Until December 31, 2010, in Moulins, Auvergne region, the Centre National du Costume de Scène (National Centre for Stage Costumes) offers a journey through the sartorial world of Divas with the exhibition «Vestiaire de Divas» (Divas’ dressing rooms).

Although the Diva emerged in the early 19th century, and despite the fact that this term is nowadays readily attributed to any female celebrity with a potent personality, independently of her particular skill, the Diva remains an emblematic and elemental figure of today’s performing arts.

The Centre National du Costume de Scène is paying homage to those prime donne endowed with such a magnetic aura, via an exhibition entitled “Vestiaire de Divas” (Divas’ dressing rooms), during which over a hundred costumes, jewels and accessories will be displayed.

Opera singers, actresses, chorus girls, stars of French song… Sarah Bernhardt, Maria Callas, Jessye Norman, Kiri Te Kanawa, Edwige Feuillère, Edith Piaf, Dalida, Zizi Jeanmaire all of them reunited here, on the same stage, in truly extraordinary fashion.These Divas’ dazzling legends will be portrayed throughout the exhibition via their accessories, jewels, headdresses, shoes, make-up and travel trunks (some of them specially created by the Vuitton company)… and many of the other personal effects and indispensible objects that went and continue to sustain their great aura.

The exhibition will be also presenting a selection of the finest designer creations for these modern Divas, including, among others, costumes created by Christian Lacroix, Maurizio Galante or those created by Frank Sorbier.

Useful Information

Address: Centre National Du Costume De Scène et de la Scénographie, Quartier Villars, Route de Montilly, 03000 Moulins.

Phone: +33 4 70 20 76 20 / Email: info@cncs.fr

Exhibition opening hours: open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Later closure at 7 p.m. throughout July and August. Closed on the 25th of December 2010. The CNCS will close at 4 p.m. on the 24th and the 31st of December.

Prices: Full price: €5 / Reduced price: € 2,50 (for visitors aged 12-25 years, the unemployed and groups – as from 10 participants) / Free entry: for children aged under 12 in the company of an adult (excluding groups) disabled visitors and accompanying person.

More information: Centre National Du Costume De Scène et de la Scénographie – www.cncs.fr

Source : Press release “Divas”

Did you ever dream of flying with birds ? Now, this dream has become true and everyone has the possibility to enjoy most breathtaking landscapes in Auvergne and Cantal.

Together with Christian Moullec and his birds (cranes, geese, swans) you will enjoy an unforgettable, almost spiritual one-of-a-kind experience !

Sitting in a two-seater MULA (motorized ultra-light aircraft) you can reach out and touch one of the birds as they fly with you. You can also enjoy the hot-air balloon experience and explore the breathtaking landscapes of the Cantal region with Christian and his birds flying just a few meters from your balloon. This is definitely a one-of-a-kind aerial show.

Useful information:

Location: Lascelle in the Cantal region

Prices:

• From €300 for a 1-hour hot-balloon trip
• From €600 for a 35-minute MULA trip

More information:

Flying with birds in Massif Central – www.voleraveclesoiseaux.com

Auvergne Tourist Office – www.auvergne-tourisme.info

Source : Press release DPAUVERGNE2010

Music Day, also known in other countries as World Music Day, is held every year in France. This year, for its 29th anniversary, the event will put the spotlight on women… So let’s meet on Monday 21st June !

Be they music composers , opera singers, conductors, street singers, songwriters or DJs, the focus will be put on their creativity, their struggles and the deep and true nature of their music.

Since ancient times, women have always been an endless source of inspiration that has inspired the greatest melodies. Muses, singers or musicians, they take a leading part in the practice of this art. In order to pay a tribute to them, the 29th edition of Music Day in France will be focused on “music and women”.

This unifying theme will provide an opportunity for all artists, whether they are amateurs or professionals, to celebrate Music Day and women by interpreting compositions made by or for women … A large selection in prospect !

For one day and one night, French cities and towns will be swept away by all kinds of music, with concerts, free events and also the possibility of discovering amateur music players or singers in pubs and cafés.

More information: 2010 Music Day – www.fetedelamusique.culture.fr

Source: presse release “Fête de la Musique 2010″

Spring will soon be here and so does the festival season ! Without necessarily giving you an comprehensive list, here is an overview to our selection of France’s coming festivals…

• In April:

Printemps de Bourges, from April 13 to 18, will start proudly the festival season by celebrating its 34th anniversary. More info: http://www.printemps-bourges.com/en/home/welcome.php

• In June:

Hellfest open air, from June 18 to 20 for its 5th edition in Clisson, Western France. This 2010 edition already promises to be THE  major metal event ever organised in France! More info: www.hellfest.fr

Solidays, from June 25  to 27, at the Longchamps-Paris racecourse, this festival will bring together many artists all commited to the fight against AIDS. More info: www.solidays.org

• In July:

Eurockéennes of Belfort, from July 2 to 4 : this rock festival will bring together 80 artists on 5 different stages. The must-see artists: Jay-Z, Mika, The Hives, Charlotte Gainsbourg. More info: www.festival.eurockeennes.fr

The Avignon Theatre Festival from July 7 to 27, is a major and must-attend event of the european art life. For 3 weeks, this the festival will please theatre lovers with its 64th edition.  More info: www.festival-avignon.com

Francofolies, from July 13 to 17 , in La Rochelle, western France. New places, new names, new artists on stage to give you more fun and emotions!  The must-see artists: Phœnix, Diam’s, Émilie Simon, Cœur de Pirate. More info: www.francofolies.fr

Vieilles Charues, from July 15 to 18, in Carhaix, Brittany. The must-see artists: Muse, Mika, Indochine, Alain Souchon. More info: www.vieillescharrues.asso.fr

Musilac, from July 16 to 18, in Aix-Les-Bains, Esplanade du Lac, southern France, will celebrate its 9th anniversary. The must-see artists: Pony Pony Run Run, M, ZZ Top, Peter Doherty, Luke, Indochine, Cœur de Pirate. More info: www.musilac.com

• In August:

Route du Rock, will take place from August 13 to 15, in Saint Malo – Le Fort Saint Père, Brittany, for its 20th edition. The must-see artists: Massive Attack, The Flamming Lips, Yann Tiersen. More info: www.laroutedurock.com

Rock en Seine, will be held in the Saint Cloud gardens from August 27 to 29 for its 8th edition. The must-see artists: Blink 182, Arcade Fire, Cypress Hill, Queens of the Stone Age, The Kooks, Foals and  Massive Attack. More info: www.rockenseine.com

On the occasion of the International Women’s Day (March 8th) and the World Poetry Day (March 21st), this 12^th edition of the Poetry Festival « Le Printemps des Poètes » in France will focus on the theme of women.

The inauguration evening will take place on Monday, March 8 at the Opéra Comique, with Dominique Blanc, Brigitte Fontaine and Carolyn Carlson.

Celebrated throughout France, the event will especially highlight the work of Andrée Chedid with the 2^nd Andree Chedid’s sung poem contest with Matthieu Chedid as the  president of the jury. The actress Dominique Blanc will be the sponsor of the event.

An original exhibition, entitled “au fil des mots”, will present a selection of poems having a focus on the theme of hope, body and love. These poems have been reinterpreted by designers and artists who bring their own graphic layout of a short text. The set will be embroidered by women of Swaziland, sick of HIV. This work will give them an income. About thirty works will be exhibited throughout the year 2010.

More information:

2010 Poetry Festival: www.printempsdespoetes.com

The screens as white as snow of the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival will soon light up with a thousand and one stories coming from all over the world.

The town of Clermont-Ferrand will be very pleased to welcome its numerous fans again in a very simple way : bashful, grumpy and happy people, docs, sneezy people (even those who try to get read rid of the swine flu ?), and of course sleepy ones because they enjoy dreaming a lot ! Come bite the apple!

More information:

The Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival: www.clermont-filmfest.com

]]> http://www.toorismag.com/en/clermont-ferrand-%e2%80%93-32nd-short-film-festival-january-29-%e2%80%93-february-7-2010/feed/ 0 http://www.toorismag.com/en/auvergne-20th-transvolcanique-september-19-and-20-2009/ http://www.toorismag.com/en/auvergne-20th-transvolcanique-september-19-and-20-2009/#comments Mon, 07 Sep 2009 10:53:49 +0000 Toorismag team http://www.toorismag.com/en/?p=380

The Transvolcanique is a mountain bike ride, which goes through Auvergne volcanos area. This year, this two-day long ride will take place on September 19 and 20. It is not a contest but just a pleasant way to go mountain biking in one of the most beautiful regional parks in France. It will start on Saturday in Blanzat towards the Mont Dore. On Sunday, it will start in Mont Dore towards Blanzat. It is quite simple : one day it goes up and the next day it goes down!

Both routes use different paths. The distance is about 2 times 80 km for a total difference in height of  2500 to 3500 metres.

You will go through large areas of Auvergne Volcanoes Park. You will see volcanoes, recent ones (the Puys mountain chain) or older ones (Mont Dore mountains), lakes and rivers. You will cycle on roads or trails enjoying a nice view upon Puy de Dôme or Puy de Sancy mountains.

Auvergne region is the land of wide open spaces, cheese and local ham, which you will be able when having a break, but it is also the lank of … mountain biking. 200 volunteers will be here along the ride and will do their best for you to enjoy it.

Now, what you have to do is just cycle and enjoy the beautiful landscapes of Auvergne Volcanoes Park.

More information:

The Transvolcanique – 145 rue Saint Vincent – 63112 BLANZAT

Website : www.transvolcanique.com

Email : contact@transvolcanique.com

Auvergne Tourist Office: www.auvergne-tourisme.info

]]> http://www.toorismag.com/en/auvergne-20th-transvolcanique-september-19-and-20-2009/feed/ 0 http://www.toorismag.com/en/discovering-local-produce-from-auvergne/ http://www.toorismag.com/en/discovering-local-produce-from-auvergne/#comments Fri, 17 Jul 2009 08:51:09 +0000 Toorismag team http://www.toorismag.com/en/?p=140

Auvergne is a French region renowned for its five Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) cheeses. Therefore, to get your taste buds used to local gastronomy the path is already traced throughout the Auvergne region and the places where these five cheeses are produced: the Bleu d’Auvergne at the heart of Massif Central area, the Cantal on cantalian mount, the Saint Nectaire in the Dore mounts, the Fourme d’Ambert in the Livradois-Forez area, and eventually the Salers, mountain summer pasture cheese produced in the Cantal area. There are about 40 stopovers throughout the Route des Fromages (path of cheeses), which include farmers producers, dairies and cheese shops as well as refiners. Therefore, you will have the opportunity to discover the diversity of local produce, its flavour and the know-how used for these five local cheese specialities. You will be also be suggested to taste some of the other 30 types of cheeses from the region, such as the Bleu de Laqueuille, the Brique de Jussac, the Carré d’Aurillac, the Fourme de Rochefort, the Saint-Agur and many others. This route is also the opportunity of enjoying natural sites, villages, the heritage and gastronomy related to each of the stopovers.

More information:

www.auvergne-tourisme.info

www.fromages-aop-auvergne.com

It is both Europe’s biggest regional park and one of the oldest as well. The Regional and Natural Park of Auvergne Volcanos’ wildlife is gorgeous, with an extensive territory and many landscapes. But, it owes also its strong identity to the people of Auvergne who succeeded in protecting its know-how and culture and who was aware of the richness and fragility of its environment. The regional and natural park of Auvergne volcanos invites you to discover its treasures and have a wonderful and exotic trip to a real sanctuary of nature.

Dômes mounts or Puys mountain chain:

Far away their shape can be easily seen. More than 80 domes and calderas (or craters), which were erupting between 100,000 and 7,000 years, are lined up along almost 40km. These mounts, which are unique in Europe, overlook the town of Clermont-Ferrand. The highest peak is called Puy-de-Dômes (1465m) and dit used to be be considered as a sacred mountain.

Dore-Sancy mounts:

Their history is influenced by the most important blast that ever happened in Auvergne.

Cantal mounts:

Europe’s greatest volcano erosion created dashing and radiant valleys. With a 70km diameter basis, it is larger than mount Etna.

Mount Cézallier:

Discovering this volcanic high plateau really brings you to a pleasant change of scenery: swaying meadows, woods adapting to the mounts’ curves and aubrac or salers cows let you believe in relaxed rhythm of life.

Artense:

The granite mount of Artense is located at both ends of Puy-de-Dôme and Cantal region. With holes and humps, Artense mount has a delightful nature where can be seen forests, rocky lands, clear water lakes and stone villages.

Nature reserves:

The Park created two nature reserves, where rare and protected plants as well as animals live.

More information: www.auvergne-tourisme.info

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