France

The Destruction of the Bastille, Étienne-Louis-Denis Cathala, 1789

Drawing of the Bastille Cherished by George Washington Goes to Auction

The artwork was a gift from the Marquis de Lafayette, who also included the fortress' key

“Paris must not fall into the hands of the enemy,” Adolf Hitler told his top general in Paris, “or if it does, he must find there nothing but a field of ruins.”

During World War II, the Liberation of Paris Saved the French Capital From Destruction

Adolf Hitler wanted Paris razed. Dwight D. Eisenhower wanted his troops to stay out of the city. In August 1944, an uprising by French resistance fighters forced the Allies to intervene

A police officer poses with the fake Leonardo da Vinci portrait.

Art Dealer Arrested for Trying to Sell a Fake Leonardo da Vinci for $1.4 Million

French customs officers seized the imitation when they discovered the man’s export license had expired

American sprinter Noah Lyles rang the Paris 2024 bell after winning the men's 100-meter final.

These Olympic Gold Medalists Get to Ring a Bell Bound for Notre-Dame

The bell was built for the Games, but it will soon get a second life in one of Paris' most beloved landmarks

Athletes sit in front of a cabin in the Olympic Village at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, France

How the Olympic Village Evolved From Makeshift Cabins to a City Within a City

The athletes' accommodations have come a long way in the last 100 years, expanding into modern global hubs

After delays and months of uncertainty, triathletes finally took the plunge into the Seine River in Paris.

Olympians Finally Got to Swim in the Seine River

After months of uncertainty, the women's and men's triathlon events kicked off with a dip in the long-polluted waterway that runs through the heart of Paris

Six of the 12 islands, including Hiva Oa, are permanently inhabited.

These Remote Volcanic Islands in the South Pacific Just Became a UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Marquesas, located some 3,000 miles from their nearest continental neighbor, are some of the most isolated islands on the planet

Performance artist Abraham Poincheval stands inside a giant glass bottle on the Canal Saint-Denis.

French Performance Artist Seals Himself in a Giant Bottle for Ten Days Outside Paris' Olympic Stadium

Abraham Poincheval has become a living message in a bottle, exploring themes of privacy and public space

A 2022 view of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France

Why the Eiffel Tower Has So Many Copycats

Replicas have popped up around the globe for decades, showcasing the design power and cultural significance of the world-famous French landmark

Athletes like Canada's Sanoa Dempfle-Olin traveled to Tahiti for this year's Olympics.

Why Are the Olympic Surfing Events Being Held in Tahiti?

The tiny village of Teahupo’o, known for its monstrous, barrel-shaped waves, will host 48 athletes from 21 countries during the Summer Games

Crews even used purple glue while adhering the vulcanized rubber track to its asphalt base.

Why Is the Paris Olympics Running Track Purple?

The track incorporates recycled mussel and clam shells in a bid to help make the Summer Games the most sustainable yet

Formerly a royal residence, the Louvre Palace is now home to one of the world’s most famous museums.  

See 15 Picturesque Views of Paris

France’s charming capital city welcomes the 2024 Summer Olympic Games

Excavations underway in the Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano in Rome

Ruins of Centuries-Old Palace That Housed Dozens of Popes Discovered in Rome

Before the papacy relocated in the 1300s, first to Avignon and then to the Vatican, pontiffs lived at the Lateran Palace

A little over a century ago, a limestone cave system north of Kuala Lumpur was reborn as a holy Hindu shrine, called Batu Caves.

From Cisterns to Temples, These Twelve Underground Worlds Are Open for Exploring

Some of these age-old subterranean spaces have even been transformed into amusement parks, art galleries and restaurants

The torch from the 2024 Summer Games in Paris was sold along with a torchbearer's uniform.

2024 Olympics Torch and Torchbearer's Uniform Sell at Auction

The sale's big-ticket item, a torch from the 1960 Winter Games, did not end up selling

The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, took a brief swim in the Seine River wearing a wetsuit and goggles on July 17.

Paris Mayor Takes a Dip in the Seine Ahead of the Summer Olympics

The city spent $1.5 billion to improve water quality in the river, where several Olympic events are scheduled to take place

The baba au rhum is forgiving and achievable for the average home cook.

The Boozy History of Baba au Rhum

The French are known for their pastries, but few desserts garner as much attention as this dried-out cake resuscitated with rum

A plastic tarp covering part of the cathedral's spire caught fire on July 11.

Fire Extinguished at Rouen Cathedral, a Frequent Subject of Monet's Paintings

The 12th-century structure and the artworks inside it sustained no significant damage

Museum officials hope to pass along cheesemaking traditions to younger generations.

You Can Now Visit France's First-Ever Cheese Museum

The Musée du Fromage in Paris hosts tastings and teaches visitors about traditional cheesemaking practices

The blade, known as Durandal, was embedded in rock more than 30 feet above the ground.

Fabled Sword From Medieval French Folklore Disappears

Known as the "French Excalibur," the blade is said to have hung from a rock face in the village of Rocamadour for 1,300 years

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