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.

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.

Go back in time.

The period between the World Wars was rich in decorative art.
This exhibition, called "Quimper Cornouaille, années 1920-1930, L'appartement Art Déco", offers visitors a chance to discover a new style for the period, particularly Breton art deco with its urban buildings, unusual furniture and earthenware.

The environment in danger.

In the context of the international year of biodiversity, the Museum is increasing awareness about the rich diversity of the living world, but also the threats it faces.
The exhibition called Biodiversité: le Museum Sort de sa Réserve (Biodiversity: the museum outside its habitat) aims to make the public more aware of the need to protect the environment, often by simple, everyday actions.

Get the taste of Angers!

At the very heart of the Val de Loire, the vineyards of Anjou and Saumur make up the third biggest wine-growing region of France. Their wide variety of soils and selected grape varietals, specially chosen for the mild climate of Anjou, produce a great diversity of wines.
With 28 Appellations d'Origine Contrôlée, the vineyards of Anjou and Saumur offer a full range of wines, both in colour and in flavour.
Nor are the Angevins short of ideas on how to present their regional specialities and local fare to best advantage: rillauds (small chunks of belly pork cooked in their own fat), sander in a beurre blanc sauce accompanied by a Savennières white wine, blue chocolates known as quernons d'Ardoises, or greengage pie and desserts flavoured with Cointreau. Choose your menu!
Every week, in every quarter of Angers, B>discover the fresh produce, love of fine food and wine, tradition and savoir-faire offered by professionals, artisans, producers and farmers..

An important collection.

Established as a result of legacies from the collections of Count Jean-Marie de Silguy, Quimper’s Musée des Beaux-Arts has progressively been enhanced by various donations, legacies, deposits and acquisitions. Today it has one of the most important collections in Brittany. Paintings from the Northern European, Italian, Spanish and French schools rub shoulders, complement each other and correspond to the flow of the exhibition through its rooms. Furthermore, the museum houses a huge collection of drawings and prints, displayed on a rota basis in two rooms of the exhibition.

Inspired by a learned Scotsman.

The museum's earliest collections are owed to a learned Scotsman by the name of James Miln.
The furniture and the archaeological treasures discovered at Carnac are for the most part presented in the Musée de la Préhistoire.
Visitors will follow the adventures of mankind from the Old Stone Age (450,000 years ago) to the Gallo-Roman period (4th century B.C.), by way of the Neolithic period when the megaliths were erected. A total of 6,600 exhibits are on display.

Understanding the salt marshes.

For 20 years, the rich heritage of the Pays de Guérande, shaped by the 2,000 year-old history of salt, has been on display in the Musée des Marais Salants in Batz-sur-Mer.

The museum takes the visitor on a journey of discovery, illustrating how the salt-pans were operated, the archaeology and history of salt, the salt trade and salt taxes.

The life of the marsh-dwellers in the 19th century is remembered in the collections of furniture and regional clothing.
Collections of shell figurines, faïence decorated with themes alluding to the marshes, and paintings are also on display.

Over 900 years of history.

Founded in 1101 by Robert d'Arbrissel, the royal abbey of Fontevraud is first and foremost a place steeped in history: peopled by memories of Eleanor of Aquitaine, of Richard the Lionheart and the Plantagenet King Henry II, or of the Bourbon Princesses; haunted by its more recent past as a political prison. In 1975, thanks to the efforts of Minister Olivier Guichard and on the combined initiative of the Pays de la Loire Region and the French Ministry of Culture, the abbey became a Cultural Centre and meeting-place, with responsibility for managing the monument's heritage and culture.
The royal abbey of Fontevraud is more than just a monument and museum, however, despite being the proud possessor of the recumbent figures of three kings; it is also home to an original cultural project run by the Centre Culturel de l'Ouest (CCO): exhibitions, debates and religious music all aim to bring the worlds of art and new information technology together, to link architecture with virtual reality, to advance research in the field of imaging heritage.
A centre for heritage-related creation and training, Fontevraud welcomes not just artists in residence but also many students.
Nine centuries of Western history stand here in 14 hectares of parkland: Fontevraud, which is part of the Val de Loire UNESCO World Heritage site, is a fitting home for such activities, which link the exceptional wealth of our culture to modern Europe and the modern world.

The wonderful world of shells.

The Maison du Littoral, which stands at the heart of this natural site looking out to the Pors Kamor lighthouse, offers an insight into the Côte de Granit Rose through its exhibitions and explanations of nature.
For children: workshops to learn how to tie sailors' knots, a "touch and learn" house full of minerals and a light-table display on local flora.
There is also a model explaining place names along the channel leading to Ploumanac'h harbour.

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.

Relive the William the Conqueror epic.

For nearly 1,000 years, this huge woollen tapestry, which has come down through the centuries, describes in pictures the conquest of England by William, Duke of Normandy.
Like a cartoon, the Bayeux Tapestry transports you to a mediaeval epic in the middle of Viking boats and Norman knights.
For its full 70-metre length, it mixes realistic representations of battles with Norman forces assembled by William facing Saxon troops led by Harold, as well as incursions by mythical animals and allegorical allusions.

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.

All about the sea.

With its three pavillions, Océanopolis invites you to immerse yourself in marine life.

In the Polar Pavillion you will find the biggest penguin enclosure in Europe. You can watch the 40 penguins which live here cavorting and swimming around. At the Pavillion Tropical you'll see sharks and other tropical fish in the 17,000m cubed of aquariums which are maintained at a temperature of over 20 degrees celcius.

And lastly, at the Pavillion Tempéré, the Breton sea takes the spotlight. You may be surprised at some of the creatures which inhabit the waters off Brittany: seals, Breton sharks, jellyfish and all kinds of marine life are showcased here.
Informative films are screened which will allow you to learn even more about marine life.

Almost a century old.

The park began as a small wood that was transformed into a public park by the Société Immobilière de La Baule-les-Pins development company.
It was opened at the same time as the beach at La Baule-Les Pins on 1 July 1923.
Louis Lajarrige bought the park in 1937 and donated it to the town in 1951.
Covering an area of 25,000m² and more, the park contains over three hundred trees - ornamental, deciduous and conifers - and close on twenty thousand plants.

Get the taste of Angers!

At the very heart of the Val de Loire, the vineyards of Anjou and Saumur make up the third biggest wine-growing region of France. Their wide variety of soils and selected grape varietals, specially chosen for the mild climate of Anjou, produce a great diversity of wines.
With 28 Appellations d'Origine Contrôlée, the vineyards of Anjou and Saumur offer a full range of wines, both in colour and in flavour.
Nor are the Angevins short of ideas on how to present their regional specialities and local fare to best advantage: rillauds (small chunks of belly pork cooked in their own fat), sander in a beurre blanc sauce accompanied by a Savennières white wine, blue chocolates known as quernons d'Ardoises, or greengage pie and desserts flavoured with Cointreau. Choose your menu!
Every week, in every quarter of Angers, B>discover the fresh produce, love of fine food and wine, tradition and savoir-faire offered by professionals, artisans, producers and farmers..

A taste for the authentic.

Every Wednesday morning, Honfleur holds its organic market in the Place Sainte-Catherine.
All those who love truly healthy fruit and vegetables, often smaller than usual because not artificially swollen with water but tasting the way fruit and vegetables used to taste, will find a wide selection of organic food products guaranteed free of pesticides, chemical fertilizers or additives.

Mature trees providing a home for diverse populations.

The forest, once a "royal forest", is made up of mature oaks and is divided into three massifs occupying the terraces of the Sarthe and the adjoining hills, and became a national forest in 1868.
Granite markers laid in 1875, still to be seen around the edges of the forest, mark the boundaries of its 1,190 hectares.
It provides a refuge for familiar forest animals and birds (deer, wild boar, hares, foxes, magpies, etc.) and the forest ponds are home to an immense variety of pond life.

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.

Shop inside an architectural masterpiece.

Architect Jean-Baptiste Martenot was responsible for the two market halls in the Place des Lices.
The two constructions are the very quintessence of 19th century metallic architecture.

They lend themselves perfectly to exhibitions as well as to events like the Marché des Lices, recognised as the 3rd biggest market in France.

French formal gardens.

The Grand-Lucé gardens, redesigned and opened to the public in 1999, take their inspiration from 18th century texts.
The French-style gardens with their shaped box-hedges, green rooms and exotic garden culminate at the great staircase leading to the floral kitchen garden.
In the distance, the view opens out onto the landscaped park with its reflecting pool mirroring the image of the chateau, its crown of lime trees and its ha-ha, or sunken fence.
The adjoining forest covers 17 hectares, crisscrossed by rides dotted with statues.

In the heart of Laval.

The church of Saint-Vénérand in Laval is a Renaissance masterpiece: serving a parish created in the late Middle Ages, the church of Saint-Vénérand stands out as the most finished expression of Renaissance art in Laval.
Still in an excellent state of repair, the church is open to visitors keen to explore its history.

Developing tourism.

In 1879 the village of Pornichet was blessed with a newly-established railway station. This would lead to an unprecedented boom in the tourism industry. This little commune, built on a healthy salt trade, would from the 19th century onwards become one of the most popular holiday destinations in the country. Sea-bathing, for one, contributed to making Pornichet an ever-growing beach resort. The train station is notable for its architecture, similar to that of Pouliguen and Croisic.

Cholet's best-loved park.

The park was laid out in 1980 and includes provision for both physical activities (sports facilities, swimming pool) and relaxation (a tree-lined walk).

This local park is very popular with all age-groups, and the facilities provide something for everyone.

It serves as the focal point for a whole neighbourhood, a mixture of detached houses, blocks of flats and public buildings (sports college).

The thrill of the deep.

La Cité de la Mer, which opened on 29 April 2002, is a vast scientific, cultural and fun centre devoted to the immense riches of the oceans and oceanographic exploration.
Exceeding all expectations, the Cité welcomed its millionth visitor in July 2005.!
Encouraged by these visitor numbers, the Cité de la Mer is now launching a second extension phase.
The origins of the Cité de la Mer, which enjoys an enviable situation in the former Cherbourg trans-Atlantic passenger docks, were twofold: to revive an Art Deco masterpiece, the former trans-Atlantic passenger terminal, and to make the nuclear submarine Le Redoutable the biggest submarine open to the public in the world. Those aims have been achieved.
The gradual descent into the abyss, during a three-hour journey into a fault in the ocean floor, is organised according to two major themes:
The Submarine, with an introduction to the Redoutable, the biggest submarine open to the public anywhere in the world.
For 45 minutes, the voice of the Captain explains how a nuclear submarine works and what life onboard is like for its crew.

The Ocean, which concentrates on exploring and using the rich resources of the ocean, and which centres around one of the deepest aquariums in Europe (10.70m) containing over 3,500 fish.

Perfect for an aperitif or a digestif!

Once you climb the nine steps leading up to this building dating from 1737, you'll find yourself in one of Rennes' cosiest bars. Every attention has been paid to the decoration for a slightly Latino setting, with Louis XVI armchairs and exposed beams against deep red walls.
Every day a different cocktail is on offer, often based on jam or fresh fruit, but you can also choose from the list of Cuban cocktails that are a speciality of the house: mojito and pina colada. There is a special themed evening every month, with a different theme every time, but the prevailing musical style is electro.

A striking symbol of Binic as it once was.

Along the busy quays, stroll through the market among a relaxed, easygoing crowd. A vivid market, with plenty of local colour on its picturesque stalls.
In season, anything up to 200 market traders are to be found here on a Thursday morning, selling regional specialities and fresh produce.
In addition to its picturesque side, the market is also a centuries-old setting for trade.
Since the 16th century, its strategic position and maritime history have made Binic a byword in the history of fairs and markets.
Goods of all sorts would once have been on sale here: the products of sea and land, of trade and merchant shipping.
Several fairs were held at a fixed date each year.
As early as the Revolutionary period, Binic market was always held on a Thursday morning.
At the same time, Binic became one of France's leading fishing ports.
Beyond a doubt, the market is a favourite meeting-place for the people of Binic, but also for all those who like to stroll around the market stalls.

A nice castle.

Located on the Beg er Lann headland "moorland point", the Turpault castle is the gateway to the Wild Coast.
This Anglo-medieval style manor house was built in 190 by a cloth industry industrialist from Cholet, Georges Turpault, who named it the "sea castle". It was then rechristened Turpault castle by the Quiberon inhabitants. It is a private property and cannot be visited.

Authenticity intact.

The Domaine de Kerazan estate was bequeathed to the Institut de France in 1928 by Joseph Astor, the last of an eminent Breton family.
The estate consists of a manor house surrounded by 5 hectares of parkland and a vast expanse of farmland and forests. The land is farmed and maintained in accordance with the wishes of the testator, who stipulated that it should be inalienable.

The manor stands in the Finistère département, halfway between Pont-l'Abbé and Loctudy and some twenty kilometres south-west of Quimper, in Cornouaille, part of the "Bigouden country".
The heart of the estate is the manor house itself, its commons and its park, and the adjoining farm of Grand Kerazan: this was the "big farm", occupied by the "big farmer".
The most striking aspect of the estate is its authenticity: the buildings have remained intact, the manor house retains all its furnishings and collections, as if Joseph-Georges Astor had left it only yesterday.

Over 5 centuries of the history of ceramics.

The museum is built around the core collection amassed by André Pottier (1799-1867), author of Histoire de la faïence de Rouen.
Established temporarily (1870) in a gallery in the cloister of the former convent of Sainte-Marie, already home to the Antiquities Museum of the Seine-Inférieure, the Ceramics Museum was officially opened on 15 August 1864.
The municipal collection of faïence remained here until February 1888, when it was transferred to the first floor of the new Musée des Beaux-Arts.
In the 1930s, there was talk of setting up a separate Ceramics Museum to offset the lack of space caused by the steady growth of the collections of both paintings and ceramics.

The Hôtel d'Hocqueville, built in 1657 and redecorated in the 18th century, was acquired for the purpose in 1936, but it took another half-century for the project to reach completion.
The collection was finally transferred to the new museum in 1984.

The collection currently contains some 6,000 exhibits, ranging from the simple ceramic tile to monumental busts, two thirds of which were made in Rouen, giving the museum monographic status.
The visitor is offered a full historic and aesthetic overview, beginning with the first production of faïence by Masséot Abaquesne in the mid 16th century, then the second wave which began with Edme Poterat in 1647, flourished in the following century and disappeared at the beginning of the 19th century.

A fine church organ into the bargain.

The church of Saint-Rémi was first built in 1778, then rebuilt in 1930 after suffering damage. It was at the time of its reconstruction that it was consecrated to Saint Remi. Consisting mainly of a broad nave and a square sanctuary, the church is remarkable for a number of ancient paintings and statues, but more particularly for its modern stained-glass windows. These represent the battle of Camaret and also the defeat of the English at Trez Rouz.

From the Middle Ages till the present day.

Built in the 14th and 15th centuries, the Halles du Marché are one of the more popular areas in Dives-sur-Mer; possibly one of the top attractions in the whole of Normandy. Made entirely from stone and wood, the structure is startlingly well preserved - furthermore its ingenious design ensures that even in summer the atmosphere is cool. These historic "Halles" host the weekly market to this day…

Evidence of seventeenth-century architecture.

The Royal Parliament of Brittany instigated by King Henry II in 1554 was initially held in a convent whilst construction work began on a special building.

Part of the structure designed by Salomon de Brosses, Marie de Medici's architect, in 1617 can still be seen today. The Parliament has been greatly restored following severe fire damage in 1994, but remains a fine example of seventeenth-century architecture.

Plus each room displays high-quality paintings and frescos.

If wishes were horses…

Do you like nature? If you have always dreamed of learning to ride in idyllic natural surroundings, then Barbara and her horses will not disappoint. From complete beginners to experienced riders, from a walk on a lead rope to a challenging flatwork class, Barbara offers a friendly approach to riding.

A small parish chapel.

Built in the 16th century, the Notre-Dame-de-Recouvrance chapel is right next to the Saint-André church.
The clergy of Ploemel probably decided on the construction of this small chapel, as no records suggest that there was a wealthy sponsor. Entirely built from granite, the chapel was the product of donations from parishioners and local churchgoers. Dedicated to sailors, the Notre-Dame De Recouvrance chapel is a pilgrimage site, as shown by the votives on the walls.

Jazz time.

The club's reputation as a friendly venue for aspiring musicians extends well beyond Rennes, making it a meeting-place for jazz musicians from near and far. In addition to its regular jam sessions based on jazz classics, the club organises a series of theme evenings throughout the year (Wayne Shorter, free jazz, big band, jazz vocals, etc.) as well as numerous events open to all, at special rates for members.

Nantes, a modern, contemporary city.

From industrial architecture like the Batignolles plant or the famous Lefèvre-Utile (LU) factory, now home to the Nantes national theatre, from religious buildings like the parish church of Sainte-Thérèse, from modern housing or offices (Le Corbusier's Delamarre building) to post-war reconstruction, from Art Nouveau (villa Jeannette) to Art Déco (CGA building), Nantes is chock-full of an exciting urban contemporary architectural heritage most of which was built during the "Trente Glorieuses", the heady years of post-war expansion from 1945 to 1975.

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.

A richly decorated church.

Work was carried out in the 19th century, on the Sainte-Croix-de-Saint-Servan church which was build during the 18th century. Before entering the church, admire the facade with its portico and tower, both of which were added between 1833 and 1840, designed by the architect Julien Leclair.

Inside, you will discover the frescoes painted by Louis Duveau in the mid 18th century, as well as two organs located in the choir and the stand.

The everyday lives of sailors.

The Sailors' hostel of Le Guilvinec was built in 1910 on the initiative of Jacques de Thézac.
It was the first shelter of its kind, and fifteen others were built along the Breton coast afterwards. The Sailors' hostel welcomed sailors during the long winter months and organised many activities. It now houses the town's library. The original furniture, paintings and photographs remind us of this place's history.

A richly decorated chapel.

Under the entrance porch, before entering the chapel, admire the statues in painted wood which show the Virgin Mary, Saint Anne and the Apostles.

Once inside, discover the 15th century font, with its Sculpted Moorish heads. The building also shelters boat-shaped votives, which shows the devotion and fervour of sailors to Notre-Dame-de-la-Clarté.

Retrace the history of art.

Like most of France's museums, the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Rennes dates from the Revolution. Founded in 1794 with works confiscated from the town's religious and civil buildings, the museum nonetheless owes the bulk of its collections to the magnificent "cabinet of curiosities" of Christophe-Paul de Robien (1698-1756), President of the Breton Parliament.
From La Femme entre les deux âges (16th century) by Saint-Luc de Heemskerck to contemporary art, the museum also houses an Egyptian archaeological collection (bronzes, ceramics, etc.), an exceptional collection of drawings, and a collection of engravings.

The contemporary art collection focuses on two main areas: artists with Breton roots, such as the Affichistes, and the various currents in abstract art from Sam Francis to Aurélie Nemours.

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.

Head in the stars...

The Planetarium attracts over 30,000 visitors a year and is one of the fascinating cultural and instructive experiences not to be missed in Nantes.
Identifying the Big Dipper is only part of it; space, the heavens above us and the Milky Way contain infinitely more mysteries.
If you dream of travelling in space and would like to learn more about astronomy by seeing projections of the main constellations, this is the place for you!

A place of worship.

Built in 1862, the Saint-Sébastien church was built in the place of a chapel. It opened to parishioners in 1868, although the steeple and facade were finished in 1897. From the top of a hill, the church is imposing, with its shape and lines. The western facade has a large porch and features an oculus whilst the steeple is an original polygonal structure.

Ink worth its weight in gold.

Building on the success of the "Cartooning for Peace" foundation, the Caen memorial will be displaying a selection of works dealing with this powerful, universal theme. Cartoonists, illustrators and professionals in graphic arts were called upon to produce a number of works to explore the theme.

Organised for the first time in October 2006 at the UN headquarters, the event draws artists and illustrators from throughout the world to take part in an artistic melting pot unlike any other…

Town and sea.

The town's museum, the Seaside Museum, hosts a temporary exhibition every year, either on a theme or dedicated to one artist.

The permanent collections also retrace the history of Bénodet and its relationship with the sea. Nautical pleasure or sailing, those themes are discussed through objects and documents.

A delicious market display.

Honfleur's traditional market is a positive delight for anyone who appreciates the best fresh fruit and vegetables or fish, as well as for lovers of fine food looking for the best local produce (milk jam, honey, marmalade, garden vegetables, orchard fruit, chicken, rabbit, cheese, farmhouse butter, foie gras, oysters, etc.)

The delight of Breton religious architecture.

The small Saint-Jacques church, whose oldest parts date back to the 14th century was elevated to the status of parish church in 1880, because of the increasing number of faithful. However, the town was only founded in 1919.
The Saint-Jacques church is particularly charming, with its irregular plan. It shelters a wealth of liturgical furniture and nice works of art such as the painted statues and the paintings on the vault (Listed as a Historic Monument).

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.