THE GUIDE MUSEUMS 2024 FRANCE TODAY’S TOP PICKS FOR 2024…


of oenology to life. Included among the exhibits are a global map of vineyards, a guide to different terroirs, grape varieties, the biology of vines, the secrets of winemaking, the history of viticulture and, of course, plenty of opportunities for tasting. Open from January 7 to November 2, with ticket prices from €22. www.laciteduvin.com


The Musée de la Bataille de Fromelles honours soldiers who died here CLASSIC


Art, antiques, history, literature, film, culture – whatever floats your boat, you’ll find something to stimulate you intellectually among the many museums and galleries across France. Perhaps you’ll stroke your chin as you peruse the greatest works of art in western civilisation. Or you’ll explore the childhood homes of France’s best-loved literary figures. Or you’ll pay a poignant visit to the war museums dotted across the north of the country.


Paris Musées Paris, Île-de-France


Modern art, classical art, history, fashion, literature… there are 14 Parisian museums that fall under the umbrella branding of Paris Musées: the Museum of Modern Art, Maison de Balzac, Musée Bourdelle, Musée Carnavalet, the Catacombs, Musée Cernuschi, Musée Cognacq-Jay, Archaeological Crypt of Notre-Dame, Palais Galliera, Musée du Général Leclerc de Hauteclocque et de la Libération de Paris / Musée Jean Moulin, Petit Palais Museum of Fine Arts, Maisons de Victor Hugo, Musée de la Vie Romantique and Musée Zadkine. Most are open from


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10am to 6pm, Tuesday to Sunday and all normally offer their permanent exhibitions for free, except Palais Galliera and Catacombes de Paris, Crypte Archéologique de l’Île de la Cité. It’s advisable to book in advance online. www.billetterie-parismusees. paris.fr


Musée Rodin Paris, Île-de-France Two of Auguste Rodin’s works – The Thinker and The Kiss – are among the best-known sculptures anywhere on the planet. And they both reside in the Musée Rodin, in Paris’ 7th arrondissement, alongside many of the Frenchman’s other key works. With two sites (one at the Hôtel Biron and the other at Rodin’s former home in Meudon, in Paris’ southwest suburbs), the collection includes over 6,000 sculptures (not all by the man himself), as well as thousands more drawings, photographs and other works of art. Open Tuesday to Sunday. www.musée-rodin.fr/en


Cité du Vin Bordeaux, Gironde


First opened in 2016, this shrine to all things wine centres around its permanent exhibition, with various digital and interactive technologies designed to bring the fine art


Musée de la Bataille de Fromelles Fromelles, Nord


This museum, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, honours the 250 or so British and Australian soldiers who were buried in a mass grave near Fromelles. The building, designed by architect David Serero, is inspired by the German military blockhouses that are dotted along the local beaches. As part of its tenth anniversary, it is offering special shows, visits and workshops, including a new exhibition which explores how the wounded soldiers of World War I used sport as part of their rehabilitation. It runs until February 2025. www.musee-bataille-fromelles.fr


Musée de la Romanité Nîmes, Gard


Just opposite the famous Nîmes Arena, this museum


explores the city’s Gallo- Roman past, recreating a Roman villa with statues and mosaics, and analyses the lasting influence of Roman civilisation on the local region. Don’t miss the rooftop, from where you get a stunning 360-degree view of the entire city. Until January next year there’s an exhibition on Achilles and the Trojan Wars. museedelaromanite.fr


Musée Jacquemart André Paris, Île-de-France


Due to reopen on September 6 this year after renovations, this museum near the Champs-Élysées is putting on a special exhibition with around 40 masterpieces from Rome’s famous Borghese Gallery, including Caravaggio, Rubens, Botticelli, Raphael, Titian, Veronese, Antonello da Messina and Bernini. It continues until January 5, 2025. Otherwise there is the permanent collection which the museum claims to contain the finest private collection of art in Paris. €18 to visit. www.musee-jacquemart-andre. com


Musée de la Grande Guerre du Pays de Meaux Meaux, Seine-et-Marne It claims to be Europe’s largest museum dedicated to the First World War and is built on the site of the first


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The Cité du Vin in Bordeaux is not to be missed


IMAGES © MUSÉE DE LA BATAILLE DE FROMELLES, CITÉ DU VIN


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