Secret Places in France You Might Not Know About

19.  Ferdinand Cheval’s Ideal Palace, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Postman Ferdinand Cheval built this pretty palace. It often confounds art lovers. One travel writer called it a “masterpiece of naïve art, [that is]…unique and distinct from any [other] art movement.” Cheval had envisioned his palace in a vivid dream and came upon a striking stone while making his mail run in 1879. No further inspiration as necessary. It took 33 years to make his artistic architectural dream come true.

20.  The Roman Theatre of Orange, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur

This Roman amphitheater was built during the first century AD under the reign of Augustus. It is said to be “the best-preserved” on the European continent and has been praised throughout history. Louis XIV declared the stage wall to be “the most beautiful wall in my kingdom.”  

It is 103 meters long and 37 meters high and seats 9000 people. Oddly, it was not until the 1800s that, following an intermission of 1,500 years, that dramatic performances resumed. It was then that the world-famous Chorégies d’Orange, now one of the most prestigious and oldest opera festivals on the planet was launched.

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