Cultural outings organised by the association in 2023
Thursday 23 November 2023
An afternoon at the Château de Villers-Cotterêts and the Cité Internationale de la Langue Française
It was in the royal château, built by François I, that the Ordinance of Villers-Cotterêts was signed in 1539, establishing the use of the French language in legal and administrative documents.
A major restoration project has restored the château to its former glory; it now houses the Cité Internationale de la Langue Française.
- Guided tour “Memoirs of a Castle”, to discover its history, architecture,
Renaissance interiors and its surroundings...
- Then a self-guided tour of the exhibition dedicated to the French language, its various forms of expression—both spoken and written—its relationship with the world through its spread across different continents, and its connections with other languages.
Tuesday 10 October 2023
Tour of the Historical Immersion Site (SIH) at the Antoine Vivenel Museum
Presented by Delphine Jeannot, Director of the Compiègne Museums, this free tour has been organised especially for the Friends.
The Historical Immersion Site (SIH) ‘Discover Compiègne!’ is a new space dedicated to the history of Compiègne and its region, featuring an introductory film and a virtual tour of major sites via interactive stations.
Then, in the museum galleries, Delphine Jeannot will present the latest additions as well as projects concerning, among other things, the future gallery dedicated to Mediterranean archaeological collections (scheduled to open for Museum Night 2024).
Tuesday 24 May 2023
La Roche-Guyon Castle and the village of Vétheuil
▸ Guided tour of the Château de La Roche-Guyon and its grounds, certified as an Organic Garden and a Garden of Distinction.
Nestled between the Seine and the limestone cliffs of the Vexin, this château will take you on a journey through centuries of history.
From its medieval keep to the German occupation during the Second World War, we will discover its rich historical past, not forgetting the Fruit and Vegetable Garden created in the spirit of the Age of Enlightenment.
▸ Vétheuil. This small village on the banks of the Seine was a favourite haunt of the Impressionists, including Claude Monet, who lived there and painted numerous works. The American painter Joan Mitchell also lived in this village, hence the exhibition ‘Monet-Mitchell: A Dialogue of Painters’ recently held at the Fondation Louis Vuitton.
During our walk, we will visit the Church of Notre-Dame (12th–13th centuries), which features two remarkable Renaissance portals.
Tuesday 4 April 2023
Montmorency, Enghien-les-Bains, Epinay-sur-Seine
In the footsteps of a philosopher, spa-goers and missionaries…
▸ Guided tour of the Maison Jean-Jacques Rousseau in Montmorency. This small museum, designated a Musée de France and a Maison des Illustres, has retained the charm of the place where Rousseau lived.
▸ Guided tour ‘Around the Lake’ in Enghien. During a walk from the Rose Garden to the Villa du Lac, we will discover the history and architecture of this spa town.
▸ Guided tour of the Notre-Dame-des-Missions church in Epinay-sur-Seine. Formerly the Missions pavilion at the 1931 Paris Colonial Exhibition, rebuilt in Epinay to serve as a church, this building with its striking architecture is considered a masterpiece of early 20th-century sacred art.
