To see all year round in France: the 2,700 sites classified as national heritage

The heritage days organized each year in September make it possible to discover known or unknown places in France, most of which remain permanently accessible and benefit from special attention: these are the approximately 2,700 sites classified as national heritage. It regularly distinguishes new places that are exceptional in artistic, historical, scientific, legendary or picturesque terms.

Since the beginning of the year, 5 additional sites have been classified:

• the Lurs spur (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence)
• the landscapes of the Canal du Midi power system (Aude, Haute-Garonne, Tarn);
• the Battle of Gergovia, the oppida arvernes of Corent, Gergovia and Gondola, and the Caesar camps (Puy-de-Dôme, photo above);
• Fanac Island (Val-de-Marne)
• the Grand Site de France Bibractus-Morvan des sommets (Nièvre; Saône-et-Loire).

Today defined in the Environmental Code, the protection of natural sites and monuments dates back to the Law of 21 April 1906, supplemented by the Law of 2 May 1930. France has 2,700 classified sites, 4,500 registered sites, 21 labeled sites Grand Site de France, which attract some 40 million visitors each year.

Classified sites are sites whose exceptional character justifies protection at national level and whose development is the subject of particular vigilance. Among them, the label Grand site of France distinguishes those which attract a large number of visitors from the public, assuming conditions of preservation and enhancement commensurate with this interest.

Listed sites are subject to lighter monitoring, in the form of a pre-works notice.

Because of their outstanding universal value, 26 of these listed sites (the Chaîne des Puys, the Canal du Midi, the Pont du Gard, etc.) are on the list of World Heritage Sites, recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).