Katharine: Museums in France this summer

Subscribe to the Newsletter Would you like to ride the highways and byways of France on a discovery of masterpieces? Take part in our Tour de France of museums, departing from Compiègne. After celebrating Carrier-Belleuse at the Château de Compiègne, take the Dijon road and explore the collections of the Musée Magnin. Then take to the road again, making for the Musée de Grenoble where a summer programme awaits you. After that, head for the Côte d'Azur for a colourful break orchestrated by John Armleder at the Musée National Fernand Léger and by Denis Castellas at the Musée National Marc Chagall. Then make a detour via Limoges and explore the "trade routes" of blue at the Musée National Adrien Dubouché. Bound for Paris, set off on a discovery of the works of Lee Ufan in the Park of the Château de Versailles and peruse the fabrics on display at the Château d'Écouen. Your next stage sheds light on the mystery of the mask at the Musée du Louvre, explores the history of dragons at the Musée National des Arts Asiatiques and rounds off the summer on a beautiful note on the banks of the Seine in the company of the Louvre's water nymphs. The museum bookshops’ team wishes you Bon Voyage! CONTENTS > Departure from Picardie > First stage to Dijon > Stopoff in Grenoble > A detour via the Côte d’Azur > Getaway in southwest > Arrival in Île-de-France > CONTENTS  Departure from Picardie  Carrier-Belleuse Le maître de Rodin Until October 27, 2014 Musées et domaine nationaux du Palais impérial de Compiègne The first ever retrospective to be devoted to Albert Ernest Carrier-Belleuse, this exhibition offers an exploration of the work of one of the most celebrated sculptors of his time. After early training in a metal smith’s workshop, he pursued a career as a sculptor and is today the embodiment of Second Empire sculpture. Learn more Order the catalogue Our top choices > The whole selection The Imperial Palace Compiègne - English 23.00 euros 10 Notecards and envelopes Auguste Rodin 11.00 euros Rodin. La passion du corps DVD 19.95 euros Two Hands 159.00 euros > CONTENTS  First stage to Dijon  Musée Magnin Musée Magnin, Dijon Housed in an elegant seventeenth century town house, the museum presents 2,000 artworks assembled by two avid collectors, the siblings Maurice and Jeanne Magnin. The exhibition path takes in Flemish, Italian and French paintings but also canvases by great masters such as Tiepolo or Géricault as well as lesser-known artists. Learn more The whole selection > CONTENTS  Stopoff in Grenoble   Summer at the museum Musée de Grenoble Musée de Grenoble Discover or rediscover the collections of one of Europe's most prestigious museums, set in summery surroundings. Workshops and visits will take you on a tour through the History of Western Art from the twelfth century up to the present day, with artists such as Rubens, De La Tour, Ingres, Gauguin and Picasso. A Summer at the museum! Order the guide of the museum The whole selection > CONTENTS  A detour via the Côte d’Azur  John Armleder Until October 6, 2014 Musée national Fernand Léger, Biot John Armleder, Sans titre, 2001, Courtesy Galerie Catherine Issert This exhibition has been designed by John Armleder himself. Through this exhibition circuit, the artist shares his questionings, constantly associating his paintings with objects, elementary forms to blur the frontiers separating art from decoration, object from subject and, more generally, art from life. More details Denis Castellas Until October 6, 2014 Musée national Marc Chagall, Nice Denis Castellas, 62 times henry After trying his hand in particular at drawing, photography and film making, Denis Castellas devoted himself to his discipline of preference: painting. Through this exhibition, discover his world and more specifically, his most recent works. Learn More Our top choices > The whole selection Musée national Fernand Léger - Biot - English - 9782854955460 8.00 euros Chagall Musée national Marc Chagall, Nice - English 19.50 euros Dvd Chagall Le peintre à la tête renversée 19.95 euros Fernand Leger : reconstruire le réél 1924 - 1946 35.00 euros > CONTENTS  Getaway in southwest  Les routes bleues Périples d'une couleur de la Chine à la Méditerranée Until October 13, 2014 Musée national Adrien Dubouché, Limoges Allow yourself to be guided along the legendary roads of blue, a colour stamped with the seal of the East, through the history of civilisations and materials. learn more Spotlight on blue   Square scarf "Mademoiselle Chanel" 39.00 euros "Count of Artois' room - J. Garcia" Fan 45.00 euros Floral cushion cover by Monsieur Lacroix - Blue 55.00 euros "Starry night" Stole 59.50 euros > CONTENTS  Arrival in Île-de-France  Lee Ufan Versailles Until November 2, 2014 Château de Versailles Around the avenues and gardens, at the foot of the Gabriel Staircase or in the majestic perspective designed by Le Nôtre, the silent, powerful and calming works of the artist breathe a new and ephemeral air over these exceptional settings. Learn more Order the catalogue in english Books in english > The whole selection Visit Versailles - English 15.00 euros Versailles : Building the chateau - English 15.00 euros Writing from Versailles Pop Up - English 23.50 euros From Marie Antoinette's Garden - An Eighteenth-Century Horticultural Album 35.00 euros L'étoffe des rêves Réouverture de la salle des tissus Until January 26, 2014 Musée national de la Renaissance château d'Écouen Closed to the public since 2004, the fabric exhibition room offers a rotating display of works which can only be exposed to light for short periods. Discover fragments of velvet, damask, lampas or brocatelle which adorned residences from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century. Learn more Our top choices > The whole selection Tapisserie : tête de Christ de la tenture de Saint-Merry - Paper without frame XS 22.00 euros Bouc et libellule - Paper without frame XS 22.00 euros "La Renaissance et le rêve" Pouch 27.50 euros Cushion cover "La Renaissance et le rêve" 35.00 euros The Louvre at the beach From 19th July to 17th August Au pied du tunnel des Tuileries Everyday from 10.00am to 6.30pm To celebrate the 13th edition of Paris-Plages, the Louvre has graced the banks of the Seine with its presence and converted the Tuileries tunnel into a new water-side gallery. Come and admire the reproductions of Venus, Diana and other water nymphs from the Louvre collections, or take part in the activities on offer. Learn more Masks, Masquerades, and Mascarons Until September 22, 2014 Musée du Louvre This exhibition presents an opportunity to ponder the paradoxical function of the mask and to discover its role in society, from Ancient Greece up to the seventeenth century. Learn more Order the catalogue L'Envol du Dragon Art royal du Vietnam Until September 15, 2014 Musée national des arts asiatiques - Guimet A figure both terrifying and beneficent, the dragon occupies a special place in the bestiary of the mythological creatures of traditional Vietnam. Through this exhibition, explore the history of the dragon from the Bronze Age to the twilight of the Nguyên royal dynasty. Learn more Order the catalogue