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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Music as a vector of history

The theme for 2010 is celebrations and creation. For the year of Russia in France, the festival wishes to rediscover the great Russian composers and to put the spotlight on the period around 1910 which was rich in artistic and cultural exchanges between the two countries.
Impressionism will also have pride of place across Normandy, the native land of this artistic movement. The festival will also celebrate the 700th anniversary of the Sées Cathedral with a day of exceptional concerts by Norman artists in homage to the people who constructed this building.
Come and celebrate to the beat!

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.

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.

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.

18th century heritage.

Lovers of history, ancient buildings, open spaces and walking... welcome to Alençon and its surrounds.
An little-known example of local heritage is the town's private mansion that dates from the 18th century. Tours of the exterior on request.
Don't be shy!

Steel and music.

This foundry workshop has been crafting bells since as far back as 1865; the Cornille Havard foundry has become one of if not the top manufacture in the field.

Working with moulds, molten metal and thousand-degree environments are only some of the aspects of this difficult profession. Discover an age-old craft, a tradition that has trickled through the generations to bless a select few aprrentices.

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.

Time-honoured knowhow.

The workshop exists to safeguard the knowhow handed down by the lace-makers of Bayeux from the 17th century.
The Conservatoire, a place to learn and perfect lace-making skills, keeps alive the technique of bobbin lace making.
Year-round exhibition, events and articles for sale.

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.

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.

When in Normandy, drink cider!

Le Buhot farm is located near the town of Sées, in a former 15th century priory.
We make our cider from eight varieties of cider-apple.
You are cordially invited to taste our products at the farm.

On sale:
Cider: 2.03€ to 2.45€ per bottle;
Apple juice: 1.70€ ;
Aperitif: 9.15€.

Memorial for peace.

The Caen Memorial is a museum not to be missed in the Caen region. Each year, thousands of visitors discover or rediscover this museum dedicated to the history of the 20th century, unique in Europe.
You will find two major films, unpublished photographs, documents and objects: it is a journey through events that shook the history of the people of Europe.
Experience moments of emotion and reflection that will definitively change your outlook on the world.

Nature disciplined by reason.

Magnificent in itself, the Château de Brécy can also boast 17th century Italianate gardens magnificently laid out in terraces, culminating in ornamental wrought-iron gates by Isaac Geslin that seem to open onto empty sky.
Numerous sculptures and flower beds framed in embroidery-patterned box borders in the style of Claude Mollet make this a truly unique sight.

From apples to cider.

Since 1932, the Cidrerie Marcel Viard has been producing traditional cider from local Norman cider apples. See how "Bayeux" cider is made: the orchard, the cellars, the packing room. The cider farm was the first to be liberated in France in June 1944.
It was designated a primary military target, to ensure supplies needed for the freshly-landed British troops.

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…

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 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.

The biggest forest in the département.

The forest of Ecouves, covering an area of 8,153 hectares, is managed by the French forestry commission, the Office National des Forêts, and is the largest in the département.
The ONF, which manages 27,000 hectares of state-owned forests in the Orne, is charged with preserving France's natural heritage by implemeting multi-functional management of the three main functions assigned to the national forests:
- economic activity, through the production of high quality workable wood;
- A choice of tree species and techniques appropriate to the ecological conditions (climate, soil, etc.);
- Sustainable game management;
- Recreational functions including:
- public amenity areas;
- environmental education in schools and for the general public;
- Opening of footpaths;
- An environmental function: with a programme of campaigns aimed at the conservation and/or rehabilitation of habitats and species of special heritage interest.

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.

Delicious duck

Duck farming, production of farmhouse foie gras;
Sale of duck products: foie gras, confits, terrines, rillettes, smoked breast fillets;
Ready-cooked dishes in sealed jars: cassoulets, sauerkraut with duck confit, duck with orange, duck thighs in cider, etc.

An open history-book...

Situated in the centre of the Orne département, a stone's throw from the forest of Ecouves, Sées has been an episcopal town city since the 5th century and has managed over the centuries to retain all the charm of a small town while gradually acquiring the essential facilities of everyday life.
Any visitor who enjoys characterful towns will appreciate the simple pleasure of exploring the historic, craft and gastronomic legacy of this administrative centre of 5,000 souls living around their cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic art bearing witness to a long history of some considerable interest.

To explore Sées is, above all, to open up a precious history book to be deciphered street by street, monument by monument, with an epilogue that gives pride of place to local craftsmanship.
The Tourist Office organises guided tours of the episcopal city and its cathedral, by appointment only and for groups.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

The residential palace of the Duke of Normandy.

Caen Castle was built under William the Conqueror in the middle of the 11th century to house the residential palace of the Duke of Normandy. The building still represents today the largest fortified enclosure in Europe.

It was within these walls that William, surrounded by his barons, made preparations to drive King Harold from England.
Over the centuries, the castle was gradually swamped by the city, suffocated by houses and forgotten by the city's people, until the bombardment of 1944.

Caen Castle today houses the Museum of Normandy and the Museum of Fine Arts.

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.

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.

Remember the Landings.

During your visit, you will find out about the history and operation of the city's artificial harbour, a success in the Battle of Normandy and on which the site is built.
This pioneering museum of the Landings also offers a presentation of various stages of the Allied Landings, from the conception of the Port Winston artificial harbour to the liberation of the Normandy coast (models, animations, diorama, video, etc.).

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.

Discover the Andouille fo Vire

Typical component in the cuisine of Normandy, and source of pride, the andouille (special sausage) of Vire is still produced artisanally in the Andouillerie in Sienne Valley.
Located near the Mont Saint-Michel and the D-Day beaches, this small family business, run by Jacqueline and Bernard Boscher, produces andouille, smoked ham, traditional pates and other regional products.

During guided tours of the facilities, the public is invited to discover the manuel fabrication of the andouille followed by a tasting of this speciality whose recipe has been passed down from generation to generation.

One of the finest Gothic churches in Normandy.

The cathedral of Sées is one of the finest 13th-14th century Gothic buildings to be found in Normandy.
Its 70m high spires are visible from over 10km around.

Worth visiting:
Outside: the central and lateral portals;
Inside: the fine "Romanesque" main altar dates from the period of Louis XVI and is the work of Brousseau;
The organ is a 1743 Parisot, transformed into a Cavaillé-Coll in 1883 and restored in 1972.

3 different ciders.

Drop in and taste 3 very different ciders made in the cider-apple orchards in the Normandy bocage in the centre of this granite-built hamlet (10 min from the Château de Carrouges).
When the current owners took over the farm 15 years ago, they planted 10 different varieties of apple tree.
Taste the ciders and the cider jelly.
John will be more than happy to answer all your questions.

A natural habitat to be protected.

Les Petits Riaux lies within the Ecouves forest, in the commune of Lande-de-Goult, and is a typical example of the peat-bogs of the Massif Armoricain.
These rare habitats are home to a distinctive range of plants capable of adapting to the harsh prevailing conditions.
Guided tours are available through the Park or the Conseil Général de l'Orne.
Group visits can be organised on request (for predetermined groups).
Plants of particular interest include drosera (sundew), butterworts (small carnivorous plants), sphagnum mosses forming thick, spongy carpets, or the bog asphodel (Narthecium Ossifragum).

In the hamlet of Goult, explore "Caesar's camp" (a Neolithic settlement) and the Priory of Saint-Michel de Goult (12th century porch).

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!

Beach babes and culture-vultures.

The Trouville museum, set up in the Villa Montebello, will tell you all about the history of this historic beach resort.

Ethnographic artefacts, along with rich art collections, retrace the history of this fascinating commune from different perspectives to give you a rounded view.

The museum's other halls are more focused, with for example a display space dedicated to Raymond Savignac and another to the André Hambourg collection. One of the galleries, on the dock of the harbour, hosts temporary exhibitions throughout the year.

A place of Marian worship.

Funded by subscription, the first stone of the basilica was laid on 26 March 1855, and the church was consecrated on 7 May 1872 par Monseigneur Rousselet in the presence of a vast crowd.
On stepping inside the door, the visitor is transfixed by the play of light filtering through the 48 stained glass windows, the many ex votos, the scintillating reflections of the gold in the great Holy Trinity medallion above the Virgin.

Dedicated to the Virgin Mary on the occasion of the Proclamation of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854, the iconography of the basilica is dedicated to explaining, illustrating and glorifying this act of faith.
Special celebrations and pilgrimages are held on key dates in the Marian calendar, in the Month of Mary, and on the anniversary of the basilica's consecration.

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...

A fantastic show.

The Hippodrpome de Cabourg is one of the city's main highlights, a place to meet others and witness some exceptional racing events. If you are staying in or around Cabourg, you won't be able to avoid it. Known for its professionalism and the great events organised there, the racecourse is the place where all emotions mingle in a joyous celebration.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

Villequier reveals some unpublished Impressionist works.

The exhbition Contre l'Impressionisme, tout contre (Against impressionism, everything against)...on four panels. The first panel allows the visitor to discover the generic links and the journalistic context of the period through, in particular, l'Evènement, an opposition newspaper created by Auguste Vacquerie helped by two Victor Hugo's sons. Emile Zola, an art critic of that time, defended the Impressionnists in it. The second panel shows the Seine seen from different points of view expressed in an innovative way by the Impressionist mouvement. The third panel offers visitors the chance to have a direct comparison between the physical landscape actually seen and its painting. And the last panel in the exhibition is an invitation to re-discover certain plants and vegetation.

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.

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.

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.

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"…

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

The thrill of a lifetime.

Are your kids tired of smog and concrete? Do you dream of giving them fresh air, old-fashioned fun and a sense of adventure?

Well look no further, your answer is right here: acrobatic tree-climbing activities in the thick of the forest! Here old and young will be able to swing, climb, scale and jump from one tree to the next. Each circuit is perfectly suited to a certain age-group and general fitness. Let the little ones take to the trees as children have done since time immemorial. Thrills to be expected.

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.

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…

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.

Gentleman burglar.

The Clos Arsène Lupin, which opened to the public in Etretat in 1999, recounts the life and memory of Maurice Leblanc, creator of the famous Arsène Lupin.
The visit is divided into 7 stages to create an original, entertaining adventure in the footsteps of the most famous and most charming of burglars.

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...

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.

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.

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.

Unrivalled in Europe.

Since 1921, the church of Saint-Laurent (15th and 16th century) has housed a collection of wrought ironwork that was and is a reference of its kind in Europe.
Its donor Henri Le Secq des Tournelles made over to the city of Rouen the first methodical collection of ironwork, begun in 1862 by his father Jean-Louis Le Secq Destournelles (1818-1882).

The latter, a member of the Mission Héliographique mounted by Prosper Mérimée to take photographs of outstanding monuments on behalf of the French Monuments Historiques department, was at once a practical, hands-on man, a painter and an art-lover. His was the original idea of taking an interest in hitherto overlooked objects: he began acquiring, from demolition sites as well as on the art market, every article of outstanding ironwork that he could find, with the exception of arms and armour, which others were already collecting.

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.

Japanese Impression.

Since 1980, the property of the artist Claude Monet has belonged to the Claude Monet Foundation.

The impressionist artist lived from 1883 to 1926. See the collection of Japanese prints collected by Claude Monet inside this house.
After visiting the house, the garden invites you to enter its Clos Normand and its Water Garden.

Changing in harmony with the seasons, this natural area is known mainly for its Japanese bridge, which you can spot on several canvases painted by the artist.
"I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers", said Claude Monet; visit Giverny and you will understand why.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

New and improved impressionist museum.

Founded by Daniel J. Terra in 1992, The Giverny Museum of American Art was for its 16-year existence one of the most active art institutions in the country. Its programme of exhibitions, publications, debates, conferences and countless "in residence" programmes (for historians, artists, etc.) were for the most part dedicated to American Art generally speaking.

The new and improved museum, now turned towards Impressionism, will be opening its doors in 2009 thanks to a partnership with local givernment bodies, the Orsay museum and the Terra Foundation. This new establishment will be mostly centred on the impressionist tradition, starting with a major inaugural exhibition: Monet's Gardens in Giverny: Inventing a Landscape.