As part of the cultural event Les Rendez-Vous de l’Histoire, from October 8 to 11 in Blois, with a focus this year on « The Body » (« le corps dans tous ses états »), the Royal Casle of Blois will host an exhibition called Images du Corps (Images of the Body) from October 8, 2009 to January 3, 2010.

The exhibition is divided into two sections:

• Histoires de Pied (Foot Stories), photographs by Amélie DEBRAY

For five years, this sensitive photographer has taken a very special approach. She asks famous people coming from different backgrounds to take their shoes off and takes a picture of their bare feet. Explorer, filmmaker, designer, rugby player, actor, singer, cook, researcher, dancer, international historians, each person accepted to play the game and  appeared in a new light.

In addition to Amélie DEBRAY’s photographs, the Fine Arts Museum has also dedicated a room to an exhibition on the theme of shoe called « Autour de la Chaussure », which presents, among others, very ancient pieces.

• Corps sublimé, corps martyrisé (magnified body, martyred body), exploring the museum’s collections

In addition to paintings and sculptures, a visit with a focus on how is the body pictured in art from Antiquity to the twentieth century. On this occasion, several unseen artworks will be presented: paintings, sculptures, anatomical studies and characters from holy history or mythologie will be taken out of the museum’s storerooms.

More information:

Address: Château Royal de Blois – Place du Château – 41 000 BLOIS – FRANCE

Phone: +33 2 54 90 33 33

Web: www.chateaudeblois.fr

Email: chateau@ville-blois.fr

]]> http://www.toorismag.com/en/lights-on-images-of-the-body-exhibition-at-the-royal-castle-of-blois-from-october-8-2009-to-january-3-2010/feed/ 0 http://www.toorismag.com/en/the-royal-castle-of-blois-and-the-fine-arts-museum/ http://www.toorismag.com/en/the-royal-castle-of-blois-and-the-fine-arts-museum/#comments Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:43:06 +0000 Toorismag team http://www.toorismag.com/en/?p=410

The Royal Castle of Blois offers a large overview of both art and history of the Loire Castles, which makes it the best way to start visiting them. For over four centuries, kings and queens have followed one after the other in the Royal Castle of Blois and have made this place a treasure of French architecture.

The Royal Castle of Blois is the only Loire castle that has a Fine Arts Museum. With more than 35,000 artworks, some of the Royal Castle pieces are shown in the royal apartments of the François Ist area, as well as in the Fine Arts Museum located in the Louis XII area, but also during many temporary exhibitions.

Every summer, a special lights and sound effects festival called “ainsi blois vous est conté” is organised in the Royal Castle of Blois. This is the opportunity to enjoy the amazing architecture of the courtyard and also a show presenting famous events and characters in the history of the castle in a magical world of color and light.

Important events:

• Until October 20, 2009: Painting Exhibition

• Until October 12, 2009: Exhibition “by the water’s edge, 108 robbers” by Yan Pei-Ming

• From October 8, 2009 to January 3, 2010: Exhibition “Images of the Body”

Useful information:

Opening hours: open all year round, daily (except 25/12 and 01/01)

• From October 1 to November 4: 9am-6pm

• From November 5 to March 31: 9am to 12.30 and 1.30pm to 5.30pm

Phone: +33 2 54 90 33 33

2009 Prices: Including a tour of the Castle (guided or not), a tour of the Fine Arts Museum and free access to all temporary exhibitions

Adult: €8 – Reduced price: €6 – Children (6 to 17 years old): €4 – Children under 6 years old: free

More information:

www.chateaudeblois.fr

]]> http://www.toorismag.com/en/the-royal-castle-of-blois-and-the-fine-arts-museum/feed/ 0 http://www.toorismag.com/en/centre-region-travel-at-the-heart-of-the-castles-along-the-river-loire/ http://www.toorismag.com/en/centre-region-travel-at-the-heart-of-the-castles-along-the-river-loire/#comments Wed, 22 Jul 2009 10:26:56 +0000 Toorismag team http://www.toorismag.com/en/?p=180

The Centre region has an outstanding architectural, historical and cultural heritage that is worth the trip. Along the river Loire, you will be invited to turn the pages of a full-scale history book: this is the place where kings of France built their castles. The most renowned of them are without any doubt Chambord, Blois and Azay-le-Rideau castles.

Chambord Castle:

Architectural work of art from the Renaissance period and François Ier’s dream, the legend tells that Leonardo Da Vinci would have drawn the castle. Chambord Castle stands in the heart of a vast 13500 acres forest, which offers nice walks, bike rides or even boat trips along river Cosson.
The forest and the castle are open every day.
Price: from 8,50€ to 9,50€. Free under 18 years old.

Blois Castle:

Not far from Chambord, at the heart of a town built like an amphitheatre on river Loire, Blois Castle combines four styles. Four castles around a courtyard where stands the famous staircase of the François Ier area. This royal castle keeps the memory of a scary story when penetrating Henri III’s bedroom where the Duke of Guise was murdered.
The castle is open every day.
Price: 8€. Light and Sound: 7€. Castle + Light and Sound: 13€

Azay-le-Rideau Castle:

Located in the Touraine area, Azay-le-Rideau is the symbol of architectural refinement during French Renaissance time. The castle combines both style of the traditional French castle and the greatness of Italian palaces. Built on an island, Azay-le-Rideau is a treasure surrounded with water, which offers a nice and calm setting to enjoy beautiful walks.
The castle is open all year round.
Price: 7,50€. Reduced: 4,80€. Free under 17 years old.

More information:

www.chateauxtourisme.com

Centre Region and Val de Loire Tourist Office: www.visaloire.com