France’s Hidden Gems
When visiting France on SeaFrance Ferries Dover Calais , the obvious attractions are the Eiffel Tower, or perhaps a visit to the Loire Valley. However the country has many other attractions for the tourist.
If camping is your cup of tea, then there are a ton of day trips on offer. Paris itself, plays host to some of the most famous sights in the world, with most located on the surface, however its most macabre site is situated underneath the surface, well beneath the Parisian streets.
The Paris Catacombs is a cemetery that began operation during the 18th century as the city sought to come to terms with acute overcrowding of more traditional cemeteries. The Catacombs contain the remains of thousands of people and visiting them is an eerie and chilling experience.
Another hidden gem is the Oradour-sur-Glane , which is very moving for the visitor, because it was the location of one of the worst war crimes that took place during the Second World War. In the summer of 1940, a regiment of the SS entered the town and forced its entire population into the main square in retaliation for the stiff opposition that was posed by the French Resistance. All 640 residents, comprising men, women and children were massacred, with very few people managing to escape the terror. The town was then burnt to the ground and later rebuilt near the previous location, where it remains as a reminder of the terror of that night so many decades ago.
Another great destination is The Standing Stones of Carnac, which are thought to have been erected over 5000 years back. The collection of stones were carved from local rocks and are positioned in lines all around the town of Carnac. Like Stonehenge, the purpose of the rocks remains a mystery, though it is speculated that they have something to do with Druid ceremonies of a time long forgotten. The local legend suggests that they are a Roman soldier legion which was turned to stone by Saint Cornelius.
Another great destination for the tourist is the Machines of the Isle of Nantes, which is a collection of huge mechanical animals, which are housed in a abandoned shipyard warehouse. The collection includes a giant manta ray, a lantern fish and the main attraction is a 4 meter high elephant, on which visitors are invited to take a 50 minute ride round the town of Nante.
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