Stade de France

This towering bastion of steel and concrete stands proud in the Saint-Denis Plain; the Stade de France is an architectural masterpiece.

The four architects who designed it, Macary, Zubléna, Regembal and Costantini, took their inspiration from Antiquity, using the most successful of stadiums as a model: the Colosseum in Rome. The size, accessiblity and easy circulation of spectators thanks to galleries and a play of staircases, its adaptability to many different kinds of events: all these features come from its ancient Roman counterpart.

Built in 1998 for the World Cup, this stadium was the battleground upon which the French football rose to the top, triggering a wave of national fervour that hadn't been seen in decades.

It has since seen a number of international sporting events, including the 2007 Rugby World Cup, and of course a series of hit concerts by top performers including the Rolling Stones, Madonna, Johnny Halliday and Mylène Farmer.