Page 56 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - France

Epic Public Spaces
The Centre Pompidou (p90)
inspired love and hate in equal
measure when it opened in
1977; today visitors mar vel at
its revolutionary design with
its exposed mechanical work­
ings. In Rennes, Christian de
Portzamparc also pushed the
boundaries of public architec­
ture with his futuristic Champs­
Libres cultural centre (www.
leschampslibres.fr).

The eye-catching Centre
Pompidou with its
“inside-out” design

FRANCE FOR
MODERN

ARCHITECTURE

In a country renowned for its châteaux and historic buildings, France is a
surprisingly heavy hitter when it comes to modern architecture. From Le
Corbusier to Jean Nouvel, luminaries have created extraordinary buildings
across France, delightfully redefining the very function of architecture.

Astounding Feats of
Engineering
The world’s tallest bridge at
343 m (1,125 ft), the ethereal
Millau Viaduct spans the
gorges du Tarn (p346) in
southern France, and has
won numerous accolades for
its innovative design. In the
French Alps you'll find the
Tignes Dam. Once the world's
largest dam, nowadays it’s
famous for its enormous
mural of Hercules.

The piercing spires of
southern France's
spec tacular Millau Viaduct

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