Events & festivals in France in September

A garden that jumps off the page.

The Chantenay library will be displaying a collection of art-photos signed Jean Renaudineau for this exceptional "Couleurs et saveurs du jardin" exhibition.

Over 30 works will be on display and all are focused on a bucolic, refreshing theme: tomatoes! The visitor will be drawn into a lush green and red world full of summertime flavours…

Just around the château corner…

These works are an illustration of the evolution of sculpture. Each is a step in the progress of modern and contemporary sculpture either because of aesthetic choices, or because of the materials used. These works are obviously an important addition the the museum's collections, but more importantly they represent an arresting scene, an artistic surprise for the wanderers and visitors passing by…

Artistic homage.

The "Appartement témoin Perret" is a museum in Le Havre dedicated to the work and life of architect and interior designed Auguste Perret, the mind that practically redesigned the city in the post-war era. Plastic artist Pascal Monteil decided to honour Perret's aesthetic ideal by creating a photographic exhibition based on The Human Voice, a one-act opera by Jean Cocteau. This photographic diptych will give a sense of drama and depth to this fascinating museum-apartment.

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!

Eden in Coutances.

The Jardin des Plantes in Coutance was created under the Second French Empire and remains one of the oldest in Normandy.

The park manages the subtle balance between symmetry à la française, the copses of an English garden and Italian-style terraces. This park is unique for its rare trees, floral arrangements and expansive mosaics, but it is the labyrinth in particular which makes it an ideal place for daydreaming or taking a stroll.

Gestural Abstract Lyricism…

Jean Degottex, born in Sathonay, France, in 1918, came into the world of painting after the great artstic shifts of that era - cubism, abstract art, etc. Degottex was self-taught follower of Kandinsky, and his work was sometimes cryptically described as "gestural abstract lyricism".

His beginnings were geared towards a form of fauvism that was purified, broken down to essentials. He therafter turned to abstraction but with a deliberate, powerful brushstroke, reminiscent of chinese Calligraphy. The concept of Zen had always been predominant in his art.

Interestingly, Degottex later turned to the artistic base material, paper, which he scarred, tore and scratched, producing reliefs which he called "papier pleins" ("paper full"). Going further, he chose to focus on the rich and variegated textures of wood.

Degottex, who passed away in Paris in 1988, gave us art which acts as a successful counterpoint to the deluge of superficial, virtual images that has flooded the cultural landscape. His work is a balm, a truly appeasing experience that touches upon the essence of reality.

Professional amateurs…

The In fine, Sans réserve exhibit is made up of 40 or so works that span from the 15th to the 20th century.

There is no overriding theme or historic timeline. The group was free to organise the display space along their own rules: parallels, a taste for this or that, a dialogue between the works… This subjective, almost whimsical approach is backed by serious, extensive documentation for each piece.

The group-members are not professionals and yet each has his own experience, his point of view as a spectator, and this provides a solid method for the elaboration of a display space which gives visitors the best possible experience…

Thirty cathedrals dancing in Rouen.

This summer from July 1st to August 31st, and then on the 19th and 20th of September, Rouen's major cathedral will be wiped from the landscape and replaced by a giant blank canvas...

Every evening, the cathedral facade will become a screen on which spectators will be able to admire a visual display inspired by Claude Monet's series of cathedrals. The crux of this event dates back to 1892-93, when the now-famous impressionist painter would set up his easel in front of Rouen's cathedral for days on end, tirelessly attempting to capture the shifting light and nuances of colour at different times of the day.

The result was a unique achievement in the history of art: 30 or so paintings of the exact same subject which are nevertheless completely different from each other.

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.

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.

The Savage side of mother nature.

"Nature through the eyes of some of the greatest photographers." The Natural History Museum in Rouen is living up to its reputation and is organising this unique exhibition, a stunning display of sensitivity and graphic beauty.

These 110 photos were selected through a rigorous process, revealing an aspect of our planet rarely seen in museums: the wild, savage, untamed face of Mother Nature.

The space between 2 and 3D.

The city council in Laval is once again this year organising an art biennial in collaboration with the Regional Contemporary Art Fund (locally known as FRAC) in the Pays de la Loire. The focus of this new edition will be the relationship between painting and sculpture.

The exhibition will thus gather a number of artist programs that work on the fringes of these art forms, in the artistic no man's land so to speak.

The local FRAC will graciously be lending a number of pieces alongside those of guest artists Marcel Dupertuis, Edouard Prulhière and Emmanuelle Livard. Additionally on display will be a variety of artwork lent by the Modern and Contemporary Art Museum in Toulouse, and the LAAC in Dunkirk.

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..

Art, Music and Fun!

Once again this year the [F]Estivales is back. The now-famous "café de l'été" (or "summer café"), which has been going for 19 years, is a series of free concerts every Thursday and Friday (July 3rd to August 15th) on the lush lawn of the town hall's garden.

Another great event, the "terrasses Nap" (or "Nap terraces", short for Napoleon): 7 concerts by talented local performers, completely free of charge, taking place every Friday (July 11th to August 22nd) on the place Napoléon.

That's already quite a programme, but there's more: theatre, exhibitions, open-air dancing balls, outdoor movie projections, a fireworks display, guided tours… The [F]Estivales isn't just an event, its a whole season of art, music and fun!

A hidden gem.

Charles Frechon is one of the landmark painters of 19th and early 20th-century art scene in Rouen. Unfortunately, his was what one could call a regional reputation.

When he exhibited his work, the highly-conservative art world in Rouen would scoff and lift their noses… And yet today, paradoxically, he has become an emblematic figure associated with "the country"; he is the salt of the earth on the French artistic landscape.

This retrospective exhibition will be an opportunity to consider this artist's career in depth, and from there to understand how this hidden gem was at the forefront of the "school of Rouen", one of the more unexpected fruits of the impressionist movement.

Everyday life in empty spaces.

Tatiana Trouvé, winner of the 2007 Marcel Duchamp award, has been working on a series of projects at the FRAC (a regional contemporary art fund). This recent work tells us a great deal about her rapid artistic evolution.

Trouvé's landmark installation is the Bureau of Implicit Activities (Bureau des Activités Implicites or BAI). Set up since 1997, this expansive piece is made up of complex architectural modules each of which is a spatial representation of different components of her everyday life ("Administrative Module", "Waiting Module"…). Over time the BAI was added to with Polders (Dutch word for artificial islands or land expansion) - these elements defy normal scale and are grafted to the BAI like so many new "compartments" or activities in one's life.

More recently, her work has been focused on a functional space with no function, a meaningless, nameless sculpture, drawing or installation that is nevertheless filled with a sense of potentiality...

Tradition and cultures.

The town of Saint-Malo will for a few days allow you to discover a particular traditional culture. Artwork and traditional objects from American-Indian cultures will be on display at the Chapelle Saint-Sauveur. Take the opportunity to let your mind wander and learn about these cultures.

The once and future king.

This first ever exhibition dedicated to the legend of King Arthur aims to retrace, understand and explain the mythology related to Arthur. This event boasts the prestigious "Exposition d'intérêt national" label (or "exhibition of interest to the nation") which is granted by the ministry of culture.

This legend is one if not the most important literary and artistic theme in European culture, and it has always been a highly-popular story. The Champs Libre exhibition aims to reveal the actual King arthur, the keystone of a veritable literary institution that blends magic, war and love… Aside the actual historical fact, this expo refers to old sources as much as contemporary adaptations, in order to better understand the birth of an almost universal legend.

Over 200 works linked to the myth will be on display, along with a number of historical and iconographical documents.

A story to commemorate the fallen.

This expo will be telling a story. The story of the World Trade Center, of the attack on September 11th 2001, of the firemen and rescue workers and construction workers, of the police force and hospital workers, of the 2 700 people who lost their lives, and finally of the response that these events brought about…

These powerful themes are the subject of this exhibition comprised of personal objects, pictures, films, testimonies and remains found amidst a mountain of rubble. The tale of rescue operations will be told through various things… Things that we all use in everyday life, objects, fragments, debris, a crooked steering wheel, a souvenir…

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 and numerous 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 disables 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!

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!

A beach town in the city.

This concept has become an international movement, travelling to Japan, Berlin, Brussels and Budapest. Rennes changed the title, but the recipe is the same everywhere you go.

Grab 150 deckchairs, the ones with blue/green and white stripes which cost 2 pound on the beach in Bournemouth. Plant palm trees along the road, in Cannes style, and serve some piping hot mint tea like a true Bedouin. There you have it, Transat en Ville on the Town Hall square.

This beach-town in the city is dedicated to dozing, reading airport books and gossip in unhealthy amounts. For a whole week, enjoy lazing at the beach without the annoying sand between your toes. And by nightfall, organisers have scheduled an interesting program of activities so there is always something to do!

What dreams may come…

"Machines on the Island" (Les Machines de l'Ile) is indeed a mysterious concept... It involves massive animals, creatures of the savana or the ocean depths, appearing suddenly in the middle of the city, as if one's daydreams had crossed over into reality…

You will not have to imagine this, because it has been imagined for you. These giant wood and metal creatures will be there, palpable, more real than ever. Evidently, a discussion will be organised to explain the process of creation and to introduce the team of artists/engineers.

This fantastic event is signed François Delarozière and Pierre Orefice working with the famed Royal de Luxe company!

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.

Don't lost your compass.

Good times are just growing on trees in Bayeux's Labyrinth. Take a tour of the gardens and enjoy a cultural and educational experience among friends, young and old, or with the whole family. Remember to pack some water and snacks, because this will be a two-hour tour where you might, and probably will, get side-tracked or completely lost.

Do not dispair, visitors are given a map upon entry and can always check the book when they take a wrong turn again, and again…

The thin line between reality and fiction.

Taysir Batniji's work revolves around notions of individual or collective identity, dissapearance, displacement and exile. The images he brings back from his travels to Gaza, the traces of his journey, are like so many parcels of memory; they represent a vehicle for recording history…

Ville Lenkkeri's photographical works have unusual subjects: museums of natural history, university of medicine collections, or the mural decorations in waiting rooms… These reveal a cinematic approach to photographical art, blurring the boundaries between reality and fiction.

Artist Yvan Salomone is more interested in landscapes, even unusual ones such as harbours and industrial ports. His watercolours are made from photographs and video works and are always in the same, large format. His images are ambiguous in the sense that they are caught between an objective documentary-style and a more subjective vision.

Lena et Victor Vorobyev are two Kazakhstan-born artists who work with urban scenes. Within their works (installations, images, performances) the viewer is confronted with communist propaganda alongside the publicity of Western consumer society.

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.

See the city in a different light.

UNESCO was quick to honour the architectural splendour of Le Havre, thanks in particular to two emblematic edifices. Designed by two masterful 20th-century architects, namely Auguste Perret and Oscar Niemeyer, they will for this event become a giant stage to host a performance signed by the famed team of scenographers known as Skertzo.

The Hôtel de Ville boasts a 92-metre facade and a 72-metre tower that defy the imagination - both of these will become a canvas for a 1950's-inspired show, while the gentle, harmonious curves of the "Volcano" will become a gateway into a dreamlike wonderland.

Transformations, video projections, sound effects, musical interludes, optical illusions and wordplay… With these tools, Skertzo transcends our perception of architecture and puts the city's "history in the spotlight" (or patrimoine en lumière).

For locals, this performance will be like a fresh coat of paint over their familiar city, while for visitors it will be a unique vision of a place which is world-renowned for its unique, ultramodern architecture.

Pre-Columbian treasures…

From the ancient Chinese Empire to the Kingdom of Cusco… The international Fair in Caen crosses the planet to bring you the mysteries of ancient civilisations.

After Imperial China, the 2008 edition will be dedicated to the treasures of the Incas - the Machu Pucchu, the Titicaca Lake and the mysterious El Dorado…

Printing art the old-school way.

Denise Delouche is the kind of professor who goes out into the field to make better sense of her subject, namely artists, painters in particular, in Brittany in the 19th century. It is in this manner that she began to research a particular artform: the art print (engraving, embossment and other techniques).

A very common variation of the traditional painted canvas, the art print appears as a highly interesting and revealing practise. Delouche asked herself the following questions: "what does this art form tell us about Brittany and 19th-century Bretons? Who would buy art prints? And how did they affect tourism and travels?"

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.

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.

Let yourself be spirited away…

France and Japan have at least one thing in common: a passion for cartoons, comics and animation. The art of animation has become a major and respected form of expression in which realism and fantasy touch upon each other in ever-evolving alternate realities.

Three great names stand out on the animation landscape: Paul Grimault, Takahata Isao and Miyazaki Hayao. These artists, from completely different parts of the world, are nevertheless connected at a higher level and speak the same artistic language. The curator for this expo, Jean-Pierre Pagliano, is an expert critic of Paul Grimault's art and is also familiar with Japanese animation and cinema.

This unique exhibition will be a journey into parallel universes, those of Grimault's Le Roi et l'Oiseau ("The King and the Mockingbird"),Takahata's Pompoko and Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke. To complement the exhibits there will be a full programme of workshops, discussions and outdoor film screenings in the Abbey gardens.

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...

Heritage in the spotlight.

The Musicales de Normandie is a festival that aims to put Normand architectural heritage in the limelight by organising a series of classical and traditional concerts. 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.

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.

Orchestra and beginners, please!

If you have a hankering for getting up on stage and revealing your talents, the Bateau Ivre is the place for you on an open-mike night at la Goguette. As well as the microphones and piano already in place, feel free to bring along your own instruments and show what you can do.

Changing over the centuries.

Attractive in its austerity, the castle of Carrouges is a distillation of history from the 14th to the 20th century. Initially a fortress that came under siege by the Plantagenets, it was rebuilt during the Hundred Years War (keep), extended in the 15th century (Blosset wing), ornamented during the Renaissance (Cardinal Le Veneur's pavilion) and fortified yet again during the Wars of Religion (western bastion). In the 16th century, it became a magnificent residence (suite of spacious apartments) and was redesigned under the Enlightenment (music room).
The former canonry, founded by Louis XI, is now the headquarters for the Parc Naturel Régional Normandie-Maine.

Representation of power, symbol of an emperor.

La Roche-sur-Yon has devised a new set of heritage signposts: the 5.5km Napoleon circuit takes walkers on a unique route around the town to discover its past and its unique sites by means of an explanatory route (parcours d'interprétation) marked out by distinctive signage consisting of plaques and bookstands.
The heritage walk guides visitors through the historic town centre (Pentagone and Quartier de la Gare) and explains how the town developed from its founding in 1804 up to the mid-19th century.
The walk is divided into three sectors:
the natural site and the old town;
the town under Napoleon;
the town's expansion from 1870 to 1940.
The Napoleon circuit was developed under the auspices of the Fédération Européenne des Cités Napoléoniennes launched by the towns of Ajaccio and La Roche-sur-Yon.
Encompassing a total of 25 European towns and cities, the Federation promotes exchanges of historical information on Napoleonic history, showcases Napoleonic heritage and organises cultural and educational campaigns.

Norman collection.

The museum owns an extensive collection of 15th and 19th century works. From Fra Angelico to Camille Claudel by way of Guillaume Fouace and David, the museum offers a splendid collection of some 300 paintings and sculptures from the 15th to the 19th centuries.
As Normandy's third largest museum, it houses a unique collection of the works of Jean-François Millet, Van Gogh's "spiritual father" (some thirty paintings, plus sketches, charcoals and prints).
One room is entirely given over to the works of Guillaume Fouace, a local artist who enjoyed considerable success during his lifetime, particularly with his still-lifes. They hang in the section following the Millet exhibition...

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.

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.

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.

Take a trip down the Mayenne and discover the Loire Valley.

Once upon a time the Mayenne was overrun by commercial activity. Nowadays, however, it has become a unique site where objects and creatures of ecological importance are preserved while at the same time allowing for a number of leisure pursuits.
Perfect for a walk or bike ride, the 85km towpath can be taken in sections but is suitable for a continuous cycle ride.

"A wondrous pyramid".

On the border betw