A guide to off-the-beaten-path locations in France, beyond Paris. Step inside remarkable abandoned châteaus, explore the beach of Dunkirk or explore the rich industrial heritage.
When the northern French coal mines were nationalized after the Second World War under the Houillères du bassin du Nord et du Pas-de-Calais, rationality and efficiency were the order of the day, including in the mining towns.
The 43-metre-high headframe of the Saint-Amé mine reminds us of the turbulent coal history of the northern French municipality of Liévin, near Lens.
After the dismantling of fosse 9 in Roost-Warendin, only the 61-meter-high headframe remained.
At the end of the First World War, an observation tower was built on top of Tête de Raves in the French Vosges.
In 1926, the French Ministry of Defense unveiled plans to fortify the country's eastern borders against possible surprise attacks, such as during the Franco-Prussian War in 1870.
Anyone on their way to the top of the Colline Notre-Dame du Haut in Ronchamp, France, to visit le Corbusier's chapel will come across another concrete gem at the foot of the mountain, namely the headframe of the Puits Sainte-Marie coal mine.
The French Vosges is full of deserted ski slopes due to the lack of snow. Fifteen ski areas have been closed in recent years, yet they have left some traces.
Tête des Faux is a 1208-meter-high mountain in the French Vosges, and its large stature also explains the strategic role it played during the First World War.
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