Then, the forest will tell us its secrets, its sounds and scents, some true cultural and natural essences giving us tales and stories related to plants, trees and animals that live here.

Explore the forest and play

Playing Hänsel and Gretel without getting lost ? This is easy in the forests of the Oise area ! There are many beautiful green places to have fun, to explore, to do sport, or to listen to unique stories : the forest of Ermenonville, 3,300 hectares, the forest of Halatte, 4,300 hectares, the forest of Chantilly, 6,344 hectares.

For children? All year round the Regional Natural Park organises all sorts of “nature” outings with treasure hunts, rallye du patrimoine (a fun way to explore local heritage), collecting clues and discovering small animals in the forest of Ermenonville, introduction to biodiversity through games, narrated hikes with a focus on the historic events of forests, bird feeders and nest boxes making in winter, green-citizenship workshops… a lot of funny activities to make children aware of nature and teach them to respect it.

Family outings? Every first weekend of June, there are many “nature” activities to do throughout the region. More than 100 original and unique ideas in total so that you can try other ways to explore the forest: guided tours, cycling, concerts and natural music instruments making workshops, tree-climbing as well as music and story walks are offered to the public at the heart of the forests of the Oise area.

Explore the forest and listen

Forest-style concerts, observing and listening to birds and red deers’ bellow… all you have to do is listen, wether you are a day-walker or a night-walker being on the lookout for a life signal or complete silence.

Themed-visits, guided tours with guides from the Ministry of Culture, hikes with commentaries by certified nature guides are frequently organised in order to fully enjoy the forest.

Event: do not miss the Forests Festival, featuring classical music in the natural settings of the forest of Compiègne. On programme: hiking-concerts, recitals, music workshops.

New!: night tours are organised to go listen to the great number of small animals of the forests of the Oise area : frogs, woodcocks and bats. In september, another unique outing will give you the opportunity to observe red deers bellowing. At dusk or dawn, immersed in the forest’s scents, walkers will be able to enjoy an amazing natural and musical sight. Actually, this is an awseome experience, and the word is well chosen, in order to better understand animal life and its mysteries !

More information: Picardie Region Tourist Office – http://picardietourisme.com/fr/index.aspx

Source : Press release Destination Oise Vivre La Forêt Autrement

From December 1, 2010 to January 2, 2011, the company of the Horse Living Museum (Musée Vivant du Cheval) presents its brand new Christmas show called « the Horses of the Wind Odyssey », which will transport the audience into the mystery of mythology.

Useful information

Access: http://www.museevivantducheval.fr/fr/se-rendre-a-chantilly.p15.html

Information and Bookings: +33 3 44 27 31 80

Price (adult) : €22
Price (child): €16,50 (from 4 to 17)

Dates of shows:

• 2.30 pm : December 1, 6, 8, 9, 10, 13, 15, 16
• 2.30 pm and 4.30 pm : December 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and January 2, 2011
• 3 pm : December 25 and January 1

More information:

Picardie Tourist Office – http://picardietourisme.com/fr/actualite/spectacle-noel-chantilly-odyssee-des-chevaux-du-vent.aspx

The Horse Living Museum (Musée Vivant du Cheval) – www.museevivantducheval.fr

Source : Press release L’Odyssée des Chevaux du Vent

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″

Marionnettes en Chemins is a major event focusing on puppetry, animated shapes and theatre of objects . It will be held for another 4th edition from May 24 to June 6, 2010.

Marionnettes en Chemins is a biennial festival aimed at everyone. This cultural event, which is shared by several areas in France, combines both cultural and artistic activities as well as a programme of shows with a focus on puppetry in Picardie region.

About 10 puppet and theatre of objects companies, young or experienced ones, are invited to share their artistic world with the inhabitants of the Picardie region where they will be hosted for one week.

Shows, workshops, meetings on puppetry will be at the heart of the festival. Everyday, writer François Chaffin will accompany both artists and inhabitants to tell them stories about the festival during meetings or writing workshops… There will be also animated films, exhibitions, a conference and professional meetings on May 28 an 29 during the Etats Généraux de la Marionnette II.

Guests companies:

Théâtrenciel : Ni fini ni infini
Charlotte Pronau – Cie De Guingois : Une femme seule
Pierre Tual : Naufrages Théâtre
Cie théâtre inutile : Oublie !
La Concordance des Temps : Pisteurs
Bouffou Théâtre / Frédéric Bargy : Othello, j’aurai ta peau
Punchisnotdead : Ubu forever
Garin Trousseboeuf : Le Castelet de Josette
AMK : Gingko Parrot, dans mon arbre il y a…
Pauline Delerue : Seule dans mon phare breton
ExtraMuros : Voix dans le noir
La Licorne : Spartacus

Useful Information

Full price:

• Show: €6
• Cabaret night: €10
• Closing show: €15

Reduced price:

• Show: €3
• Cabaret night: €5
• Closing show: €10

“Pass Spectacle”: €15 (both cabaret and closing show excluded)

Free entry for exhibitions, conference, films

Bookings needed for reading, writing workshop

Information / Bookings:

• Phone: +33 3 22 92 19 32
• Email: festival@letasdesable-cpv.org

More information: www.marionnettesenchemins.com

Source: “Marionnettes en Chemins” presse 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

The Jazz Festival of Amiens, northern France, is back in March with a programme focused on the theme “I have a dream” and which will go through the links between music and utopias or political struggles.

From March 11 to 19, the Jazz Van (Caravane du Jazz) will give a foretaste of the festival, taking place from March 23 to 27, and will travel through the Picardy region with Yom, Misja Fitzgerald Michel and Blick Bassy.

The programme: Rachid Taha, Brigitte Fontaine, Anthony Joseph & The Spasm Band, Tumi and the Volume, Speech Debelle, Ogres de Barback, Bombes 2 bal, Seb Martel, Ballaké Sissoko & Vincent Ségal ….

There will be also a great many of special creations. The opening night, especially, will set the tone with « Times they are a-changin », a unique creation for 2 harmonies and 5 singers, designed and arranged by Sarah Murcia.

The 120 musicians of Harmonies of Roye and Epehy will accompany with Mamani Keita (Mali), Rodolphe Burger, Jim Yamouridis (Greece/Australia), Kamilya Jubran (Palestine), Fantazio. Together they will play songs of struggle, hope and protest, famous or exhumed, from songs of renowned French singer Georges Brassens, Bob Marley, Sayed Darwish, Public Enemy, Mikis Theodorakis, Bob Dylan, Jungle Street Band, La Bande à Rosa, Zebulon and many others.

But also …

Noel Akchoté Solo with his performance Revolver. Alone with his electric guitar, he will play covers of Daft Punk, Lou Reed, John Fahey, Ornette Coleman and he will give his very personal version of subversion.

Eric Legnini Trio and special guest Fabrizio Bosso. The pianist will play songs he knows well, soul music of the 60’s, with blaxploitation and black power.

Seb Martel for a tribute to Woody Guthrie.

More information: www.amiensjazzfestival.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 29th Amiens International Film Festival will be hitting the screens from November 13^th to 22^nd, 2009. As usual, it includes a competition section (full length and short films), retrospectives, tributes and panoramas.

Competition:

Seven short films, devoted this year to young writers in Europe, as well as twelve full length films, coming from all around the world and especially Africa, Asia and Latin America, will be competiting for the festival’s prizes.

Tributes:

Guillermo Arriaga, Mexican writer, director and scriptwriter ; Turkan Soray, Turkish actress ; Flora Gomes, a major African film director (Guinea-Bissau) and Jeon Soo a growing film director in Korean cinema.

Retrospectives:

These eighth retrospectives, as part of the Turkish cultural season dedicated to worldwide major studios, will be devoted to the Yesilçam studios with a focus on work and representation of women.

The second part of the retrospectives “Actors Studio and New Hollywood”, initiated in 2008, is centred this year on the late sixties’ new generation actors.

Eventually, the “Film and Mexican Revolution” retrospective highlights two major figures of Mexican history: Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata. On this occasion, fiction films from Mexico, Hollywood or Europe in relation with these two iconic figures will be shown.

More information:

Amiens International Film Festival: www.filmfestamiens.org

Amiens Tourist Office: www.amiens-tourisme.com

]]> http://www.toorismag.com/en/amiens-international-film-festival-in-the-somme-area/feed/ 0 http://www.toorismag.com/en/picardie-the-merovingian-days-and-the-archaeological-park-of-marle-sur-serre-aisne/ http://www.toorismag.com/en/picardie-the-merovingian-days-and-the-archaeological-park-of-marle-sur-serre-aisne/#comments Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:01:40 +0000 Toorismag team http://www.toorismag.com/en/?p=276
The Aisne valley has been a welcoming environment for thousand years, as evidenced by its numerous archaeological sites. Very appealing Gaul’s ruins and Gallo-Roman pieces of work have been listed, which makes the Aisne area a cradle for Merovingian history. The Archaeological Park of Marle-sur-Serre particularly highlights this legacy.

The Archaeological Park of Marle-sur-Serre:

It has both a museum, situated in the town’s old mill, and an open-air reenactment of a Merovingian village and its environment. This is the opportunity to explore the past in an educational and entertaining way.
The museum shows the artefacts discovered in the necropolis of Goudelancourt-les-Pierrepont, dating back to the 6th and 7th centuries: tombstones and sarcophagus, weapons, ornaments. It helps understanding their historical context.
The park presents a village’s way of life in the Middle Ages. The houses were built according to the construction techniques used at that time. A reconstructed natural environment surrounds them and there are also animals, which remind of the farming activity there used to be in the Merovingian era.

The Merovingian Days:

They take place on August 15-16 and on September 19-20 in the Archaeological Park. They offer a reenactment of daily life in the countryside in the Middle Ages: woodworking, stone carving, pottery workshop, Merovingian vase firing, bread baking in an earthenware oven, wool weaving and dyeing, basket making, …

More information:

Aisne Tourist Office: www.evasion-aisne.com

First a pedalo excursion on the lake and then a tourist train ride towards the fabulous medieval castle of Pierrefonds, which more than one child has always dreamt of. Indeed, there is no need for much imagination to believe being back to the time of valiant knights eager to liberate their princess imprisoned at the top of the crenellated tower.

Besides, do not miss a visit into the cellars of the castle to enjoy the “Bal des gisants”. A journey into the strange and mysterious atmosphere of the castle cellars where moving lights, whispered poems, sound effects and audiovisual methods will help give life to a hundred of people who died here.

More information:

Oise Tourist Office: www.oisetourisme.com