What is the point of a food festival when cooking is everywhere, all around us, in the newspapers, books, blogs and now prime time on television ?

What is the point of such a festival when the contemporary eater and professionals swallow, devour, gobble up everyday and at full speed chefs and trends much more than it takes to have eaten one’s fill ?

That is precisely for these reasons that Omnivore Food Festival is more useful than ever.

For six years indeed it has followed the development of cooking by inviting renowned people of French cuisine (Michel Bras, Pierre Gagnaire, Alain Ducasse, Alain Passard, …), often for the first time by giving famous foreign chefs the opportunity to become known (Ferran Adrià, Heston Blumenthal, David Kinch…) and especially by presenting tomorrow’s and today’s great chefs of world cuisine.

It is this sum of experiences, cultures and styles that the Omnivore Food Festival enables to share thanks to on stage demonstrations like a cooking rock concert but also through meeting the partners, exhibitors and festival-goers in the Omnivore village. By bringing several different and top-quality chefs, by giving cooking a public stage to be displayed, examined, discussed, the 6th Omnivore Food Festival continues to maintain the reflection and appetite for cooking.

Useful Information

Prices :

• Sunday 20th February Pass  : €10
• Monday 21st February Pass (Sunday free) : €20
• Tuesday 22 February Pass (Sunday free) : €20
• 2-day Pass (Sunday free) : €70

On-line booking: http://www.omnivore.fr/achat-pass-en-ligne/

Download the full programme: http://www.omnivore.fr/le-programme-2011-2/

More information: Deauville Omnivore Food Festival - www.omnivore.fr

Source: Press Release 2011 Omnivore Food Festival

The very first Impressionist Normandy Festival, is the occasion to explore the roots of one of the most important art movements of art history. This major cultural event of Summer celebrates Impressionism until September throughout the regions of Upper and Lower Normandy.

Revealing Impressionism in all its Forms

Visitors will have the opportunity to discover the exceptional cultural heritage and all the creative talent of Normandy, homeland of the Impressionist movement. Many festivities, whether directly linked to Impressionism and its time or perpetuating its avant-garde spirit, are being designed to enchant residents, summer visitors, fans and art amateurs from all corners of the world.

Painting, contemporary art, music, cinema, theatre, danse, photography, video, literature, lectures, light and sound displays, picnics in the spirit of déjeuners sur l’herbe, outdoor balls, and more: the Impressionist Normandy Festival is as rich as it is diverse. It offers a programme which is open to everyone and to all forms of artistic expression. More than 200 events in homage to Impressionism will take place in Normandy at the initiative of museums, local government councils, institutions, individuals and associations.

Heading up the festival is the much awaited exhibition, “Une ville pour l’Impressionnisme: Monet, Pissarro, Gauguin à Rouen” (“A City for Impressionism: Monet, Pissarro, Gauguin in Rouen”). The Fine Arts Museum of Rouen presents a number of outstanding works from worldwide public and private collections. Many of them are masterpieces which have never been exhibited in France.

Useful information:

Dates : From June 5 to September 29, 2010

Location: The festival takes place in the regions of Upper and Lower Normandy in tens of towns and cities.

The 2010 programme: on 2010: http://www.normandie-impressionniste.fr/en/programmation

More information: Impressionist Normandy Festival – www.normandie-impressionniste.fr

Source : Press release dp_anglais_bd

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″

This year, come and celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Papillons de Nuit Festival and enjoy 3 days of concerts on 3 different stages ! This event will be held on May 28, 29 and 30 at the heart of Normandy coutryside, in the town of Saint-Laurent-de-Cuves.

Spotlight on … the festival’s music programme:

Friday 28 May:  Madness, Alpha Blondy, Caravan Palace, Wax Tailor, VV Brown, Danakil, Bauchklang, The Bewitched Hands On The Top, Of Our Heads, The Shellys, Twin.

Saturday 29 May: Gossip, Kasabian, Gogol Bordello, Saez, Miossec, Bloody Beetroots Death Crew 77, Vitalic, Friendly Fires, Revolver, Jil is Lucky, Asaf Avidan & The Mojos, Gush, Fady Mélo, Chocolate Donuts.

Sunday 30 May : Jacques Dutronc, Renan Luce, Emir Kusturica & The No Smoking Orchestra, Coeur de Pirate, Carmen Maria Vega, Che Sudaka, Hindi Zahra, The Black Box Revelation, Féfé, Lilly Wood & The Prick, Oswando.

The Butterflies Effect:

Since its second edition in 2002, the Papillons de Nuit Festival also acts as a springboard in order to promote new local artists and bands. The Butterfly Effect comes in the form of a tour in different places throughout Normandy with one last key step on the festival’s Erébia stage. This year more than 80 bands from Normandy applied to the Butterfly Effect. The association had too much to choose from so that to present “la crème de la crème” !

Useful Information:

Location: Saint-Laurent-de-Cuves

Dates : May 28 -30, 2010

Prices: Tickets for sale on the festival’s entrance

• Until May 24: €27 per day / €59 3-day pass
• From May 25 and on the festival: €32 per day / €69 3-day pass
• Gratuit pour les moins de 10 ans.

More information: Papillons de Nuit Festival – www.papillonsdenuit.com

Source :  Papillons de Nuit Festival Press Release

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

To celebrate the Month of Documentary Film 10th edition, november is a must-attend event in France, French West Indies and abroad for documentary films.

The aim of this event is to show to an audience, that is getting larger, and make them appreciate the diversity and strength of creative documentary films by uniting many events organised by enthusiastic programmers in different locations.

Venues: libraries and media centres, cinemas, cultural and educational institutions, French cultural centres abroad…

Programme: viewings of heritage, rare or unreleased films, film previews, tributes, topics, debates and meetings with directors…

In France, 16 regions will also host this event (participating regions: Alsace, Aquitaine, Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne and Franche-Comté, Brittany, Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Guadeloupe, Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Midi-Pyrenées, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur, Rhône-Alpes)

More information:

www.moisdudoc.com

www.culture.fr

]]> http://www.toorismag.com/en/november-a-month-dedicated-to-documentary-films-2/feed/ 0 http://www.toorismag.com/en/basse-normandie-deauville-american-film-festival/ http://www.toorismag.com/en/basse-normandie-deauville-american-film-festival/#comments Fri, 11 Sep 2009 11:09:52 +0000 Toorismag team http://www.toorismag.com/en/?p=388

From 4 to 13 September 2009, cinema, movie stars, music, the United States are there in Deauville for the 35th American Film Festival.

Since it has been created in 1975, the American Film Festival of Deauville highlights the United States’ film diversity, Hollywood or independent films, and constantly discovers new talents whether they are actors or directors. Over 100 films will be presented to the public in three different places: the International Centre of Deauville, the Lucien Barrière Casino of Deauville and the Morny Cinema.

The Festival is an event open to all, both professionals and film lovers.

You too should definitely come and enjoy this important event !

Prices: €150 permanent pass – day pass: €30 – student day pass under 26 years old: €12

More information :

Festival website: www.festival-deauville.com

Deauville Tourist Office: www.deauville.fr

Calvados Tourist Office: www.calvados-tourisme.com

]]> http://www.toorismag.com/en/basse-normandie-deauville-american-film-festival/feed/ 0 http://www.toorismag.com/en/basse-normandie-%e2%80%93-discovering-artistic-mosaics-of-deauville%e2%80%99s-pompeian-baths/ http://www.toorismag.com/en/basse-normandie-%e2%80%93-discovering-artistic-mosaics-of-deauville%e2%80%99s-pompeian-baths/#comments Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:14:55 +0000 Toorismag team http://www.toorismag.com/en/?p=156

The Pompeian baths, built by Charles Adda in 1923, have an architecture made of concrete and mosaics characteristic of the 1920’s. Two hundred and fifty huts, fifty of which were luxury huts, provide ” all hygiene, comfort and refinement conditions asked for by swimmers” according to 1938’s tourist Guide. They are built around nine inner patios and on the Planches replacing the wooden single huts, which, at that time, were considered old-fashioned.

Date of the event: Saturday 8 August, 3 p.m, Place Claude Lelouch.
For children, a mosaic workshop will be organised.
Price: adults : 5€, special price : 2,50€
Little mosaists workshop: 3€

More information:

Deauville Tourist Office: www.deauville.org

Welcome to Normandy, A land of myth and magic, nature and culture, beach and countryside, sweet and savoury… If this region is full of treasures, there is one that is certainly worth the trip : the Mont-Saint-Michel bay is without any doubt one of the most unique landscape of the local heritage.

Located east of the mouth of river Couesnon, Mont Saint-Michel is a granite rocky island on which was built, from 709, a sanctuary dedicated to archangel Saint Michel. « Wonder of the ocean », the Mont-Saint-Michel stands at the heart of a wide bay, which is the scene of the greatest tidal ranges in Europe. The Mont-Saint-Michel is surrounded and turns into an island again only at high tide. This is a beautiful sight that attracts many tourists (nearly 3,5 million visitors per year). Three sites are especially recomended to enjoy the sea tide : The Roche Torin in Courtils, the Grouin du sud in Vains-Saint-Léonard and the Gué de l’Epine in Val-Saint-Père. The Mont-Saint-Michel is also a nice place to observe the sea tide coming in the Couesnon estuary. From the village, up on the walls and in particular from the Northern Tower (Tour du Nord), you will be able to follow the sea tide from Tombelaine to the bottom of the Mont. Such a great moment…

Since 1979, both the Mont-Saint-Michel and the bay have been included in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites. Being part of it emphasises the universal and exceptional value of this cultural monument so that it can be protected for humanity. Since 1998, it has also been listed as a part of Europe’s great routes of pilgrimage under the nomination « Paths of Saint-Jacques de Compostelle in France ».

More information:

Mont Saint Michel Tourist Office: www.ot-montsaintmichel.com

Normandy Tourist Office: www.normandie-tourisme.fr