Events & festivals in France in May

Gorillas in today's world.

The Museum of Natural History in Nantes, working together with the Rennes Espace des sciences and the Palais de la découverte, is organising an expo dedicated to the king of primates, the elusive, mysterious gorilla.

This animal, born out of the African forest, is an important symbol for many faiths and religious systems. The exhibition will be broken into two sections, both of which attempt to reveal the true nature of these fascinating creatures.

Five themes underpin this event: "Brute or BFG (Big Friendly Giant)?"; "Gorilla and man, a common heritage"; "Gorillas and the tropical forest"; "Watching Gorillas"; and finally "Gorillas in Danger".

This last theme will be a stepping stone onto the next section of the exhibition which aims to discuss what is affecting the life and habitat of the gorilla and what the future holds for this awe-inspiring animal.

Art and the business world.

Cultural life in Rennes will have an additional artistic event to give the city a greater cultural presence than it already has. May 2008 will be the birth date of the very first edition of the Rennes Workshops: Valeures Croisées (or Crossed Values) - this contemporary art event will be centred on the relationship between art and the business world.
Numerous pieces will be exhibited: some specially created for the event by artists in Breton companies and some from public and private collections.
Altogether, over 60 French and international artists will be pesenting their artwork in seven artistically-significant locations throughout the city, including the Jacobean Convent.

Truly traditional cuisine…

The Mère Poulard Inn, located on the famed Mont Saint-Michel, is turning 120 this year!

Established in the late 19th century, the inn owes its name to person who orchestrated its foundation and success: Annette Poulard. Annette was only 20 when the Mont, which had become a prison after the French revolution, returned to its normal state as a site of pilgrimage.

In 1888 Annette and her husband decided to open an auberge or inn, a place where pilgrims and visitors could enjoy a healthy meal and a warm bed. Annette was soon known as Mère Poulard ("Mother Poulard"), for "mère" was at the time used to designate exceptionally good cooks. Year by year, visitors would pour in to delight in the 700 or so recipes served by the Auberge, including the now famous Mère Poulard omelette.

Nowadays, years after Annette passed away, the Auberge strives to perpetuate her gastronomical tradition. Some of her recipes found their way into supermarkets, and a number of traditional products (buiscits for example) bear the Mère Poulard label.

An artist's square, Paris-style.

Once again this year the place Saint-Vincent, opposite the church of the same name in one of the city's oldest neighbourhoods, will become Montmartre in Le Havre... For one magical Sunday, a number of regional amateur painters will come to expose their work, to paint right there on the spot and sell their creations.

The magical curiosity of a child.

The cause for this event: a place. The book-lined walls of Château-Gaillard, a place filled with mysteriously locked cupboards, bring to mind a society of intellectuals and their obsessive collections - that was more than enough to convince Jean-Luc Parant to recreate his own personal collection of curious things…
His fake-libraries are home to strange books, crafted from wax, with words rolled up into little balls, and writing tablets covered with embossed symbols that one longs to touch… The curious aspect of this collection echoes the obscure 19th century "savant" journals that sit along side it.

Jean-Luc Parant is a curious man. He has been worrying clay since the 70's when he decided that, with this primal, eternal element, he could conquer the world. The erudite scholars of history share with Parant that ambition to embrace the universe as a whole, to collect treasures. Unusual animals, or the perfect shape of an egg - worth their weight in gold, Parant recreates them himself, crafting clay to trick the eye. Deep down, Jean-Luc Parant has that elusive trait of character that once killed the colloquial cat..

Infinite shades of grey…

Bernard Ollier lives in a grey world, a world where an army of drawings roams free, moving relentlessly towards the shadows. It is a snug, comfy world, but is nevertheless a place of terror, and this perculiar artist has been living there quietly for decades.

Ollier's work is two-faced. Two languages, plastic arts and literature, serve to speak his mind. His message, more secreted than spoken, is produced with the patience of a lone silk worm and the cynical half-smile of a captain watching the entire world capsize and tumble into the dark abyss.

His short, darkly comical texts (listing, for example, the deaths of great painters) are complemented by large graphite drawings with infinitely complex undertones. From afar, his art appears as simple monochrome - a mirror of life which itself appears a homogenous mass, an accumulation of futile events.

Inside the coffers of France's cathedrals.

Just a mention of the word "treasure" will set off an cascade of jewels and gold coins in our imaginations, all the more fascinating because they are inaccessible. The treasures of the clergy are all these things at once, with mostly precious objects from the Christian liturgy, such as chalices, patens, ciboriums and vases, but also ecclesiastic garments and manuscripts.
A few other items may be of interest, such as royal emblems and unusual objects, but it is relics of the saints - which drove myriad believers to attempt pilgrimage - which are the heart of this treasure.

These objects were kindly lent by the Vannes Cathedral, the churches of the Morbihan region and the Vanne Museum's collections.

Photo-ethnography…

This exhibition of forty large-scale black and white photographs, introduced by Pierre de Vallombreuse, appears a moving homage to the Gwitchin, a community of Native Alaskans that has to fight for survival every day.

This exhibition is a part of Vallombreuse's overriding photo project entitled "Hommes Racine" (or "Root Men"). This massive undertaking represents 5 years of exploration and dialogue; 12 indigenous peoples, 12 completely different environments - 12 examples of how climate change can affect human lives.

The "Hommes Racine" project is a photographic journey, an awakening. It aims to depict the intimate connection between man and his environment and in doing so promotes a sustainable vision of humanity, where nature is protected in the name of human life.

Artistic feedback…

The imprint, the moulded, visual hallucinations, derealization, flux, entropy, memory, trace, violence, death, the body, energy, serialisation, fragmentation, objects which function at a symbolic level…

These complex, eclectic themes have one thing in common: Alberto Giacometti.

Based on a selection of sculptures, paintints and drawings by Giacometti, this exhibition will be displaying contemporary works by range of internationally-recognised artists, including Georg Baselitz, Michel Blazy, Louise Bourgeois, Fischli et Weiss, Anthony Gormley, Donald Judd, Alain Kirili…

The Normandy-Quebec connection.

What does Normandy have in common with the history of Quebec?

Extensive waves of immigrants in the 17th century for one thing, but another connecting point exists, much closer to our time. The Second World War was an opportunity for these children of France to return to defend their motherland…

This is why the Juno Beach Centre is organising a temporary exhibition this year to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the foundation of Quebec. The thematic aim of the event is to shed light on the common history that Normandy and Quebec share - it is an homage to the soldiers of Normand origin among the troops who were there on D-Day, who fought the Battle of Normandy with Canadian forces.

The title is a fitting, poetic reference to the relation these soldiers had to the motherland - Partis, revenus...

Digging into the past

For 20 years now, archeological research has been taking place at Mez Notario, located at the center of the Isle of Ouessant. The site and the dig have been managed by Jean-Paul Le Bihan, director of the Finistère Center for Archeological Research (CRAF), which called upon 400 professional and civilian diggers to help bring to light some amazing finds about the origins of Ouessant.

The Armoric Regional Natural Park and the CRAF have organized an exhibit which retraces the history of the digs at Mez Notario to be presented at the Museum of "Phares and Balises." Numerous objects plus articles from the planning stages and several models will be on display. Visitors will be able to easily reconstruct the history of this fascinating island with the materials to be presented. A project that took 20 years to bring to the surface!

The foundations of a city…

The Thomas Dobrée Archeological Museum in Nantes will for the duration of this exhibition become a gateway allowing you to travel back in time. Discover the history of Nantes and the region, from prehistory to the year one thousand.

From the apparition of humans to the first settlement, witness the birth and evolution of a city.

Down in the crushing depths where man has no place…

A new attraction is available for visitors of the Cité de la Mer. From February 2nd, you can enjoy this fantastic experience thanks to cutting-edge 3D-animation and simulator technology: discover the abyss from the point of view of a submarine surrounded by deep-sea creatures!

From there you can enjoy an hour-long virtual tour… Open your eyes and admire the riches of Neptune's Kingdom!

A portrait of America…

The "Portrait of a Lady" exhibition will be displaying a collection of about 60 women's portraits, produced circa 1900. These paintings, drawings, engravings and photographs were all borrowed from public collections in France.

The painted works, signed John Singer Sargent, Thomas Eakins, John Alexander White and William T. Dannat, and the photographs by Clarence H. White, Edward Steichen, George H. Seeley and Gertrude Käsebier, seem to point to a shift in the portrait tradition.

A number of works from the Terra Foundation for American Art, along with photos published in "Camera Work" (courtesy of the Orsay museum), will complete this fascinating display.

From swing to rhythm and blues…

From swing to rhythm and blues and even some choreographed street dance…the best music and the best dancers find their place in a succession of different sets presenting acrobatics, vocals, magic and dance.

To bring out the very best response in the audience, the troop of artists and magicians pull out all the stops: virtuosity, energy, seduction, glamour, etc.

This is a review that is suitable for families, offering everyone an evening of spectacular entertainment.

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.

The Longest Day.

A short distance from the beaches of the Normandy Landings, the Battle of Normandy memorial museum in Bayeux, the first town to be liberated on the morning of 7 June 1944, presents a unique and exhaustive picture of the fighting that took place on Norman soil between 7 June and 29 August 1944.
The museum displays were updated in 2006 and now alternate a classic historical account with themed sections, a new 25-minute archive film and presentations of Second World War equipment and uniforms illustrating the historical account. The new presentation gives a better understanding of the enormous war effort made in the course of this battle to win back freedom in Europe.

Let the magic of the place do its work.

A coastline of contrasts and harmony, the Côte de Granit Rose runs from Trébeurden to Perros-Guirec.
The coppery-pink hue of its granite, the depth of colours in the ever-changing ocean and the magic of the scenery make this an extraordinary stretch of coastline.
The sea seems to orchestrate a symphony of colours; it carves the outlines of the shore and carries you away with its wild beauty through a history and a culture anchored deep in men's souls. The Ploumanac'h lighthouse, standing out at sea surrounded by standing stones and menhirs, will light your way as you go.

Roaring good fun!

Planète Sauvage safari park is where man meets animals in the wild. As you drive along its 10km of safari trails, you will see over 2,000 amazing and majestic animals: elephants, big cats, zebras, camels, bears, etc. Admire whole herds of animals and share the secrets of their life.
After 2 hours of thrilling game-watching, it's time to visit the Cité Marine for a fantastic sea-lion show and demonstration flights by birds of prey.
The adventure continues in the bush village. Surrounded by animals, this is a world that will fascinate children and adults alike, before embarking on an extraordinary adventure on the Jungle Trail: crossing a liana bridge to track down a tribe of macaque monkeys.

In honour of a great man.

It is in the splendid Renaissance "Logis du Gouverneur" (late 15th century), just 100 metres from the Sous-Prefecture that became the seat of the first authorities to assume control of a newly-liberated France in 1944, that a record is kept of the five key encounters between General de Gaulle and Bayeux.
Two of these encounters have left their mark on French history: 14 June 1944 and 16 June 1946. The five encounters are recalled in a collection of numerous archive documents, both printed and photographic, in film footage from the period and of objects that once belonged to the General.

A meeting-place of artists.

A century ago, a colony of American Impressionist artists settled in Giverny near the home of Claude Monet. Following in their footsteps, the Musée d'Art Américain Giverny invites you to discover American art from 1750 to the present day, with new exhibitions mounted every year.

Designed by Philippe Robert of architects Reichen & Robert, the architecture of the building is intimately linked to the light and landscape that are such essential features of Giverny.

He has created a crossroads between art and nature, in which the Impressionist paintings form part of the surrounding landscape. Set into the hillside, in a natural hollow, the sober white museum building extends horizontally, half-hidden by the surrounding vegetation.

A large, light-filled entrance hall welcomes visitors, and the three exhibition rooms extend over several levels, following the slope of the hillside.

The lowest level houses a small exhibition room and a spacious auditorium equipped for lectures, films, concerts and corporate events.
The architecture us in perfect harmony with its setting and the Giverny site.

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.

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.

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.

Natural local flavours!

Quimper, one of the key towns of Finistère, offers a splendid range of markets.
Connoisseurs of Breton produce will appreciate the best of Brittany's vegetables like the cauliflower, as well as salty Breton caramels for those with a sweet tooth...

Admire the coastline.

This 4.8km walk starts from the lake and then follows the Grande Plage along the coastline and its inlets before joining the Sentier des Douaniers footpath and continuing.
Follow the Maxence beach (near which a chalybeate spring still rises, its waters rich in iron).
Next cross the chimney carved into the cliff, known as the Trou de l'Enfer (hell hole).
Pass by the 19th century Château de la Gressière.
End your walk by returning to the Parc Thibaud.
Throughout the walk, the rugged coastline offers magnificent views which can be enjoyed from sea level since the path often runs along the beach. Be sure to set off at low tide, however, otherwise parts of the route will no longer be accessible on foot.

Open your eyes and enjoy the trip!

The visit will transport you to the shores of South Africa in company with the Cape penguins, or under the seas for an imaginary journey on our ancient submarine, the "Gulf Stream", for a close-up look at the sea turtles.
Or you could take a stroll in the direction of Bora Bora to admire its multi-coloured fish. No need to take the plane to Australia to enjoy a unique experience with the sharks, either.
Why not stop by and visit all these destinations and many more?

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.

Bringing to life the epic history of William the Conqueror.

For almost 1,000 years, this seemingly endless woollen tapestry has carried down through the ages its images depicting the conquest of England by William, Duke of Normandy.
Almost like an ancient precursor of the comic strip, it will transport you to the heart of this mediaeval epic, surrounded by Viking dragon-boats and Norman knights.

A green monument.

The public park in Bayeux is a 2.6 hectare landscaped site created in 1859 by Eugène Bülher. Of the 400 trees in the park, the most spectacular is undoubtedly the famous "weeping beech", listed as a natural monument in 1932 and designated an "arbre remarquable de France" (a tree of special interest) in 2001.
The park is an integral part of Bayeux's heritage, with a signposted walk and information points providing the keys to an understanding of the gardens and the main plant species found there.

Stones ancient beyond belief.

Dating from some 6,000 years ago, the megalithic site at Carnac is one of the most important prehistoric sites in Europe. Around 3,000 menhirs (standing stones) are aligned over an area of 40 hectares and a distance of 4 kilometres.
The Kermario, Le Menec, Kerlescan and Petit Menec (La Trinité-sur-Mer) alignments, which together form the Carnac site, represent one of the first monumental stone structures in Europe.
Plans are under way to redevelop the site to improve facilities for visitors, to enhance the landscaping and architectural qualities of the site and, by creating pedestrian and cycle paths, to open up new ways of visiting the monument.

Jumping for joy.

Meet the bounciest animal in the world at the Parc de La Possonière!
On the kilometre-long walk that is also a learning experience, you will be surrounded by kangaroos roaming free.

The park also features a video room providing more in-depth information about the kangaroo.

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..

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.

Between land and sea.

Just 10 minutes from the beaches of the Côte d'Emeraude, on the banks of the River 'Arguenon, the "pretty village" referred to by Chateaubriand has become a lively and attractive town, famous for its mineral water.
Minerals and literature are not the whole of it: there is history, too, in the 19th century church of Saint-Sauveur, harmonious neo-Romanesque building.
The church is dedicated to Saint Sauveur, even though the patron saint of the parish is Saint Florian.
As you make your way through the narrow lanes, note the 16th century half-timbered and encorbelled house.

Geometric design.

The Jardin de Castillon-Plantbessin consists of a magnificent series of "rooms" filled with charm and serenity: ornamental lakes, Japanese garden, English garden, herb garden, all featuring a great variety of plants.
A second garden consisting of three terraces dotted by topiary yews opens onto a fine border of grasses and ends in a box maze. It is listed as a "Jardin Remarquable" (garden of special interest).

Guaranteed waterproof.

Sailing activities organised all year round for adult sailors, boat owners and works committees, regattas for monotypes and liveaboard cruisers.
Every Saturday morning, as part of the Voile Loisir scheme, beginners can try their hand at liveaboard cruiser sailing.

Industrial hemp-growing in the Saosnois.

The Maison de la Ruralité in Saint-Rémy-du-Val houses a permanent exhibition that reveals the economic importance of hemp-growing in the Saosnois (northern Sarthe).
The CLE des Valois association has gathered a collection of machines once used in hemp-growing, and explains the traditions of the hemp-farmers.

To your bagpipes!

Ty Anna Tavern welcomes you to its Breton den for a session of local music.
Amateur and professional artists play Celtic music every Wednesday in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. A good night out is on the cards.

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.

The historian and his work.

French writer and historian Jules Michelet (1798-1874) wrote many of his works in the castle tower where he installed his study.
As you pursue your course along the "Route historique des maisons d'écrivains" (homes of famous writers), you will be able to retrace the life and works of Jules Michelet,
author of such works as Histoire de France (a history of France) or Histoire de la Révolution française, a history of the French Revolution.

Salsa style.

Most people think salsa means Cuba.
The roots of salsa are, in fact, more cosmopolitan. Salsa is a music and dance movement, Cuban and Caribbean in origin, that grew up in New York amongst the Porto Ricans, one of the most disadvantaged groups in the US between the 1920s and the 1960s.
A far cry from the folklore surrounding it today, salsa is above all else a form of sharing. Sharing senses and emotions, words and music, dance and bodies. If you let the Afro-Cuban rhythms get to you, you might just find yourself forgetting your steps!
Sip on a mojito, cuba libre or caipirinha, enjoy a refreshing tropical fruit juice, and let yourself dance.

A history of names.

Between 1224 and 1428, the commune was known variously as: Trévenech, Trévenoc, Trévenec and finally Trévéneuc.
It takes its name from Saint-Guthénoc, otherwise spelt as: Guezenec, Guennec, Venec, Veneuc, Venoc.
This name in turn comes from the jeu du crapaud, the toad in the hole game, no doubt made from wood and painted red.
The game involved pitching a two-sou coin into a slot, the mouth of the toad. The first player to succeed would win all the other coins that missed the target. The inhabitants of Tréveneuc were apparently much given to playing this game, hence their nickname of the "red toads".

Main places of interest to visit:
church of Saint-Colomban: traces of an original 14th century building remain in the south wall of the present church;
Château de Pommorio: dating from the 18th century, aligned with the church of Saint-Colomban, surrounded by gardens gradually recovering from the ravages of the great storm of 1987 ;
Le Palus: the "Palus" foreshore takes its name from the Breton word "Palud", meaning marsh". The line of pebbles washed up by the sea prevents the stream from flowing normally, creating a marshy area where reeds grow;
Port-Goret: the name is Breton in origin: Gored means "a fishery with a dam". The remains of the dam can still be seen on the foreshore now known as "Port-Goret".

Sticky but delicious.

Before it gets to that annoying but delicious stage of sticking to our teeth and palates, toffee has to go through a series of transformations, all of which are described in this factory tour which takes visitors through every phase of the manufacturing process.

From bubbling in a copper vat, with the addition of different ingredients that produce various toffees, through to the packaged product, you'll find your mouth watering from start to finish.

A treat for book-lovers.

Old bindings, the smell of paper, out-of-print or little-known works... There are so many rare finds to be made at book markets where every reader, from the neophyte to the bookworm, can hope to stumble upon his heart's desire.

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.

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