Attractions in France

France - a true sanctuary historical and cultural monuments of different epochs and civilizations. Here are preserved cave dwellings of the ancient Paleolithic people, roads, viaducts, triumphal arches and arenas (Nimes, Avignon, Arles and Orange), representing the Gallo-Roman architecture of the I century AD, numerous monuments of Romanesque architecture (monasteries of Cluny and Citeaux, the church in Mont Saint-Michel, etc.). Birthplace of Gothic style, which developed from the Romanesque, was the Ile-de-France. Gothic is represented by such famous buildings as the Chapel of Saint Chapelle and Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, the cathedrals at Chartres, Orleans, Le Mans, as well as in Strasbourg, etc. Came from the Italian Renaissance in the XVI century left behind such masterpieces of architecture, as numerous chateaux of the Loire, the palaces of Fontainebleau and Versailles.

Valley of the Kings

Colossi of Memnon for the road divides: left leads to the Valley of Queens, and right - in the Valley of the Kings. Over the Valley of the Kings of Thebes predominant peak, which is due to the characteristic silhouette resembling a pyramid, the locals call el-Qurna, which means "horn". In ancient times, this peak associated with the name of the goddess of snakes, Meret-Seger, which means "loving silence." Most likely, it is a form of mountains, and is associated with the pyramids of the Old Kingdom era, led the first pharaohs of the XVIII dynasty elect is a dry desert impressive place to build their abode of eternal rest.

Step Pyramid of Djoser

Step Pyramid of Djoser in the center of a huge rectangular area measuring 544 by 277 meters, surrounded by a partially destroyed wall of limestone. Part of the wall has been restored from numerous fragments found in the sand. The reconstruction shows that it was originally a height of about 10 m. Imhotep, architect and minister of Pharaoh Djoser - the first ruler of Dynasty III, built later in the rank of God, built the "mother of all pyramid schemes," and thus created the first monumental stone building in the world. At the base of the pyramid of Zoser is an irregular quadrilateral with sides 110 and 120 m, the height of 60 m. Originally it was a width of 63 m mastaba and a height of 8 m. Under the mastaba is a well depth of 28 m at the bottom of which was arranged a burial chamber, connected to the system tunnels with rooms for burial utensils (here, in particular, has been found many stone vessels and pots) and other passages and rooms, decorated with blue faience and intended to stay Ka (body) of the pharaoh. To the northeast is serdabe-small room inside the tomb, where there was sculpture of the deceased. Now it is the pride of the exposure of the Cairo museum. In Saqqara, is it an exact copy.

Lake Qarun

Originally it was a vast expanse of water, which gradually dried up in yet unspecified reasons (geological landslide, infiltration, evaporation strong because of global warming). At the time of the pharaohs in the lake water level has dropped so much that Amenemhet I (XII Dynasty) spent irrigation and drainage, as a result of which the water had risen to current levels.

The history of El-Fayoum (Ra-Uoit in Coptic means "lake, sea") is closely connected with the history of the lake. On the shores of the lake in great numbers were carried crocodiles. Residents of deities: a deity appeared in the form of a crocodile - Sebek. Later, the Greeks called Krokodilopolisom modern Medinet El-Fayoum. 

The Pyramid of Cheops

Inside the pyramid of Cheops no inscriptions or decorations. Yet her visit left a lasting impression. The existing entrance to the pyramid leads to a tunnel, performed by the robbers, which is located 17 meters from the ground. If you are prone to claustrophobia, better wait fellows from the outside you have to go on a very narrow passage. After the bifurcation of the same corridor leads to the first burial chamber - a large gallery, located at a depth of 30 m below ground. Another corridor, running horizontally, resulting in the second burial chamber, called Queen's Chamber. A large gallery height of more than 8 m in length and 47 m belongs to the true masterpieces of Egypt. Its walls are gradually converge upwards, with each row of blocks appear exactly over the lower 6 cm length of it seems endless, as its polished floor and walls reflect the light of electric lamps installed in recent years and covering the room. Due to this effect entry box completely lost sight of.