On September 16 and 17, the 40th edition of the European Heritage Days will highlight two themes – living heritage and sporting heritage – in resonance with current events, marked by the 20th anniversary of the UNESCO convention for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage, and by the Cultural Olympiad, which prepares the Olympic and Paralympic Games in France. If, as we conclude our edition, the program of the Days was still a little piecemeal, we have identified a few visits likely to interest art lovers.
Starting with the Paris School of Fine Arts, which exceptionally opens its doors during the weekend. The opportunity, for those who are not lucky enough to have studied in these places, to discover the Petits-Augustins chapel and its remarkable casts of medieval and Renaissance works. Another key element is the main amphitheater, decorated with a huge mural by Paul Delaroche, where more than fifty artists from all eras are represented.
In addition to guided tours (without registration, 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.), an introductory conference to the Beaux-Arts de Paris collections will highlight women artists (12 p.m., Saturday and Sunday).
Photo archives
Two exhibitions on the history of local sport through visual archives will be held on September 16 and 17. A photographic exhibition will retrace the 150 years of rugby history in Bordeaux (33) and in its metropolis (from Friday 2 p.m. to Sunday 8 p.m.), while the “S’port de Bouc” exhibition will retrace 100 years of sporting history of the city of Port-de-Bouc (13).
Art and restoration workshops
For the first time, the Louvre invites visitors to enter its art workshops, to discover their know-how in restoration, maintenance and presentation of the collections (registrations on www.louvre.fr).
THE National furniture also opens its reserves and introduces its factories, its textile and furniture creation workshops, as well as its restoration workshops (www.mobiliernational.culture.gouv.fr).
In the regionin Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Mesmin (45), the restorer Florence Carly, specialized in conservation-restoration of easel paintings and polychrome wood sculptures, is organizing a visit to her workshop (accro-art.fr).
Contemporary art bath
In Paris, the old Laennec hospital, today the headquarters of Kering and the house of Balenciaga, opens its doors to the public. You can admire works of contemporary art from the Pinault Collection in the chapel.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Heritage Days, forty works by the artist Guillaume Bottazzi are exhibited all over France, from Lille to Marseille via Paris, Lyon, and even Mandelieu.
Manufacturing secrets
To the Money of Parisworkshops and visits allow you to discover the different stages of manufacturing its collections, particularly those produced in honor of the Rugby World Cup (www.coindeparis.fr).
Dance tour
The Théâtre national de Chaillot and the Musée de l’homme have joined forces to imagine a unique visit to the secret passages of the Chaillot’s Palace by following the choreographer Mehdi Kerkouche (www.museedelhomme.fr).
Professions emerging from the past
Exceptionally, the house Poursinone of the oldest factories in Paris and the last French buckle maker, invites the public to visit its museum and discover the process of manufacturing a brass buckle (registration on www.poursin-paris.fr).
HAS Montpellier (34), Martine Argellies opens the doors of her harpsichord manufacturing workshop. It offers a guided tour to discover these instruments and their sound (registrations & by email to argellies@free.fr).
Architecture: stations in the spotlight
Several exceptional stations will be in the spotlight, notably that of Strasbourg which is celebrating its 140th anniversary. Historical tours of the train stations Metz, Reims, Saint Lazare, Towers And Limoges are also on the program.
Fernand Léger makes his cinema
On Saturday, the Sonia Delaunay media library in Biot (06) organizes a conference on Fernand Léger (www.ma-mediatheque.net).
