The French Favourite Monument competition is back in 2025. And to represent our beloved Île-de-France region, we can count on two exceptional monuments located in the Yvelines and Seine Saint-Denis respectively.
Which Île-de-France monuments will take part in the competition?
Every autumn, heritage enthusiasts return to the Monument préféré des Français (French Favourite Monuments) competition. Last year, it was the Le Mans 24-hour racetrack that took the honors, making it a very special winner. Today, a number of monuments are in the running to represent their regions, and it’s up to you to decide between them in a vote. You’ll have to choose between two buildings in the Paris region, and the winner will defend the region on the show in September.
Last year, the Château de Fontainebleau defended the colors of the Île-de-France region, but now two superb sites will be trying to take up the mantle in 2025. On one side is the Villa Savoye in Poissy, Yvelines. On the other, the cathedral basilica of Saint-Denis has also been 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, today it remains an essential masterpiece of twentieth-century architecture.
The cathedral basilica of Saint-Denis, at the gateway to Paris, is a major monument to Gothic art, 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.
It’s up to you to vote on the dedicated website!