Rencontres d’Arles

Rencontres d’Arles is a photography festival held from July to September in the city of Arles in south-eastern France.

This year, celebrating 40 years, is set to be a massive celebration of the event and the creativity it fosters. The Rencontres d’Arles has expanded massively in recent years, with up to 60,000 taking part each year. Participants range from amateurs to professionals, novices to aficionados. Some attend the festival as deliberate visitors, others are chance passers-by. The atmosphere of the Rencontres d’Arles is welcoming to all who are interested in the art of photography.

The Rencontres d’Arles encourages artistic innovation and creative celebration of the excitement of life. The founders – Lucien Clergue, Jean-Maurice Rouquette and Michel Tournier, promoted photography as an innovative field in which artists could take risks in forming their images and use new technologies to constantly push the boundaries of image.

Controversial works were valued and artists are encouraged to use their work to challenge accepted standards. In its 40th year, the Rencontres d’Arles has invited back notable photographers who used their images to subvert social norms, such as the images produced during the 1970s women’s movement and more recently, the rise of Barack Obama.

The Rencontres d’Arles is built on risk taking, making the impossible possible, discovery and creativity. The work of hallowed artists is presented alongside newly budding talents for all to appreciate. As well as exhibitions and awards, the Rencontres d’Arles includes workshops for keen photographers to learn more about the skills of creating an image and social activities for participants to mingle and meet with other photographers, both new and experienced.

Nan Goldin is this year’s guest of honour and the event is not to be missed by both up-and-coming photographers and experienced professionals.

Picture: Nan Godin – Nan and Brian in the bed, New York City, 1983

Saint-Remy-de-Provence

Saint-Remy-de-Provence is a typical village in the south of France .

The village has been in existence for centuries, developing most significantly during medieval France. It was initially a Greek city that was overrun by Romans. A number of medieval remnants can be found in the area as evidence of an interesting history.

The town hall of Saint-Remy-de-Provence is a building dating back to the 16th century and is on the site of an old convent. A number of old portes are the remains of a protective wall built centuries ago. The portes are still in use today as entrance ways to various parts of the village. The older part of Saint-Remy-de-Provence is circled by a road that you can walk around as a sort of tour of this historical part of the village. The ancient Porte du Trou is on the northern edge of the old town. Walking through this entrance leads you to the Nostradamus fountain.

A number of noted persons have lived in Saint-Remy-de-Provence. Saint-Rémy-de-Provence was the birthplace of Nostradamus. The painter Vincent Van Gogh also lived in the area for a short time and was treated in the psychiatric center at Monastery Saint-Paul de Mausole (1889-1890). Princess Caroline of Monaco and her children lived in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence for several years following the death of Stefano Casiraghi.

Wednesday is a major market day in Saint Rémy-de-Provence. Most of the village takes part giving the streets a lively atmosphere. There’s a smaller market on Saturdays, with food only. A number of festivities are held throughout the year. In March Saint-Remy-de-Provence hosts a Carnaval. In June the Feast of Saint Jean is celebrated with parades and dances amongst other festivities. Festivals are held throughout the year, with the massive ‘Fete du Vin et de l’Artisanat’ in July. August sees more celebrations including a small running of the bulls and a night of fireworks. A number of religious events are celebrated in Saint-Remy-de-Provence throughout the year as well.

The area is host to a number of vineyards and is known for its wine. Saint-Remy-de-Provence has a good selection of restaurants and hotels. Among the shops in the old village are a few with some regional pottery, including some beautiful sunflower plates influenced by Van Gogh.

The road between Saint-Remy-de-Provence and the autoroute is a scenic drive and visitors also have the opportunity to go hiking and camping in the area.

Picasso in Provence

Picasso in Provence is a series of exhibitions on offer throughout 2009, celebrating the years Picasso spent painting in southern France.

Picasso is notorious artists whose work is famous worldwide. Exiled from Spain, Picasso spent many years in the south of France. He was drawn in by the charms of the area and was inspired by local landscapes which appear in many of his paintings including some of those on display in the various Picasso in Provence celebrations.

He painted many of his masterpieces in Provence, following other famous artists including Cezanne and Van Gogh. He was involved in the making of a film which was filmed in Les Baux de Provence.

In 2009, visitors to southern France have the opportunity to tour the area, following the footsteps of Picasso and experiencing the area that inspired so many of his great works. A number of exhibitions have been organised, celebrating Picasso in Provence. Many events will be held throughout the year for visitors to experience and appreciate all that was achieved by Picasso in Provence.

An exhibition will be held in Les Baux de Provence from 25 February to 3 January. Picasso’s works will be projected within the stone quarry, Cathedrale d’Images. The audiovisual exhibition truly brings the artist’s work to life and visitors can appreciate the beauty of his work within such picturesque surrounds. The exhibition covers his use of neoclassicism and cubism, through to his blue and pink periods, and finally his works rich in colours.

The celebration of Picasso in Provence also incorporates the work of Cezanne and his influence on Picasso. An exhibition joining the work of each artist will be held in the Granet Museum in Aix-en-Provence from 25 May to 27 September. This exhibition includes over one hundred paintings from each artist.

Amongst the exhibitions, Vauvenargues Castle in Aix-en-Provence will also be opened from 27 May to 25 September. The site is important to the Picasso in Provence festivities as it is where Picasso and his wife lived for a couple of years. Picasso used the castle as a studio from which he painted many of his works.

The 2009 Picasso in Provence celebrations are not to be missed for admirers of the artist. It is a fitting celebration of a brilliant artist.

Les-Baux-de-Provence castle

The Château des Baux de Provence is a fortified castle in Southern France with a rich historical tradition.

Built during the 10th century, the area was significantly developed during the medieval period and was a site of perpetual conflict as the powerful Lords of Baux fought to maintain supremacy. The Lords of Baux ruled the Château des Baux de Provence for 500 years until they were superseded by the barons of the Masons des Comtes de Provence who were eventually overtaken by the Kings of France.

Louis XI ordered the destruction of the fortress and village in 1483. Constable Anne de Montmorency later called for the restoration of the area, before Louis XIII once again called for its demolition in 1633 following several turbulent centuries of war over the Baux de Provence castle and its surrounds. The 18th century saw the Baux de Provence castle pass into the hands of the Grimaldi royal family of Monaco.

The citadel endured a slow demise until the 20th century saw a desire emerge to revive the ‘dead city’. A process of restoration and an improvement of the overall site began to attract many visitors to the area.

A review of the history of the Château des Baux de Provence revealed it was a place rich in culture. While its past was certainly punctuated by constant assaults, there were cultural traditions that operated alongside the apparently dominant violence.

Poets and musicians were particularly present in the courts of the Baux de Provence castle, with records of many men coming to sing songs of love to the ladies of the court. The castle was once magnificently decorated with tapestries and artworks and sculptures and many carefully designed valuables, evident in the archive of castle objects drawn up in the 15th century.

Situated on a rocky outcrop, the Château des Baux de Provence boasts stunning panoramic views of the surrounding land with vineyards and orchards stretching out to the sea. There is much to discover with various underground passages, towers, courtyards, a chapel, a medieval hospital and more. Life size replicas of medieval weaponry are on display, with actual catapult demonstrations daily at the Baux de Provence castle.

Medieval performers and storytellers spread throughout the town to entertain visitors and a medieval festival is held annually. Guided tours are on offer, otherwise a free audioguide tour is recommended to all visitors. The audioguide brings the Château des Baux de Provence to life with the lively chatter of knights and the music and festive noises of medieval feasts.  Visitors can also set off on their own explorations amongst the architecture steeped in fascinating history.

A number of cafes and restaurants are run in the village and there is nearby accommodation for all visitors to the Baux de Provence castle.