The French Favourite Monument program is back in 2025. And to represent our beloved Île-de-France region, we can count on an exceptional monument respectively located in Seine Saint-Denis.
Which Île-de-France monument will take part in the competition?
Every autumn, heritage lovers return to the Monument préféré des Français (French Favourite Monument) competition. Last year, it was the Le Mans 24-hour race circuit that took the honours, making it a very special winner. Today, a number of monuments have entered the running to represent their regions, and it’s up to you to decide between them after a vote. You had to choose between two buildings in the Paris region, so that the winner could defend the region on the show in September.
While last year it was the Château de Fontainebleau that defended the colors of the Île-de-France region, in 2025, two superb sites tried to take up the torch. On one side, the Villa Savoye in Poissy, Yvelines. On the other, the cathedral basilica of Saint-Denis was also chosen.
Villa Savoye, built between 1928 and 1931 in Poissy by architect Le Corbusier, embodies the essence of the Modern Movement. Set on stilts in the middle of a vast plot of land, this white villa stands out for the purity of its lines and its roof terrace. Listed as a historic monument since 1965 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it remains an essential masterpiece of 20th-century architecture.
Saint-Denis Cathedral Basilica, at the gateway to Paris, is a major Gothic monument, built in the 12th century over the tomb of Saint Denis, the first bishop of Paris and a 3rd-century martyr. It became a cathedral in 1966, and remains a spiritual and cultural landmark, symbolizing national history and the birth of Gothic architecture.
In the end, however, it was the cathedral basilica of Saint-Denis that won the vote and will represent the Île-de-France region in the competition!