THE GUIDE MUSEUMS 2018


HISTORY Abbaye d’Arthous Hastingues


History buffs will fall head over heels for this double whammy: a 12th-century abbey whose contents hail from archaeological digs in the area. Essentially, come for the architecture, stay for the relics! Scrapers, chisels, drills, blades and harpoons from the Magdalenian period, Gallo-Roman ceramics and an oak barge from the 1500s are just some of the treasures kept here. Plus, the museum sits on the road to Saint-Jacques-de- Compostelle, so pilgrims can make a reflective pit-stop on their travels! www.arthous.landes.fr


Abbaye de Flaran Valence-sur-Baïse


A classified historical monument dating back to 1151, the Cistercian Abbaye de Flaran is a beautifully-preserved jewel set in the lush Gers countryside. A walk around the original


cow milking, tootles along the river en bateau and traditional agricultural displays, it’s a portal to yesteryear fit for the whole family. In fact, kiddywinks are top priority in 2018, with six new spaces for younger visitors and a wealth of fun activities for them to enjoy. The newly-restored 1950s merry-go-round is sure to put stars in their eyes! www.ecomusee.alsace


Musée Balzac Saché


The Écomusée d’Alsace is a portal back in time to rural 20th-century France


monastic buildings, including the church, cloister, chapter house, refectory and dormitory, not to mention the lovely little herb garden out back, is sure to stir imaginings of the monks who once resided here. Since 2004, it has also housed an exceptional permanent collection of original works by renowned artists from the 16th to the 21st century. Temporary exhibitions are also par for the course, and at


present there’s a focus on modern figurative artist Paul Storey, until September 16. www.abbayedeflaran.fr


Écomusée d’Alsace Ungersheim You can’t get closer to time travel than this engaging ‘living museum’ in the historic town of Ungersheim. Complete with actors clad head to toe in period costume, horse-drawn carriages,


Get closer to the one and only Honoré de Balzac, one of France’s greatest novelists and playwrights, in the town where he frequently sought refuge from Parisian life and his money worries. Located in the Château de Saché, this writer’s museum invites you to discover rooms furnished in 19th-century style, exhibition halls featuring permanent collections, and a sense of the rapport Balzac had with this unique place. www.musee-balzac.fr


148 ❘ FRANCE TODAY Aug/Sep 2018


IMAGES © WWW.MUSEE-BALZAC.FR, MUSÉE DE LA BATAILLE DE FROMELLES


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