MAJOR ANNIVERSARIES
Metz, Grand Est/Lorraine - Starting December 8, 2019
800th Anniversary of the city's Saint-Etienne Cathedral, nicknamed "The Lantern of God," is renowned for its Chagall stained-glass windows. Celebrations begin December 8, 2019 through December 8, 2020.
WILL RESUME WHEN CONFINEMENT IN FRANCE IS LIFTED - WILL ADVISE
2020 will also be the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Pompidou Metz, the regional wing of Paris' Pompidou Center.
Loire Valley & Western Loire
In 2000, a 170-mile stretch of the Loire Valley and the sister region of Western Loire were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, from Sully-sur-Loire in the Loire Valley to Chalonnes-sur-Loire in the Western Loire.
WWII Anniversaries - May
There will be two WWII commemorations: the 80th anniversary of the evacuation of more than 300,000 Allied soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk, France which took place between May 26th and June 4th 1940, and the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII on May 8, 1945. Commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII was held in a scaled down version by President Emmanuel Macron on the Champs-Elysées
Brest, Brittany - July 10 to 16, 2020
Next year July 10 to 16, 2020, the town of Brest will also welcome the International maritime festival, Brest 2020. Every four years, participants can sail on old rigs during the day and watch fireworks over the harbor each night over the course of a week next July.
POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Antibes-Juan-les-Pins, Côte d'Azur - Mid-July
The 60 anniversary of Jazz à Juan - It has hosted all the Jazz greats from Ella Fitzgerald, Charles Mingus and Ray Charles to Miles Davis and Brand for and Wyton Marsalis. In the words of their sites website: #The first «Jazz à Juan» festival, created as a tribute to a famous musician who loved Antibes, none other than Sidney Bechet, was the event that sparked off many other festivals which quickly spread across Europe. Claude Nobs, inventor of the great Montreux event, said himself: "If I hadn't passed through Antibes, Montreux wouldn't exist." The concept was revolutionary. For the first time, the general public could discover the main artists of the great saga which jazz had already become, with the heros on stage in person, and the most beautiful decor one could wish for under the hundered-year-old pine trees of pinède Gould facing the Mediterranean Sea. It was certainly a bit of a gamble, but one which more than lived up to its promises."
POSTPONED UNTIL JULY 2021
Brittany - August 7 to 16, 2020
The region of Brittany is well-known for its Celtic heritage and from August 7 to 16 of 2020, 700, 000 visitors are expected to attend the 50th edition of the Festival Interceltique de Lorient to witness and listen to the spectacular music from . Lorient is a 3hour ride by TGV from Paris.
POSTPONED TO 2021
MAJOR 2020 EVENTS
Lille, Northern France - December 6, 2019 through 2020
The great Northern capital Lille is the first French City to be named Lille World Capital of Design. The kick-off will be December 6, 2019 and followed through 2020 by the display of hundreds of innovative design projects affecting every facet of modern-day life. Just one hour from Paris by TGV.
EVENTS POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Normandy - April 3 to September 6, 2020
Lovers of Monet, Degas, Manet, Pissaro and great artists of the time, will be drawn to Normandy for the 4th edition of the Normandy Impressionist Festival. It will take place throughout the region from April 3 to September 6, 2020. There will big exhibitions in Rouen and Le Havre and other cities.
NEW DATES : NOW SCHEDULED FROM JULY 4 TO NOVEMBER 15
Marseille, Provence - From June 7 to November 1, 2020
Top French City Marseille will be a focal point for contemporary art by hosting the roving European biennial known as MANIFESTA, also a first for France. A dialogue between art and the community, Marseille will be alive in installations, out-door happenings and exhibitions.
SCHEDULED TO OPEN ON AUGUST 28
Rennes, Brittany - Summer 2020
Contemporary art extravaganza during the Summer of 2020 in Rennes, capital of Brittany, featuring an exhibition of works from the acclaimed Pinault Collection.
POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Brest, Brittany - July 10 to 16, 2020
Next year In July the town of Brest will also welcome the International maritime festival, Brest 2020. Every four years, participants can sail on old rigs during the day and watch fireworks over the harbor each night over the course of a week next July.
POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Lorient, Brittany - August 7 to 16, 2020
The region of Brittany is well-known for its Celtic heritage and in August of 2020, 700, 000 visitors are expected to attend the 50th edition of the Festival Interceltique de Lorient to witness and listen to the spectacular music. Lorient is a 3hour ride by TGV from Paris.
POSTPONED TO 2021
Throughout France - September 19 & 20, 2020
European Heritage Days – Journées du patrimoine
Every year since 1984, the Ministry of Culture has thrown open the doors of its greatest monuments to the general public. Celebrated throughout Europe starting in 1991, guided access is now made available to any institution providing an important public service, form the best known to the most obscure. Today, more than 16,000 sites in France alone are responsible for 20,000 events, including guided tours, workshops and demonstrations, concerts, theatrical performances, walks etc.
MORE INFORMATION TO COME