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France

Dark sights in France

  1. A

    Cathédrale de Monaco

    Visitors flood to this Romanesque-Byzantine Cathédrale de Monaco, built in 1875, to view the flower-covered graves of fairy-tale couple, Princess Grace (1929-82) and Prince Rainier III.

    September to June, Sunday Mass is sung by Les Petits Chanteurs de Monaco, Monaco's boys' choir, although tours in July and August can take the choir out of town. Organ recitals are at held on alternate Saturdays, July to September.

    reviewed

  2. B
  3. Hortillonages (Floating Gardens)

    These market gardens which span a 330-hectare area, have supplied the city with vegetables and flowers since the middle ages. Take a one-hour cruise in a 12-person gondola-like boat from the riverside kiosk and feast your eyes on the flowers and lush vegetable gardens that float throughout the waterway.

    reviewed

  4. C

    Crypt of St-Martial

    All that remains of the great pilgrimage abbey of St-Martial, founded in AD 848, is an outline on place de la République. The Crypt of St-Martial, from the 9th-century, contains the tomb of Limoges' first bishop, who converted the population to Christianity.

    reviewed

  5. D

    Campo Santo

    Immediately south of the cathedral (leave by a small door in the south aisle) is the early-14th-century Campo Santo, France's largest and oldest cloister-cemetery, lined with white-marble Gothic niches.

    reviewed

  6. E

    Garibaldi's Grave

    The cemetery containing Garibaldi's grave covers the northwestern section of Parc du Château.

    reviewed

  7. F

    Jardin des Enfeus

    Jardin des Enfeus, situated behind Cathédrale St-Sacerdos, is Sarlat's first cemetery.

    reviewed

  8. G

    Île du Grand Bé

    At low tide, cross the beach to walk out via the Porte des Bés to this rocky islet, where the great St-Malo-born 18th-century writer Chateaubriand is buried. Once the tide rushes in, the causeway remains impassable for about six hours - check tide times with the tourist office. Depths can be deceptive; if you get caught out, stay on the islet until the tide subsides.

    reviewed

  9. H

    Fort National

    Fort National is the remains of the former prison. The ramparts' northern stretch looks out across to the remains, which are are only accessible at low tide.

    reviewed