The Pompidou Centre is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Henri Matisse, one of the most important artists of the 20th century. This special exhibition uses a novel published in 1971 by Louis Aragon, Henri Matisse: Roman as a framework to display not only 230 works, but also over 70 documents, books and archives related to him.
The historic Burgundy district is blessed with some of the most beautiful rural landscapes in France. There are world-renowned vineyards to visit and charming small cities, but the region also has a wealth of picturesque towns and villages rich in historical and gastronomic heritage that are a joy to discover. It’s worth striking further afield from its beautiful regional capital, Dijon, and the wine capital of Beaune to explore some of the other riches of the region.
Burgundy has such a wealth of attractions, ranging from the famous vineyards and the two major towns of Dijon and Beaune, it’s easy to lose a sense of time in these places and not leave enough to explore the region in greater depth. There are so many rewarding sights to discover, ranging from hilltop medieval villages and Gallo-Roman strongholds, to the quiet beauty of abbeys and monasteries, not to mention hot air ballooning or a gentle cruise along one of the region’s canals. There’s huge selection of exciting things to see and do, enough for many visits. Here are a few more interesting suggestions.
Burgundy is full of surprises and contrasts. Running from Auxerre in the north to Mâcon in the south, this is a vast and varied landscape of wide rivers, dense forests, granite hills, limestone valleys, meandering country lanes and rolling hillsides. Of course, even without all this beauty, the attractions that draw most visitors are the region’s wonderful food and world famous wines.
Every year in September, most European countries devote an entire weekend to the celebration and exploration of their cultural heritage through the European Heritage Days program. This year in France it was held on 19th – 20th of the month celebrating the theme “Heritage and Education: Learning for Life”.
Public and private owners of historic properties, members of associations for the protection and enhancement of heritage, curators, restorers, guardians and chief architects of historic monuments and objects, all mobilised to welcome visitors to hundreds of sites, free of charge. It’s a wonderful opportunity for everyone to celebrate the beauty and history of their own heritage.
