Impressions on the river.

For the first time the Maritime, River and Port Museum in Rouen will organise an exhibition on the theme of pleasure boating on the Seine in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. This exhibition ties in with in the Normandy Impressionist festival, and will be complemented by a remarkable collection of pleasure craft, never before exhibited in public. This exhibition will be accompanied by a gathering of boats on the Seine.

Enchanted countryside.

This exhibition entitled "The Meanders of the Seine" covers the countryside nestled in the looping meanders of the River Seine. Between Rouen and Le Havre, these loops ("boucles" in French) gave their name to a regional park which aims to preserve the delicate balance between a fragile environment and human activities. Each loop has its own particular topographical, ecological and cultural qualities but the river is a geographic structure and part of the collective imagination.
Maxence Rifflet has put together this photographic portrait, freely documenting this special area. The monuments - natural or built - will be recognised by those who know the area. Two abbeys, a vast forest, monks, a beekeeper, quarries, an ex-voto, forestry workers, interlacing charms, a little girl near a pond, fish flitting through the waters… discover this enchanted countryside of a slowly meandering river.

The young Flaubert.

Gustave Flaubert was born in 1821 in the Hôtel-Dieu in Rouen. His father was a surgeon in the hospital there and it was in Rouen that he was to live his early life. The Hôtel-Dieu has now become the Museum of Flaubert and the History of Medecine, and the institution invites the public to discover the youth of Gustave Flaubert. This temporary exhibition will take place in the room in which the writer was born. It will feature works little-known by the general public, depicting the writer and his family, and will plunge you into the literary world of the young Flaubert.

Portait of a rich era.

In the 18th century the Ottoman Empire and Western Europe were booming, and cultural exchanges between the two regions were numerous. The exhibition The Magic of the Bosphorus, or the Dream of the Orient in the 18th century reveals the many different sides of these empires through the medium of painting.

Night lights.

After the stunning success of the previous show, entitled Cathedral: from Monet to Pixels, Rouen has once again commissioned the Skertzo company to put together a magical show.

Their latest production, entitled Impressionist Nights will once again take the city's architectural heritage and show it in a completely new light. There will be a projection on the façade of the Museum of Fine Arts, which itself has an Impressionist exhibition on at the same time. Note that there will not be an installation in front of the cathedral this year. This is something to light up your nights in Rouen!

Celebrate the time of Impressionists

During the regional event “Normandie Impressionniste” (The Impressionists in Normandy), Serge Hureau and Olivier Hussenet invite you to come dance at Hangar 23 for the great Impressionist ball.
This party gathers all generations from the youngest to the oldest. The spirit of impressionist artists is transposed with the help of new technologies.
Dressed in white, the dancers can shake it with the Camargo company.
Let the party begin!

Impressionist themes in video art.

Landscapes, intimate scenes, perception, the city ... These themes so dear to the impressionists are taken up by young artists who exhibit their work at the department civic building in Rouen. Their main aim? To express themselves differently from their predecessors while keeping this link to Impressionism. Their weapons? Light, colour, and ephemeral qualities. These 20 video artists from all over the world also aim to show that the artists of the 19th century were surprisingly modern.

Heritage in the spotlight.

The Musicales de Normandie is a festival that aims to put Normandy's architectural heritage in the limelight by organising a series of classical and traditional concerts, in cultural venues such as Rouen Cathedral, Jumièges Abbey, Parc du Bois des Moutiers, Château d’Etelan, Manoir de Villers, Abbatiale Saint-Ouen, Evreux Cathedral, Château de Gaillon, etc.
Every week, music in a variety of styles will be filling the soundwaves thanks to a great team effort by local businesses and municipal workers.

Something for everyone.

This fair has been drawing crowds for 45 years. Here, you can find a bit of everything at all kinds of prices: shoes, clothes, plates... A piece of advice before coming, wear a pair of trainers because the fair is so big that two days might not be enough to discover it all.

Eure at the time of impressionism

A member of Belgium's Royal Academy since 2008, Georges Rousse exhibits 250 photographs of the Eure to Vernon this summer. You may ask why? The act of picturing that he manages to reproduce with photography. Painter, sculpture and architect, Rousse seeks to discover every detail about this profession in order to capture this particular act of picturing. In Vernon, it is impressionism and creation of modern painting that are once more put to the fore. But this time, with the precise aim of finding a new image to the department. Acts of picturing are for example expected to take place with school children from Vernon. A way for Georges Rousse to pass on his art to an area he is particularly fond of.

Views of Rouen.

Not everything has been said about impressionism and there remains a major historical subject to be explored: that of the role played by the city of Rouen in the development of this artistic revolution.
The Impressionist Normandy festival which will go on all over the region has prompted this major exhibition which ambitiously tackles the subject of Impressionism in Rouen, focusing in particular on the work of Monet, Pissarro and Gauguin.
Monet was to act as the trigger for this movement in Rouen: he was active there from 1872 and his work culminated in his Cathedrals of twenty years later. You might be less familiar with the paintings executed by Gauguin during his stay in 1884. As for Pissarro, his series of views of the quays and bridges of Rouen, are true masterpieces of the urban landscape genre.
The works of these great masters of painting will be set in the context of the many other painters who worked in Rouen at this time, from Corot to Marquet, via Jongkind, Boudin, Guillaumin and artists of the School of Rouen.

Impressionism on pottery.

Discover around a hundred pieces at this exhibition entitled Impressionist Ceramics, which explores the idea of expressionism within the artistic field of pottery and ceramics.
Between 1872 and 1881 the Parisian experimental ceramics manufacturer, Haviland de Limoges, run by Félix Bracquemond, produced slip eathernware pottery which was then decorated by painters from the impressionist circles.
With the help of coloured slip, or liquid clay, applied with a brush, the artists could work as if on canvas: with impasto, depicting fleeting moments and brilliant landscapes.

Words and speech bubbles.

This festival brings together the biggest regional second-hand books market and comics fair with 80 comics writers and fifteen publishers.
Lovers of Literature and Comics will united in being able to unearth rarities or the latest in comics.

Dieppe from all angles.

Since the 1820s, Dieppe has been a popular and well-known seaside resort. Over the years, many painters have paid a visit to this town, attracted by the sparkling luminous quality of its light. They have painted the cliffs, the port, the town and so on. The Château-Musée invites you to discover works by Eugène Boudin, Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro and Claude Monet, which depict the Dieppe area.
This exhibition ties in with the Impressionist Normandy festival.

Keep your head in the clouds.

The first ever kiting meet in Dieppe took place in September 1980, with about a half a dozen countries represented by a group of strange men who liked to play with hankerchiefs and string... Now three decades later this number has been multiplied by five and the number of spectators went from an approximate zero to almost half a million.

Over 30 national teams will be putting on a one-of-a-kind show for the 450 000 expected visitors at this Festival International des Cerfs-volants. Expect music and dance, some spectacular aerial performances with flashy ultramodern kites soaring expertly among the clouds, and also some mindblowing shows with GIANT KITES.

It is said that kites were first used by navigators, and it was often thought that kites appeared in China 2 000 years ago. However recent research suggests that Indonesian navigators, keen observers of wind patterns, had flown the first kites over 3 500 years before our time.

Academians of the 18th century were quick to transform the kite into a scientific research tool - the salient example being Benjamin Franklin's silken kite which, carrying a key into a thunderstorm, demonstrated his theory that lightning was in fact electrical power.

The development of the aeroplane nullified the scientific potential of the kite but marked the beginning of kiting as a leisure activity.

One of the most notable aspects of this kiting festival is the fact that it is an international event. Every two years, 8 hectares of space between the city and the seafront are dedicated to kite-flyers from around the planet and numerous visiting spectators. This ideal natural setting is the perfect stage for such an event.

This exciting festival gathers the best teams and "pilots" in every field of kiting, the most talented kite-designers, but also the more traditional kite-flyers who never fail to make an appearance.

The international kiting festival is completely free of charge and allows visitors to learn about kite construction thanks to workshops, and about kite-flying techniques with the help of professionals. Certain activities are specifically tailored to children, school outings, and disabled persons.

Dieppe's International Kiting Festival is the largest and most impressive kiting festival in the world, and it would be madness to miss out on all the fun!

An exceptional collection of drawings.

In 2004 Hélène Senn-Foulds donated a collection which belonged to her grandfather, Olivier Senn, to the Malraux Museum. This passionate collector with refined and sensitive tastes amassed a noteworthy collection of the art of his time.
Among the 205 or so works by artists such as Courbet, Delacroix, Corot, Pissarro, Renoir, Monet, Sisley, Sérusier, Vallotton, Bonnard, Marquet, Matisse and Derain, the collection also includes an exceptional selection of drawings and pastels by Degas, many of which have never before been exhibited in public.

Most of these works were executed in the artist's youth: preparatory drawings for major works. This is a collection which bears witness to the original and refined taste of this collector who did not just buy at random but sought out a coherent collection of works which appealed to him, in which a love of line comes through as the dominant theme.
In this exhibition organised by the Malraux Museum these 47 works will be accompanied by others belonging to the Musée d'Orsay in Paris.

300 hours of film on impressionism

French cinema can be proud of itself. Thanks to the genius of Charles Pathé and Léon Gaumont, a lot of film fiction and documentaries on impressionism saw the light of day. And the festival "Normandy Impressionism" is the ideal opportunity to share them with film enthusiasts. Some 14 000 hours of film have been edited into film themes enabling us to discover Normandy in an era when painters were inspired by it.

Summer of impressionism in Normandy.

The birthplace of impressionism, Normandy is closely linked with this artistic movement. This new festival Impressionist Normandy will run from June to September 2010.
Exhibitions, sound and light shows, recitals, concerts, conferences, dances and picnics will enliven many towns and rural areas in the region.
As part of this festival there will be a major exhibition A Town for Impressionism: Monet, Gauguin and Pissarro in Rouen at the Museum of Fine Arts in Rouen. You will also have the opportunity to discover the lesser known aspects of this artistic movement, with a print exhibition at the Fine Art Museum in Caen and ceramics of this period on display at the Ceramic Museum in Rouen.
Now you just need to decide what to see first!

Lunching in the garden, impressionist style.

This exhibition of contemporary photographs focuses on the theme of the garden, with a special tribute to the theme of the déjeuner sur l'herbe ("lunch on the grass"), from Manet's famous painting of this name up until the Grande Jatte by Seurat, covering many impressionist renditions of leisure and picnics in the garden in between, including Monet's famous lily pond garden in Giverny.
Some video footage will also accompany the works in this exhibition.

A great treasure hunt with a real treasure to be won…

Tying in with the Impressionist Normandy Festival which is going on all around Normandy, this sixth Great Treasure Hunt will take on an impressionist colour scheme. The ultimate prize is to be a pendant jewel (worth 2,500 euros) designed by artisan jeweller Claire Cachelou, and which was inspired by Manet's early impressionist painting Le Déjeuner sur l’Herbe.

Here's one I made earlier…

Whether you are a newcomer seeking fresh ideas, an experienced artist wanting to perfect your craft, or a professional hunting out the latest trends and materials, the Salon Créativa is the place for you. The real selling point of the fair is its focus on workshops. Professionals will be there to demonstrate the latest techniques and products, answer questions and give tips and advice.

Four permanent workshops run throughout the week where you can try out one of the 70 crafts on offer, from dressmaking to patchwork or mosaics.

The fair brings together 160 exhibitors in a 8 000 m² exhibition space - you will find specialists in sewing, handicrafts, fine-arts, floral decoration, children's activities, etc.

Experience the satisfaction of having something crafted from your own two hands.

Rouen's conservatoire develops impressionist cycle.

In parallel with the "impressionist Normandy" festival, Rouen's conservatoire tunes with summer. Works from the late 19th and early 20th Century will be played by Rouen's orchestra as well as Hamburg's, Rouen’s twin city. Chamber music and choirs will be presented to audiences. Also on the program, are illustrated conferences or cultural musical lessons on the theme of impressionism.

A photographic trip down memory lane.

The Evreux museum invites you to discover, under the umbrella of the Impressionist Normandy festival, this exhibition entitled A photographic campaign in the Eure at the time of Impressionism.
The works exhibited are photographs which were taken by an Evreux resident, Bertrand, who in took these pictures in 1860 at the request of the General Council of the Eure. Contemporary photographs will be displayed alongside those taken by Bertrand.

Paintings and pictures.

The omnipresence of light is the most important part of the heritage: the thin "estuary light" stands out in pictures, and reveals the painters’ temperament. New subject matter, irony and misquoting are equally intrinsic to the work.

Through the variety and quality of paintings on display, this exhibition seeks to show the vitality of Normand artists.

An exceptional crossing.

Since 2009 the Tourist Office in Le Havre has continued with its annual project to transform the promenade by the beach, beside the beach huts, in to an open air gallery dedicated to photography during the summer months.
After last year's exhibition Visitors to Le Havre, this year's display will focus on the Normandie, the legendary French ocean liner. On 29th May 1935, 75 years ago, this jewel of the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique was officially launched on her maiden voyage to New York, from Le Havre.
The newpapers dispatched their finest writers to cover this event (Blaise Cendrars, Colette, Claude Farrère… ), and VU Magazine was not to be outdone, sending Roger Schall to photograph this momentous event. Sixty large format photographs will be on display here, for passers by to witness the exceptional atmosphere of the launch of this famous ship.

Heaven for Sunday drivers and high-speed racers!

This year, the Auto-Moto ("Car and Bike") Show in Rouen will be welcoming an estimated 12 000 visitors from the entire region. Those looking for good second-hand deals will definitely get some useful information from one of the 30 professional auto clubs.

The programme includes a market, a number of exhibitions (miniature models, prototypes, material,…), and so much more!

Seeing is believing…

The Voir, Savoir exhibition is in essence a study of the relationship between academic research and the image… The core concept was to map out the usage of images throughout Western history, in particular their usage in educational contexts.

More than 300 documents will be on display and set up so that the visitor can discover them chronologically. From the first prints to our current image-saturated culture, learn the truth behind the expression "seeing is believing"…

Impressions of light.

Weather Reports illustrates an artistic desire to explore contemporary forms through sunlight: three artists Spencer Finch, Ann Veronica Janssens (as yet unconfirmed), and Martin Oppel will show us how. Here the colour of a beam of light or a cluster of balloons appears to take on the colour of the sky. The artists' sensitive search for objects revealed by sunlight - an idea which was so fashionable in the 19th century - does not necessary bring the impressionist movement to mind. On the contrary, certain artists who employ this method might not even be aware that it was the impressionists who first touched upon this idea.

What time is it?

Rouen’s Great Clock is a key landmark in the Norman city. It comprises a Gothic belfry, bell, Renaissance archway and classical fountain. It was the first to be built to house the city bells, whose mechanism is one of the oldest in Europe.
From the outside you can admire the sculpted archway, a Renaissance masterpiece, and restored sundials.

Straight to the heart of the town's heritage.

Here is a circuit that will fascinate all ages, stepping into the history of Evreux: its cathedral consecrated in 1076, its town hall (in particular the marriage room) and former bishop's palace.
Walk classified as "easy" by the Comité Départemental de Randonnée Pédestre.

1,000m² dedicated to health and fitness.

Euro Fitness offers bodybuilding, cardio training, sauna, sun beds or relaxation in its 1,000m² town centre premises, followed by a snack at its health-food bar.
Euro Fitness offers 28 group lessons a week, from ballroom dancing to personalised bodybuilding.
A real convenience for visitors: the club offers a one-day subscription for those just passing through.

Discover the monastic life.

The abbey was founded by Herluin, a Norman knight, in 1034 and had a far-reaching intellectual influence in the 11th century, owing mainly to the monks Lanfranc and Saint Anselme.
The present buildings date from the 17th and 18th centuries when they were reconstructed by the Benedictine congregation of Saint-Maur around a vast courtyard adjoining the cloister. The two refectories, the old and the new, are perhaps the abbey's most remarkable rooms. The tall Saint-Nicolas tower dates from the 15th century.
The abbey of Bec-Hellouin was used as military stabling throughout the 19th century and suffered considerable damage. Since 1948, however, it has been home to a community of Olivetan Benedictine monks who have succeeded in restoring much of the abbey's former glory, with the help of the French historic monuments fund, the Caisse des Monuments Historiques et des Sites.

War and Liberation in 1944.

It is late August 1944. Tens of thousands of German soldiers are trying to flee the Allied troops. Yet, the bridges across the Seine have been destroyed and their retreat is slow and chaotic. For days the Allied artillery and air raids cut into the masses crowded up against the river. The death-count is unimaginable.

The British and Canadian forces are breaking through the last bastions of German defences and finally liberate the civilian population.

The musée Août 1944 is a reminder of those tragic times of warfare and bitter struggle, and of the relief felt by an entire nation. You can gain a better understanding of these world-shaking events by reading the testimonies of soldiers and civilians, by seeing a collection of everyday objects, now artefacts…

Architectural heritage and cultural events.

Periodic events: concerts and exhibitions of paintings and sculptures, seminars and symposia (programme available on request).
Permanent exhibition: visits by appointment:
Architectural heritage, workshops, turbines and exhibition rooms.

Relaxation and sports.

The gardens are an ideal setting for relaxing, strolling and playing sports.
Against their splendid natural background, take advantage of the mini-golf, the exercise circuit, the BMX track, playgrounds and picnic spots.

Takes your breath away!

Nature provides the backdrop for an original round-up of family leisure activities at the heart of the French forests.

The setting is ideal for the Adventure Forest, a place of discovery, physical activities and excitement.

Make your way along the tracks, paths and circuits and to the different workshops offering something for everyone.

Learning and understanding go hand in hand with walking, crazy exploits and daredevil stunts: that's what the Adventure Forest is all about.

Equatorial temperatures.

Feel like taking time out for relaxation, whether you live in Evreux or are just passing through?
The Equatorial Sauna, an open-minded gay and lesbian establishment, offers a sauna, hammam (steam bath), jacuzzi, relaxation area and alcohol-free bar.
Relax and recharge your batteries alone or with friends.

Bowling late into the night.

Looking for an evening out with family or friends where you can relax and have fun? Look no further. Parvis Bowling in Evreux is open for bowling until late into the night.
There are plenty of other facilities to enjoy, too, including a bar, restaurant (closed Sunday and Monday except for groups), an ATM, TV screens, etc.

Open space and animals

This is a wonderful day out for all the family. Find out about the heritage of the region while the children find out all about the farm animals.
The farm is six hectares big, and contains a maze, flower gardens and a whole farmyard menagerie.

A choice of three circuits.

Here's a completely unheard-of way to explore the countryside and rural heritage of the Eure county. The train runs along the Eure Valley tour line, a stretch of the former Rouen-Orléans axis. Visitors have three circuits to choose from.
Every care has been taken to re-create a historic atmosphere: ticket offices, weighbridge, the goods shed, all the buildings that made Pacy one of the biggest stations on the Acquigny to Saint-Georges-Motel section of the line.
Adults enjoy it, and children are thrilled to play train-driver!

A great idea for a family outing...

Tolysland = Toyland!

Swings, pools, slides and even a tour train! This is the kind of fun-filled cocktail you can expect to find at the Tolysland leisure centre in Tosny. Think of the great memories to be made in the ball-pits (with ball-cannons!), on slides or taking pony rides. And even if the weather isn't on your side, there is a whole range of indoor activities to keep you busy!

545 hectares of beautiful woodland.

The Evreux Forest is made up of 545 hectares of beautiful woodland, perfect for any number of walks and rides, from the Mare aux Biches to former quarries. Maps are available from the Tourist Office.
Take a walk with family, friends, or by yourself.

Everyone on horse-back!

The Centre Equestre du Havre Rouelles is located in the centre of the 6 hectare Parc de Loisirs de la Bouteillerie and offers a wide range of horse-riding activities.

All disciplines are covered, from the classics (dressage, show jumping) to less formal activities such as horse-ball or voltige.
Courses, lessons, initiation, etc. Instructors for every level from beginner to experienced rider.
The Centre has 60 loose-boxes, a tack-room, 2 schooling rings, 2 covered schools, a cross-country course and a field equipped for staging competitions.

Two lakes to fish!

Two lakes on a private estate in the Eure valley: fishing competitions organised on request.
Picnics, barbecues, tennis, pétanque, mountain-biking, cycling.
Nearby, canoeing on the Eure available.
Gîte rural 3 épis and furnished cottage on the property.

How to…

Mrs Cozzi offers you private or group lessons of up to 5 people.
Learn to prepare and cook original and exotic dishes.
Simple, quick and economical.
Treat your friends to sweet and savoury delights!

Frances historic port.

The Maritime Museum Association of Rouen was founded in 1980, having taken up residence in an old port hangar since 1989. The hangar was renovated over time until 1999 when the museum, named the musée Maritime, fluvial et portuaire, opened its doors to the public.

This establishment has been hosting permanent exhibitions from the start, boasting a total of 2 000 objects related to the world of sailing and man's relationship with nature. Boats, scale-models, whale skeletons, boat motors, tools, materials and instruments that have their place on a ship…

Discover a rich heritage spanning from the 18th century to the present day.

On the line…

Boasting a significant collection of artefacts linked to open sea fishing, this museum is dedicated to marine lifestyle and culture. Aside its artefact collection, the museum also boasts a range of scale-models that outlines the development in boat design, from the picturesque sailing craft of last century to the fishing trawlers we know today.

The museum also deals with the range of sailing-related activities on dry land: naval construction, coast guards, sea bathing, port construction, etc.

A prestigious collection.

Follow, in chronological order, the course of artistic and stylistic development from the 15th century until the present day, through a vast range of works of art and objets d'art in various media, from all schools of art.
The collection includes works by Perugino, Gérard David (the famous Virgin among virgins), Clouet (Le Bain de Diane), Martin de Vos, Veronese, and an exceptional collection of Russian icons dating from the 16th to the early 19th century.
The Fine Art Museum in Rouen boasts one of the most prestigious art collections in France.

A rich natural heritage.

The Parc Naturel Régional des Boucles de la Seine Normande lies between Rouen and Le Havre, in the Eure and the Seine-Maritime départements. Shaped by the meanders of the Seine, the area provides glorious panoramas and sweeps of well-watered meadows. Plateaux, valleys and hillsides carved out by the river make up the landscapes of the five natural regions of the Park: the Seine valley, the Pays de Caux, the Roumois, the Basse Vallée de la Risle and the Marais Vernier.
Three abbeys, rural museums, châteaux and thatched cottages forge the identity of the Park's cultural heritage. The wetlands, the Park's ecological highlight, sink into soft silences, punctuated by pollarded trees.
There are natural sites to be visited in the Marais Vernier and the Basse Vallée de la Risle, with or without a guide. These habitats, which are of vital importance to the Park as a whole, are the subject of special awareness and preservation campaigns.

Learn, understand, pick, enjoy!

Picking fruit and vegetables fresh from the garden is such a pleasure... But it's important to know when, where and how. All will be explained during this fruit-picking event: when to pick and how, because picking is not as easy at is might seem.

There is a method to the harvesting process, particular to each fruit or vegetable, in order to avoid damaging your hard-earned goods. Instructive, healthy and value for money: pick-your-own is a winner on every count.

A glamourous festival for film buffs…

Since its beginnings in 1975, some of the world's greatest movie stars have left their footprints on the red carpet of the Deauville American Film Festival: Robin Williams, Lauren Bacall, Tom Hanks, Michael Douglas, Sharon Stone, Clint Eastwood, Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Al Pacino, Tom Cruise, Julia Roberts, Steven Spielberg, Morgan Freeman... For autograph-collectors and fanatical movie-buffs, this festival on Deauville's esplanade is an unmissable event in the summer.

Only American productions are presented at the Festival du cinéma américain de Deauville. Though more low-key and less flashy than its big brother, the Cannes film festival, Deauville remains a major event with its fair share of international stars. This year's program is particularly eclectic with studio productions, independent films, tributes, documentaries and shorts.

Yachting over the years.

The exhibition traces the story of sailing, its official recognition in 1850 which led to the democratisation of this pastime as something for all.

From 3rd July 2010, to tie in with the traditional ceremony of the blessing of the sea on Wednesday 18th July in Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, the museum will welcome visitors curous about the local history of major maritime events: regattas, benedictions, and sea festivals in Normandy.

Battle of Berlin.

This original exhibition focuses on the Battle of Berlin, the last combat which crushed Berlin and which left Hilter surrounded, leading him to commit suicide on 30th April 1945, thus putting an end to the Nazi regime. However, the price of freedom with this victory was high for the Soviet Union which lost 26 million men.
This exhibition has been made possible thanks to the collaboration of the Museum of the Great Patriotic War in Moscow, and the Central Museum of Armed Forces in Moscow together with the Caen Memorial. This is the first exhibition of this magnitude on this subject to take place in Western Europe.

Long summer evenings to enjoy.

This year, the Caen Soirs d'été or Caen Summer Evenings once again invites the public to enjoy concerts on Thursday and Friday evenings in July and August, with performances by artists from all over the world, playing all kinds of music. There will also be dance and theatre going on in the streets and squares, near the Château or by the docks.

Spotlight on Vauban.

In July 2008, Unesco included 12 Vauban sites to the World Heritage, including the towers of Hougue and Tatihou.
The exhibition, created by the Network of Major Vauban Sites, puts to the fore the physical and architectural facets of this engineer's fortification work, by placing it in its historical context for a better understanding of the importance of this work and its exceptional universal value.

Sailing through the camera lens…

Set up in 1997 in the harbour town of Honfleur in Normandy, the Festival Chroniques Nomades invites the public once again to sail the high seas of travel photography. Honfleur itself is historically notable as the hometown of many an explorer and navigator.

The festival Chroniques nomades is an invitation, a travel ticket so to speak. The town of Honfleur is the last port of call before the spectator sets sail like the great nomads of yore towards uncharted lands…

This is an opportunity for inhabitants and visitors to the coast of Normandy to widen their horizons, and discover the art of photography in exotic and far-flung places. Visitors can get a snapshot of the world of photography thanks to an increasing number of visiting professionals, both the well-travelled and the budding young talents of tomorrow.

Fashion and celebrity between the wars.

Tying in with the 150th anniversary of Deauville, the town will see an open air exhibition at the Planches beach huts, which will feature photographs by the Séeberger brothers taken over a ten year period between the wars (1919-1939).
These photos make up an account of life at this time, documenting the fashions and celebritries of the day, such as Joséphine Baker, Mistinguett, Buster Keaton and Suzanne Lenglen.
There will be hundreds of photographs of these "crazy years" for you to savour.

Honfleur celebrates Impressionism.

The Eugène Boudin Museum in Honfleur retraces the history of painting in Honfleur from 1820 to 1900, through its own collections and some important loans.
The exhibition features works from pre-to post-Impressionism, from Corot to Vallotton, and highlights links which have often been blurred or forgotten.
This exhibition ties in with the "Impressionist Normandy" festival.

High spirits in Caen.

The promontory or presqu'île will be celebrating with a great programme of free activities, sporting and cultural events, for all generations, in the port de plaisance au Cargö. Exhibitions, shows and street performances will be going on, not forgetting the crowd-pulling concerts in the evening. Conferences and debates will also be going on during this festive weekend in Caen.

The forerunner of impressionism.

The exhibition is dedicated to Leon Riesener (1808 - 1878), and it is the Museums of Lisieux which together hold the most important public collection of his work in the world, consisting of paintings, graphic works and daguerreotypes. This exhibition will demonstrate how the stylistic evolution of this artist's work shows him to be an important precursor to the Impressionist movement.

Leon Riesener visited Normandy many times from a very young age, with his cousin Eugene Delacroix. In 1857, driven by the need for new impressions and some solitude, Riesener bought a mill in Benzeval, where he continued his research on colour and then on the division of tones. With his subjects and his style of painting, Riesener was to pique the interest of younger artists such as Berthe Morisot, Renoir and Degas. At his death, the Impressionists were to pay him a special tribute. Renoir engraved a portrait of the older artist on the front page of la Vie Moderne in the issue of 17 April 1879.

Jazzin' it up in Lisieux…

Jazzitude is a jazz music festival taking place in Lisieux throughout the month of August, and this since 1999. Jazz concerts and jam-sessions will be lined up back to back for a whole week!

The festival has drawn ever-growing crowds in the past 10 years, don't miss out!

Prints and engravings.

Tying in with the Normandy Impressionist festival, the Museum of Fine Arts in Caen is putting on this special exhibition of prints and engravings, most of which come from the National Library of France (Bibliothèque Nationale). You can admire plates by Edouard Manet, Marie Cassatt, Pissarro, Degas, as well as engravings by Berthe Morisot, Henri Guérard, American artist James Whistler and Guillaumin. Discover a little-known world of prints from the impressionist period.

The dances which inspired creation.

The exhibition Le Grand Bal Dior, or the Great Dior Ball, invites you to step back in time to the era of the great dances and balls which were to inspire this famous designer. The exhibition will include all kinds of costumes, decorative objects, texts and manuscripts, extracts from old films, and musical accompaniment.
The exhibition opens with a display of modern creations by John Galliano.

Landscapes of light.

To tie in with the Impressionist Normandy festival which is taking place all over the region this summer, the Museum of Fine Arts in Cherbourg is putting on this exhibition on Jean-François Millet and his landscapes of Nord-Cotentin. Oils, pastels and drawings from all over the world will be gathered together at the museum for this special occasion.
Millet's studies of light were to make him an important precusor to the Impressionist movement.

Once upon a time…. in America

In 2010, Caen international fair invites you to America, and more particularly to visit the Native Americans of the Wild West. In South Dakota, 120 years ago, a war broke out between the Wounded Knee tribe and the whites, who sought to take over their land. After the massacre of these people, a lot of these tribes have now disappeared.

Caen's Fair invites you to discover the collections, decor and history of the Conquest of the Wild West.

Normandy in all its beauty.

The smaller Grenier à Sel in Honfleur will host the exhibition "Painting in Normandy" over the summer.
This collection was set up in 1992 on an initiative by the Lower Normandy region and partners, and today comprises over a hundred paintings, with famous artists and lesser known painters who depicted Normandy in the late 19th and early 20th century.
From Monet to Jongkind, from Lebourg to Delattre, from Marquet to Raoul Dufy, from Camille Corot to Eugène Boudin, from Paul Signac to Louvrier… the list goes on. The collection is as wide ranging as its name suggests, leading the viewer on a trail which crosses the phenomenally beautiful land of Normandy, with its dramatic coasts and peaceful landscapes, at this particular period in time.

Historic lyricism.

The concept is simple: every summer the "Open Air Operas" brings a classic opera to historic sites throughout Ile-de-France and Normandy. This year, for the tenth anniversary of Open Air Operas, the opera in performance will be George Bizet's Carmen.

Based on the literary work by Prosper Mérimée, this story has become the archetype of the operatic love story. It tells the unusual destiny of a free, independent woman living in 19th century Spain. Her story is simple: she is a free-thinker who makes her own choices; neither her destiny, nor her death, are left up to chance…

Giddy-up!

The Journée du cheval attracted over a million people in 2009: an incredible success that more than justified a repetition of the event this year, with numerous activities, equestrian demonstrations, and opportunities to learn about horse-related professions and riding based sports etc. BR/>Pony and horse rides are organised for both young and old alike.
A great family day out!

Short and sweet!

The famed Off-Courts festival in Trouville-sur-Mer is dedicated to short films, animation and video productions. The productions are regional, national and international in scope.

This festival brings you a wide range of films to the delight of an ever-growing audience. You might be seeing an obscure production by one of the "greats" of the next decade.

One of the strong points of this events is the friendly and easygoing atmosphere which becomes outright festive during concerts, soirées and exhibitions… The event has gained a serious reputation over time and now is linked to other short film festivals (Victoriaville, Montreal, Clermont-Ferrand…).

When night falls, Caen comes alive!

Have a lively summer thanks to the eclectic programme of Caen's Soirs d'Eté.
Concerts, street shows, exhibitions, picnics and open-air cinema are just some of the activities reflected by the creative talent of local companies and others from the rest of France. From the castle through the city's parks and gardens to Place Saint-Saveur, enjoy a highly colourful summer!

Corot in Normandy.

In the Footsteps of Corot in Normandy is an exhibition which traces the links between the Impressionist painter Camille Corot and Normandy. You'll find works featuring landscapes of Normandy, with landmarks and sites which were particularly dear to the artist, and these will be complemented by photographs of artists from the nineteenth and twentieth century.
This exhibition ties in with the "Impressionist Normandy" festival.

Shellfish in the spotlight!

France's number one seashell fishing harbour will be hosting a special weekend this October. Shellfish are the blood and soul of the festival, and you will be able to sample a thousand and one of the best varieties. Since its first edition in 2002, the festival has been growing every year, drawing huge crowds with a taste for scallops and oysters and other rare underwater creatures…

There will even be a seafood cooking workshop, so don't miss out!

Hands in clay.

Over the course of this 9th Pottery fair, you will be given the opportunity to attend a demonstration of artisanal pottery making in a festive atmosphere. Around this event, there will be an exceptional concert of musical instruments played by the Terres qui chantent group.

The master of words.

Leonard Cohen is one of the biggest names in music. His first album, Songs of Leonard Cohen, featuring the immortal songs "So Long, Marianne" and "Suzanne", came out in 1967. He went on to release Songs from a Room (1969), and then Songs of Love and Hate (1971).

The songs taken from these albums prove to any doubters that the artist has an incredible gift for writing. During the following decades, Leonard Cohen made magnificent music, with the most recent albums being Dear Heather (2004), Blue Alert (2006) and Live in London (2009)

Matisse's books.

The exhibition presents an original facet to Matisse's creations: books. With Tériade, the most important art publisher between 1930 and 1960, the painter published his most beautiful illustrated books such as Mallarmés's poems orJazz. Books, drafts and preparatory drawings are exhibited.

Label Orne Terroir.

Buildings new and old on the edge of the Forêt d'Ecouves, with free-range birds roaming in green fields.
On sale, per kilo:
Chicken: 6.10€
Duckling: 7€
Guinea fowl: 7.10€
Turkey: 7.62€
Duck: 6.40€
Capon: 13.10€

Relics of disembarkation.

The museum of underwater wrecks, Disembarkation, has existed since 1990. Here you will find Disembarkation's vestigal objects, retrieved from the sea bottom.
The most astonishing objects can be discovered, such as torpedos and much more.

Church listed as an historic monument.

The 11th century church of Sainte-Marguerite was used as a place of worship by the faithful of Carrouges until the 19th century.
Originally Romanesque in style but substantially modified over the centuries, the church today is a vast granite building in the shape of a Latin cross.
Not to be missed: the impressive Louis XIII polychrome wood retable, the tabernacle and the rotating pulpit, all listed as historic monuments.

Discovering the Cotentin.

Where the département of the Manche meets the Calvados, on the "threshold of the Cotentin", the Parc Naturel Régional des Marais du Cotentin et du Bessin is made up of 27,000 hectares of marshland and polders set in a landscape of traditional bocage woodland and rolling meadows (90,000 hectares). Pastureland and hay-meadows, crisscrossed by ditches and dotted with the occasional peat-bog, are the distinctive features of this wetland area that opens out onto the Baie des Veys. With the advent of the winter floods, the marsh turns "white" as the Cotentin peninsula comes into its own.
Less extensive areas of moorlands, woods and forest plus the coastline add diversity to the landscape.

Help yourself!

Fine French and foreign foods, dinner + show, snacks, business functions, birthdays or get-togethers.
Whether in the centre of Cherbourg, around a table in one of the many restaurants of Haut-Cotentin or on the traditional markets, every day or for that special occasion, treat yourself to delicious old favourites or new taste sensations.

An abbey for men.

The Abbaye aux Hommes in Caen was founded in the 11th century by William the Conqueror and his wife Queen Matilda. The site incorporates several buildings, such as the Saint-Etienne abbey church that was built in different periods (between the 11th and 17th century) and where William the Conqueror is buried.

You can also see the 18th-century convent buildings, which today house Caen’s city hall, as well as the monastic cloisters and guardroom, which is now the municipal council chamber. Situated in the extension of the Abbaye aux Dames (abbey for women), the Abbaye aux Hommes is a key historical site of the Basse-Normandie region.

235,000 hectares of greenery!

Le Parc Naturel Régional Normandie-Maine is one of France's 44 regional national parks.
It covers a rural area recognised nationally for its heritage and landscape.
Between Argentan and Sillé-le-Guillaume from north to south, and between Le Mêle-sur-Sarthe and Mortain from east to west, the Park covers a total of over 235,000 hectares.
Vast moorlands, the hills of Normandy and the Maine (the westernmost point), forests, orchards of full-size fruit trees (pears in particular), streams and rivers flowing down from the watershed, outstanding cultural heritage (chateaux, manor houses, religious monuments, knowhow and traditions, etc.) set the countryside apart.

Not to be missed:
- The Maison du Parc in Carrouges: Park information centre (walking guides and maps, climbing site, discovery guides, programme of events);
- In Carrouges: exhibitions and sale of craft and food products in July, August and December, in a remarkable 16th century collegiate church;
- An outdoor activity centre in the Alpes Mancelles: outdoor activities for a better knowledge and understanding of nature (kayaking, climbing, mountain-biking, orienteering, archery, understanding the environment).

Norman cider.

What could be more natural when in Normandy than buying cider?
Discover cider and cider-related products made by Fournier Frères, several times medal-winners at the Concours Général Agricole de Paris.
Find out how cider is produced.

A theme park for all ages.

Located only 25 minutes from the Mont Saint-Michel, this theme park offers children a staggering array of activities and events…
Discover the "Fun" section of the park with its thirty or so activities such as the "Crazy Cars" or "Wall of Champions". During the summer season there is even a water-park where you can slip and slide and splash to your heart's content. The Chalet area is perfect for young adults or toddlers' parents, a place where they can play pool, bowling or table-football.

Contemporary art with a modern feel.

Within its outer walls, thanks to the diversity of backdrops available, the chateau offers a splendid setting for this first series of five sculptures, three modern and two contemporary, launching this ambitious project: Rodin's Walking Man on a Column, Bourdelle's Grand Guerrier (the warrior), Giacometto's Grande Femme (tall woman), Sans Titre (untitled) by Damien Cabanes (1999), coloured resin, and One Man, Nine Animals.

The exhibition is an invitation to discovery and surprise, open to all walkers and visitors.

Shortbread treats.

Created in 1904 by Charles Bansard, Asnelles shortbread continues to perfume the air of the town to this day. The factory also produces other shortbread cakes as well as cookies and financiers (almond cakes), still using traditional craftsman's methods. Visits (by appointment) explain the manufacturing process and production line.

An unmissable museum in the region.

Situated in the centre of Caen Castle, built by William the Conqueror, the Musée des Beaux-Arts is housed in a decidedly contemporary building.
The Musée des Beaux-Arts in Caen is reckoned to be one of the most important museums in France in terms of European painting from the 16th and 17th centuries (from France, Italy, Flanders and Holland). Its collection of engravings is also something not to be missed.

Free admission to the permanent collections gives a wider public the opportunity to explore the wealth of its collections.
The museum puts on a dozen temporary exhibitions every year, alternating between classical, modern and contemporary art and painting, drawings, prints and photographs.

All the civilisations in one museum.

Founded in 1832 and surrounded by a magnificent botanical garden, the museum invites visitors to discover a fascinating and original collection of archaeological and ethnographic exhibits from the 5 continents.
Immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere of the one-time "cabinets of curiosities" to discover a fabulous collection of stuffed animals, fossils, minerals and exotic objects (rooms dedicated to Egypt, Asia, Oceania, Africa and America) or yet more treasures unearthed by archaeological digs in the region.

A 19th century church and later works.

Built to the plans of the architect Toutain, the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours church was built in the second half of the 19th century, in 1883. This large building is surprising in its proportions and appearance. Behind a tall narrow facade, lies a church that is bathed in light.

Inside, do not miss the works of religious art which are shown there, such as the Flagellation tapestry, from the 15th century, and the wrought iron candle holder from the same period.

Memories of war.

Close to the town centre of Colleville-sur-Mer 9,841 soldiers are buried in the American Military Cemetery at Omaha Beach, near the locations of the Landings on 6 June 1944, as a tribute to the Allies in memory of the Second World War and the Normandy Landings.

On huge grassy mounds, rows of white crosses remind us of the courage and madness of mankind.

A bike, my kingdom for a bike!

March 23rd 2008 is the inauguration date for the new self-service bicycle-rental system organised by the Caen town hall: V'eol.
With over 40 parking stations throughout the city, a new transport system is available for locals and tourists alike. The service will be at your disposal 24/7, forever changing the workings of inner-city transportation. Not only will it reduce pollution, but users will be getting fitter at every ride!

V'eol parking stations are positioned throughout the city.

36,000 hectares of unspoilt nature.

The Perche is an ancient French province enjoying something of a revival, and is distinguished by a strong geographical, historical, landscape and architectural identity. The Parc Naturel Régional du Perche, created five years ago, covers 118 communes divided between two départements, the Eure-et-Loir and the Orne. The Perche is characterised by a wide diversity of natural habitats: bocages (a mixture of fields, hedgerows and woodland), pastures, 36,000 hectares of forest, ponds and wetlands, hillsides and moorland supporting over 1,200 plant species and a varied fauna including some thirty species listed as of European interest.
The Perche also enjoys a remarkable architecural heritage: manor houses, splendid farms and picturesque villages. The identity of the Perche is also expressed in its customs, local events, traditional activities and popular arts and crafts.
The Manoir de Courboyer, standing in a 65 hectare landscaped estate, houses the Maison du Parc. The estate is a focal point for tourism and cultural activities, offering a range of events and activities: tours of the manor house, exhibitions, Perche produce stalls, a gastronomy centre, etc.

Help yourself!

Fine French and foreign foods, dinner + show, snacks, business functions, birthdays or get-togethers.
Whether in the centre of Cherbourg, around a table in one of the many restaurants of Haut-Cotentin or on the traditional markets, every day or for that special occasion, treat yourself to delicious old favourites or new taste sensations.

Meet William the Conqueror!

You may not believe it, but you can see pirates, Vikings, princesses and 19th-century damsels all in the same day...

Festyland, a major theme park set up near the city of Caen, will welcome you with open arms. Children of all ages as well as teens and adults can be sure to find something to their liking in this magical environment!

The park's colourful shows, made of moving stories and breathtaking stunts, will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Don't miss out, get into the "festy" mood!

A regional product.

"Le Carrouges" is a farmhouse gruyère-type cheese that can also be found featuring in recipes by local restaurateurs as well as on the cheese counter at grocery stores.
Look for it on market stalls in Alençon, Argentan, Carrouges, la Ferté-Macé, Caen, Lisieux, Falaise and Bagnoles-de-l'Orne.

Help yourself!

Fine French and foreign foods, dinner + show, snacks, business functions, birthdays or get-togethers.
Whether in the centre of Cherbourg, around a table in one of the many restaurants of Haut-Cotentin or on the traditional markets, every day or for that special occasion, treat yourself to delicious old favourites or new taste sensations.

Producing and selling foie gras.

The farm, started by Philippe Beaudouin in 1986, is in Normandy. The setting is beautiful, at the foot of the Massif d'Ecouves, in the Normandie-Maine national park and 25 km from the administrative centre (préfecture) of Alençon.
Production, processing and sale of foie gras. The team welcomes visits from individuals and from groups of 50 to 60 people.

Biking up the train tracks…

Take the time to enjoy yourself with the whole family or a group of friends visiting one of France's most beautiful regions. The viewpoint is what makes it interesting, as the entire tour runs along old train lines which take the scenic route at a leisurly pace. This easygoing tour is a whole lot of fun for the whole family! Be sure to try out the Vélo-Rail or "Bike Rail", for up to four people, an unusual design halfway between a train wagon and a bicycle…

The village church.

Listed as a Historic Monument since the 17 July 1926, the church towers and its high steeple towers above the small town of Branville.
This classical style church has a huge nave. Heavy buttresses ensure it is maintained and break up the sides, alternated with tall windows. A high steeple on the side of the church towers above the town.

A place of character.

This tiny commune surrounded by forest is a site of historic, architectural, geological and botanical interest.
When you visit, don't miss:

- the chapel of Saint-Michel, dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel, lies on the pilgrim routes used throughout the Middle Ages by pilgrims making their way to Mont Saint-Michel.
It suffered during the Wars of Religion and under the Revolution.

- The priory: it features an 11th century Romanesque porch, undoubtedly the finest of its kind in Normandy, six splendid capitals representing hunting scenes, and some restored frescoes.

- Neolithic settlement: the settlement has four enclosure walls looking down over the valley of the Cance.
According to local tradition, it was once a Roman military camp.
It is certainly an ancient site dating from th Bronze Age and would have served as a place of refuge, a defensive position and a look-out post.