28 Feb 2017
Tags: Normandy, France, Culture, arts, Film, Art, Monet, Picasso, Mozart, Opera, Music, travel, fashion
In addition to its fab food and rich history, there are plenty of cultural reasons to visit Normandy in 2017. Culture vultures flocking just across the Channel will enjoy a mix of art, music, film and fashion, from Picasso to Mozart, from movie stars to fashion icons. Here are our top picks for all things artsy in Normandy this year:
- Three major Picasso exhibitions in Rouen: 1 April-11 September
It's a little-known fact that in 1930, Pablo Picasso set up his first sculpture studio in Normandy, in a chateau near the town of Gisors. This year for the very first time, the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Musée de la Céramique and the Musée Le Secq des Tournelles in Rouen will pay tribute to Picasso's work during this period of his life, exhibiting a fascinating collection of over 200 drawings, paintings, photos, engravings and sculptures.
www.mbarouen.fr/en | www.museedelaceramique.fr/en | www.museelesecqdestournelles.fr/en
- Celebrate 70 years of Christian Dior in Granville: 8 April-24 September
This summer marks 70 years since the iconic fashion house of Dior was founded in 1947. To mark the occasion, the Christian Dior Museum, Dior's childhood home in Granville, will host an exhibition dedicated to the designer's 22 collections and fashion lines launched between 1947 and 1957. In addition to getting their hit of post-war haute couture, visitors can enjoy panoramic sea views from the museum gardens as well as refreshments at its café during the summer months.
- Open-Air Opera at the sumptuous Château du Champ de Bataille: 24 June
Open-Air Opera returns to Normandy this year with Mozart's Marriage of Figaro being performed at the beautiful 17th century Château du Champ de Bataille. Don't miss the chance to watch this opera al fresco against the stunning backdrop of this stately home and gardens, which were brought back to their former glory by one of France's most celebrated contemporary designers, Jacques Garcia, and have earned themselves the unofficial nickname of 'mini Versailles'.
http://bit.ly/operachampdebataille (website in French)
- Deauville American Film Festival: 1-10 September
Attracting celebrities and cinema lovers alike, this film festival takes place every year over ten days in the elegant seaside resort of Deauville. Proud to be the only festival in the world with screenings 24/7, Deauville has been showcasing films from Hollywood productions to independent films since 1975. Attendees can also stroll down the seafront and enjoy the famous multi-coloured parasols and beach huts adorned with the names of film stars and directors.
- Monet's Impression, Sunrise returns to Le Havre: 9 September-8 October
Impressionism will be celebrated throughout September as Claude Monet's masterpiece Impression, Sunrise returns to the city where it was painted in 1872. The André Malraux Modern Art Museum (MuMa), which has the second largest Impressionist collection in France after the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, will host a landmark exhibition centred on the canvas that gave the art movement its name and which highlights Le Havre and its famous light, a source of inspiration for the Impressionists.
www.muma-lehavre.fr/en/exhibitions
-ENDS-
For further information on Normandy, visit: www.normandy-tourism.org
For press enquiries and photo requests, contact:
Fran Lambert
UK & Ireland Press Officer for the Normandy Tourist Board
Email: fran.lambert@atout-france.fr
Tel: +44 (0)20 7061 6637 | Mobile: +44 (0)7801 922 183
Twitter: @NormandyPRUK | Blog: www.normandyfoodie.com
