr/f/var/sttropez/sttropez.htm
explanation: Situated in southeastern France between Toulon and Nice on the Mediterranean coast, Saint Tropez had been unknown for most of the tourists because of its location, somewhat distant from the main road. It has begun to attract international stars from 1920's but Saint Tropez has got a real renown when many celebrities such as Picasso and Brigit Bardot built their cottage in 1950's. During the summer season, the harbor is full of luxurious yachts while the best beach is stretching on the "Baie de Pampelonne".

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