Arènes de Nîmes• Best preserved Roman amphitheater in the world• Built around the year 70 A.D.• 1863: Remodeled and now serves as a bullring• Seats 16,300 people• In the mid-8th century a fortified palace was constructed

within the amphitheater • Later, a small neighborhood developed inside, with 100

denizens and 2 chapels• The band Metallica recorded one of their DVDs here• You can tour the arena and visit the gladiator’s quarters,

complete with weapons

Lascaux II

• Located in southern France, known for its complex of caves• Famous for its Paleolithic cave paintings• Original caves located near village of Montignac, in the department of Dorodogne• Paintings are estimated to be 17,300 years old• Paintings are of large animals, most of which have fossil evidence of living in the area• 1979: Added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites• September 12, 1940: Cave paintings discovered by 4 teenagers, chasing their dog

who went into the cave• 1948: Cave complex opened to the public• Rooms inside the cave complex: Hall of the Bulls, Passageway, Shaft, Nave, Apse,

Chamber of Felines• 1983: Lascaux II opened• Lascaux II: Replica of the two cave halls—Great Hall of Bulls and Painted Gallery• Cave contains nearly 2,000 figures, which can be grouped into 3 categories: animals,

human figures, abstract signs• The paintings contain no images of surrounding landscape or vegetation

Palais Garnier• Also known as the Opéra National de Paris• Has 1,979 seats• 1861: Architectural design competition held to select the architect• Built from 1861 to 1875, for use by the Paris Opera• Originally called the Salle des Capucines, because of its location on the

Boulevard des Capucines• Later named after its architect, Charles Garnier• Today, it is primarily used for ballet• Considered by many to be the most famous opera house in the world• While being constructed, a legend was begun that the opera house was

being built over a subterranean lake• This is the setting of Gaston Leroux’s novel The Phantom of the Opera• Most expensive building of the Second Empire• There is a 7-ton bronze and crystal chandelier, designed by Garnier, in the

auditorium• Also houses the Bibliothèque-Musée de l’Opéra de Paris

Château de Chinon

• Located on the bank of the Vienne River in Chinon, France

• When King Philip IV accused the Knights of the Templar of heresy, several leading members of the order were imprisoned here

• Charles VII: In the 16th century, it became a prison• 1840: Declared a monument historique by the French

Ministry of Culture• Early 21st century $14.5 million euros spent to restore

the château• 6 mars 1429: Jeanne d’Arc arrived. Claims to have

heard heavenly voices that said Charles would grant her an army to relieve the siege of Orléans

Place de la Concorde• Location: Paris, France• Largest and one of the main public squares in Paris• Located in the 8th arrondissement (east end of the

Champs-Élysées)• 1755: Designed by Ange-Jacques Gabriel as a most-

skirted octagon• There are a series of statues and fountains• During the French Revolution, a statue of Louis VX

was torn down, and the area renamed Place de la Révolution

• The Embassy of the United States is located in one of the corners of the Place

• Luxor Obelisk: Located at the centre of the Place– An Egyptian obelisk decorated with hieroglyphics– 1 of 2 Egyptian obelisks given to the French by the Egyptian

government– In the 1990s, President François Mitterand returned the

second obelisk to the Egyptians– The obelisk once marked the entrance to the Luxor Temple– Made of red granite– 75 feet tall, weighs over 250 metric tons– The original cap is missing, so the government of France

added a gold-leafed pyramid cap in 1998

• The two fountains located here symbolize the fountains in Paris

Pont du Gard

• An ancient Roman aqueduct bridge that crosses the Gardon River (southern France)

• Part of the Nîmes aqueduct, it is 31 miles long, and 160 feet high• Built by the Romans to carry water from a spring at Uzès to Nîmes• The aqueduct was built without using mortar• Built in the 1st century AD, this is the highest and best preserved

aqueduct• A team of 1,000 workers took years to build• 1985: Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site• Formerly carried about 44 million gallons of water each day to the

fountains, baths, and homes• Used until the aqueduct became clogged by mineral deposits and

debris, preventing water from flowing• Today, vehicular is not permitted, and there is a museum

Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve

• 1990: Names a UNESCO World Heritage Site• Has a unique geography, preserved mangrove

forests, wild bird and lemur populations• You can visit the Manambolo River Valley• There are seasonal and permanent rivers

throughout the reserve• Great for hiking, bird watching, and walking• Many limestone pinnacles can be seen

throughout

Montagne d’Ambre• Famous for its waterfalls, crater lakes, and

wildlife• Contains montane rainforests, mid-altitude

rainforests, and a dry deciduous forests• One of the most biologically diverse places in

Madagascar: 75 species of birds, 25 species of mammals, 59 species of reptiles

• You can camp or stay in a lodge in the park• A taxi ride from city of Diego will cost about

30,000 to 40,000 ariary

Andafiavaratra Palace

• Located on the highest hilltop in Antananarivo• Originally, served as the residence of the Prime Minister• Has been used for many different purposes—army

barracks, court, school of fine arts, presidential palace• 1976: original palace burnt down• Currently, serves as a museum• There are about 1,466 objects of historical importance in

the museum• Andafiavaratra literally means facing north• Each of the 4 corner towers include a bell tower

Rova of Antananarivo• Location: Madagascar• A royal palace complex that served as home of the

sovereigns of the Kingdom of Imerina• Manjakamiadana: the original palace, was built in two

stages. • 6 November 1995: a fire broke out, and destroyed or

severely damaged all of the buildings• Prior to the fire, it was about to be named a UNESCO

World Heritage Site• Reconstruction was estimated to cost about $20 million

Ambohimanga

• Refers to both a hill and a city• Located about 24km east of Antananarivo• Ambohimanga is a Malagasy word meaning one of three

things: “blue hill”, “sacred hill”, or beautiful/good hill”• Considered the most significant symbol of the cultural

identity of the people of Madagascar• A walled historic village, with residences and burial sites

of several key members of the royalty of the Merina people

• 1 of 12 sacred hills of Imerina• Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001