911 - 2011 : 1100th anniversary of Normandy

Seine-Maritime celebrates the 1100 years of existence of Normandy !

11 centuries ago, in 911, with the Vikings invasion of the Seine Valley, The Kingdom of France signed with the Vikings chief named Rollon the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte, giving to Rollon the Comté of Rouen, which was quite equivalent to the present Haute-Normandie.
Rouen, the capital of Normandy saw the death of William the Conqueror in 1087, Eu, the royal town, celebrated his wedding with Mathilde of Flanders in 1050, he was there for the consecration of the Abbey of Jumièges on July 1st 1067, the Abbey of Montivilliers was restored in 1035 by his father : Duke Robert the Magnificent, he formed a council in Lillebonne to plan the conquest of England, he stayed several times at the Duke Palace he had built in Fécamp to concentrate the political and religious power of Normandy… Many symbolic places and reasons to celebrate this anniversary through a program of events occurring from April to October 2011.
Find the program of the events on : www.happybirthdaynormandie.com

The CÔTE D’ALBÂTRE celebrates all year long

In a natural setting, free in mind, take a breath of fresh iodized air and of spindrift of the Côte d’Albâtre… And enjoy the celebrations and events organised all year long on the Côte d’Albâtre.

Seaside and festive atmosphere

With its seaside tradition, Seine-Maritime is a land where important sea and watersports events take place : The departure of the race Transat Jacques Vabre in Le Havre, the leg of the sailing race Tour of France from July 1st to 3rd and the arrival of the race “la Solitaire du Figaro” from August 23rd to 28th in Dieppe, the traditional sea celebrations on the whole Côte d’Albâtre from May to September, the International Kite Festival in Dieppe, “Estivoiles” in Fécamp celebrating the links between the town and the Terre-Neuvas...

The Watersport Festival in Seine-Maritime - May 14th and 15th
During this week-end, you can discover many watersports activities (kayak, boat, millinery, 747, optimist, catamaran…)

Transat Jacques Vabre – Le Havre -From October 7th until 16th 2011
The 10th edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre will start in Le Havre again. In October 2011, Le Havre will celebrate twenty years of collaboration for this race. The event will be marked with the 40 feets return.
Le Havre Tourist Information Centre - Tel.: 33(0)2 32 74 04 04 – www.lehavretourisme.com

Sliding week-end – Beach of Le Havre -May 6th until 8th
Demonstrations, shows of sliding sports on the beach of Le Havre

The Dixie Days - From June 10th until 12th 2011
International Jazz Festival– The beach walkway, Sainte-Adresse

Estivoiles – Sea and Music festival in Fécamp - From June 17th until 19th
An awaited event for the sea and music lovers, for all those who want to discover the sea heritage in a festive atmosphere.The port of Fécamp invites you on the docks to take part in many activities, concerts, land markets, street shows, demonstrations and watersports first try.

The Z’ Estivales
Each week-end from the end of June until the beginning of August, you can enjoy the summer festival of Le Havre : shows on the beach, street arts, concerts, outdoor circus, moving shows, workshops, puppet show…

Trophy of the Port of Fécamp – Multi50’ - From September 2nd until 4th
Major water event in Fécamp. After their arrival in 2009, the multihulled boats will meet again in the port in 2011. This race gathers 50 feets trimarans, a new growing category, which thrills the public as much as the 60 feets trimarans.

The sea flavours are honoured

Have a seaside break for the herring and scallop fairs taking place in many ports of the Côte d’Albâtre. These fairs are a tribute to all those who have chosen to work with the sea. The atmosphere is festive and you can enjoy many different herring recipes. A moment full of smells and old flavours to be shared.

Herring fairs, let’s make noise - Every year in November on the Côte d’Albâtre
The herring fairs, an occasion to discover the atmosphere of the cod fish ports in the old days ! Taste this symbolic fish of seine-Maritime through a large range of recipes : grilled, pickled or smoked.

The Palais Bénédictine, the spices kingdom

In Fécamp, town of Art and History, you can see the spire of an unusual place : the Palais Bénédictine. Since 1988, the Palais Bénédictine has an exhibition hall dedicated to contemporary art that has become a reference museum. More than 24 exhibitions are planned with a double aim : to encourage new artists and to introduce the famous contemporary or modern artists, such as Dali, Miro, Braque, César, Andy Warhol, Marc Chagall, Zao Wou-Ki, Robert Combas and Niki de Saint Phalle, whose work has already been exhibited there.

OMAR EL NAGDI’s exhibition - From March 19th until June 19th
Omar El Nagdi is an Egyptian artist considered as a leader of the Oriental art renewal. Pharaonic art, the Islam influence and the oriental tales are very important in his paintings, which where exhibited at the Arab World Institute in Paris in 1994. Bright colours and gold foil characterize a powerful expressionist style where pictured scenes are sometimes juxtaposed.

BANG HAI JA - From June 25th until September 25th
Ban Hai Ja was born in Seoul but has lived in France since 1961. She belongs to the first generation of Korean abstract painters. She creates a link between the East and the West with the materials she uses : Korean papers, ochre earth from Provence, natural pigments coming from everywhere. Her work with soft and subtle colours full of light and serenity invites us in a cosmic and poetic world.
Palais Bénédictine - Tel. : 33 (0)2 35 10 26 10 - www.benedictinedom.com

The events you cannot miss…

« 1961 » Exhibition -From October 2011 until January 2012
Exhibition organised for the 50th anniversary of the Malraux Museum in Le Havre

Exhibition in the Castle Museum of Dieppe - From October 2011 until January 2012
Georges Braque in the Museum of Dieppe, the whole collection.

Napoléon Bonaparte, his comings in the town of Le Havre - From November 19th until April 18th at the “Maison de l’Armateur” in Le Havre

“Delacroix à Marquet” Exhibition – MuMa Le Havre - From march 12th until May 22nd 2011
The drawings of the Olivier Senn’s collection in the Musée Malraux of Le Havre

Dieppe retro On September 3rd and 4th
Rally of old and prestigious cars.

Celebration in the Seine Valley !

Come alone, the two of you, with your family to make unusual meetings during the events planned all year long in the Seine Valley. You can enjoy sea festivals like the exceptional Armada of Rouen, the land fairs or the Impressionist festival organised this year. Many occasions to discover this beautiful valley.

Secret gardens – garden Festival
In 2011, the Département of Seine-Maritime has decided to honour the plant heritage of its sites and museums with an exceptional program. For this occasion, all the sites and museums, including the Saint Georges de Boscherville Abbey organise exhibitions and activities in relation with the garden and the nature themes. The landscapes of the museums gardens and surroundings will change, new kitchen gardens or new plantations will be created to let you see a new image of those places or to let you know how they used to look like before…

Seine-Maritime, the impressionism birth place
The Musée des Beaux-Arts of Rouen and the Musée Malraux of Le Havre both gather a remarkable collection of impressionist paintings. More over, new exhibitions are often planned like for the Impressionist Festival (New program 2013).

The impressionist nights in Rouen
A show at night mixing sounds, lights and high technology. A projection on the facades of buildings of Rouen (like the Cathedral, the Musée des Beaux-Arts…) happening every night in summer until September.

Spotlight on the Abbey of Gruchet le Valasse - From July until September
Every summer, in the natural setting of the EANA park, where stands the beautiful Abbey of Gruchet le Valasse, you can attend a spectacular show with hundreds of actors, stunning pyrotechnic and laser effects. A kind of fantastic adventure, the light show of Valasse is a pyrotechnic show with a large range of special effects among which you can admire a dazzling laser in the natural setting of the EANA Park and of the abbey, which was built about a thousand years ago. Dinner under the vaults of the abbey. From the Vikings time until the Normandy landings via the famous Norman adventurers, the royal court, the Revolution, the industrial development and the Liberation.
Parc Eana Route de l’abbaye -76210 Gruchet-le-Valasse - Tel.. : 33 (0)2 32 84 64 64 - www.eana.fr

Viva Cité Festival -June 2011
Viva Cité is part of the first street theatre festivals in Europe. The festival is at the crossroads of street theatre, fine arts, music, dance and pyrotechnics with moving shows and fairground art. Artists coming from all over the world liven up the town during three days and two nights…
Sotteville-les- Rouen - Tél. : 33 (0)2 35 63 60 89 - www.vivacite.com

Festival Automne en Normandie - From October until December
Theatre – Music - Dance It must be the longest festival in France : discoveries during one month and a half ! About hundred shows to explore the world of performing arts with all its richness and diversity following the famous artists of the beginning of the 21st century.
Festival Automne en Normandie - Tel. : 33 (0)2 32 10 87 07 - www.automne-en-normandie.com

The stomach and gastronomy fair
In October, Rouen dedicates a week-end to gastronomy and honours Norman producers. Several chefs of Rouen cook according to street shows and music.

Jeanne d’Arc’s festival in Rouen - At the beginning of June 2011
The town goes back in time until the 15th century and celebrates Jeanne d’Arc : dance, feasts, shows, brass bands, ceremonies…

The Christmas markets
Everywhere in Seine-Maritime, Christmas markets liven up towns and villages.

The countryside of Seine-Maritime, the events you cannot miss !

In every season, the countryside of Seine-Maritime, both the Pays de Caux and the Pays de Bray, has a program of various events.

The flax fairs – 15th edition - From June 17th to 19th 2011 in Doudeville
Activities, visits, stands, parade…

The Festival of the linen and the needle - On July 1st, 2nd and 3rd
In the Dun Valley, flax through all its possibilities from production to process with craft and artistic exhibitions. Fashion shows, visits of factories, of churches decorated with beautiful patchworks.
Tel. : (0)2 35 84 19 55

Archéojazz Festival -From June 28th until July 1st in Blainville Crevon
Concerts of jazz music and resembling musics every night in the floodlit ruins of the Castle of Blainville.

Académie Bach – Arques la Bataille - During the last week of August 2011
With the music of Bach as main thread, the “Académie Bach” (Bach Academy) has become an important event of classical music in France. Added to the traditional program (Arques- la-Bataille and the countryside of Seine-Maritime), the festival will also liven up the centre of Dieppe. Still with the aim of discovering more and more through this festival, an important part is now given to musics for dancing, for a travel in time and space in order to discover other cultures and traditional musics. Every edition is an occasion to see new creations.
Free access for : the organ cycle, breakfasts/meeting, lectures, exhibitions.
Tel. : 33 (0)2 35 04 21 03 - www.academie-bach.fr

18th Spring Market - Clères -On Sunday March 20th
The daffodil fair

24th International Magicians Festival in Forges-les-Eaux -From March 23rd until April 3rd
Las Vegas theme: shows, snack and dinner shows…