Wondering which will be the French people's favorite monument of 2025? The "Monument préféré des Français" competition is back, with 14 exceptional heritage sites up for grabs. Presented by Stéphane Bern on France 3, this not-to-be-missed event will reveal its winner during the European Heritage Days in September 2025.
Le Monument préféré des Français 2025 returns with 14 emblematic sites vying to succeed the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit, winner of the 2024 edition. Once again this year, the program presented by Stéphane Bern on France 3 invites us to discover the extraordinary wealth of France's heritage, from ancient monuments to contemporary creations.
The full list of the 14 competing monuments
For this tenth edition, each region of mainland France and its overseas territories is represented by a monument selected after an initial round of voting. The French were able to choose between two candidates per region, and here are the 14 finalists now vying for the coveted title:
- Basilique Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis) - Île-de-France: Necropolis of the Kings of France, with a project to rebuild the spire. This jewel of Gothic art, classified as a Historic Monument, houses the most important collection of funerary sculpture from the 12th to 16th centuries.
- Château de Chantilly (Oise) - Hauts-de-France: Built in 1332, this château houses a living museum of the horse and gardens designed by André Le Nôtre, Louis XIV's gardener. This property of the Institut de France is fascinating for its artistic and architectural wealth.
- Amphitheatre d'Arles (Bouches-du-Rhône) - Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur: The oldest monument in this selection. Built in 80 A.D., this Roman vestige has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1981, and bears witness to the grandeur of the Roman Empire in Gaul.
- Château de Chenonceau (Indre-et-Loire) - Centre-Val de Loire: Renaissance architecture inspired by Italy. This World Heritage-listed château on the Loire is a perfect illustration of the French art of living.
- Citadelle de Besançon (Doubs) - Burgundy-Franche-Comté: A stronghold designed by Vauban, listed as a World Heritage site in 2008 as part of the "Vauban fortifications".
- Remparts de Guérande (Loire-Atlantique) - Pays de la Loire: Built in the 14th century, these 1,300-metre ramparts are among the best-preserved medieval fortifications in France.
- Viaduc de Garabit (Cantal) - Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: A masterpiece by Gustave Eiffel, this railway bridge over the Truyère remains a symbol of 19th-century metal architecture.
- Cordouan lighthouse (Gironde) - Nouvelle-Aquitaine: Nicknamed the "king of lighthouses", this monument at the mouth of the Gironde has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2021.
- Pen Duick - Brittany: Éric Tabarly's iconic sailboat. This legendary boat embodies the excellence of French sailing and the adventurous spirit of the famous navigator.
- Château d'Haroué (Meurthe-et-Moselle) - Eastern France: This 18th-century "little Chambord of Lorraine" is still inhabited by the Beauvau-Craon family.
- Citadelle de Calvi or Bibliothèque Fesch - Corsica: Two emblematic sites of Corsican heritage went head-to-head in the regional vote.
- Monument normand - Normandy: Emblematic site of Normandy's regional heritage.
- Occitan site - Occitanie: Monument representative of the rich heritage of southern France.
- Jardin botanique de Valombreuse (Guadeloupe) - Overseas: Represents the diverse heritage of France's overseas territories.
A must-see heritage event
The final vote to elect the Monument préféré des Français 2025 took place from July 3 to 18, 2025 on france.tv and by telephone. The suspense remains intact until the winner is revealed during the special prime-time show scheduled for Wednesday September 17, 2025 at 9:10pm on France 3.
This program fits in perfectly with the 42nd European Heritage Days on September 20 and 21, 2025. It offers a wonderful showcase for the diversity of France's heritage, from ancient monuments to the most recent creations.
Since its creation in 2012, Stéphane Bern 's show has introduced the general public to hundreds of heritage sites, helping to promote and protect them. France's Favorite Monument continues to raise public awareness of the richness of their cultural heritage.
Every year, this friendly competition between regions reveals the French people's passion for their heritage, and their attachment to these witnesses to history that shape the identity of our territories.
