Culture

Normandy's fabulous landscapes, inimitable light and fine heritage have, over the centuries, inspired the most illustrious artists, from literature to cinema, via painting and live performances. From Impressionism to Marcel Duchamp, from baroque orchestras to modern music festivals, from Pierre Corneille to renowned contemporary film directors, culture is at the heart of Normandy's DNA.

Heritage

Normandy, a region steeped in eventful history, boasts 2,995 listed historic monuments: 960 in Calvados (3rd ranking French département), 456 in Eure, 470 in Manche, 417 in Orne and 692 in Seine-Maritime. Normandy is also among UNESCO’s world heritage: the Mont Saint-Michel and its bay, the reconstruction of the city of Le Havre by the architect Auguste Perret, the Vauban observation towers in St-Vaast-la-Hougue and on the island of Tatihou, Alençon lace and the Bayeux Tapestry. The D-Day Landing Beaches are on the French tentative list.

Literature

Normandy has been the birthplace of illustrious authors: François de Malherbe in Caen (1555-1628), Pierre Corneille in Rouen (1606-1684), Fontenelle in Rouen (1657-1757), Bernardin de Saint-Pierre (Paul and Virginie) in Le Havre (1737-1814), Jules Barbey d’Aurevilly in St-Sauveur-le-Vicomte (1808-1889), Gustave Flaubert in Rouen (1821-1880), Guy de Maupassant in Fécamp (1850 -1893), Alphonse Allais in Honfleur (1855-1905), Maurice Leblanc (Arsène Lupin) in Rouen (1864-1941) and Michel Onfray in Argentan. And a land of adoption and inspiration for Marcel Proust, Jacques Prévert, Françoise Sagan, etc.

Painting

Normandy has also been home to many painters among whom Fernand Léger, Jean-François Millet, Eugène Boudin and Raoul Dufy, and has inspired so many others, all fascinated by the quite unique light that embraces its coasts, harbours and country landscapes. Normandy is also the ‘cradle of Impressionism’. It is here that Claude Monet painted his famous ‘Impression, Sunrise’ in 1872. Today, Normandy also boasts dynamic and creative contemporary art.

Music

Major names in classical and contemporary music were also born in Normandy: Sébastien de Brossard in Dompierre (1656 -1726), Alexandre Choron in Caen (1771-1834), Daniel Auber in Caen (1792-1871), Erik Satie in Honfleur (1866-1925), Marcel Dupré in Rouen (1886-1971), Arthur Honegger in Le Havre (1892-1955), Philippe Hurel in Domfront and Eric Tanguy in Caen. The Conservatoires in Caen and Rouen. Variety: Bourvil born in Prétot-Vicquemare (1917-1970), Daniel Balavoine in Alençon (1952-1996), Gérard Lenorman in Bénouville, Orelsan in Alençon.

Theatre and dance

Corneille’s homeland is also a land of theatre. Leading venues: Rouen opera house (1,350 seats), Caen theatre (1,000), the Volcan in Le Havre (800), the Tangram – Cadran in Evreux (900), the Trident in Cherbourg (600, 400 and 250), the Préau in Vire, France’s smallest town to have a certified ‘scène nationale’ theatre (740), Dieppe Scène Nationale (600 seats), the Scène Nationale 61, etc. The Centres Dramatiques Nationaux de Normandie (national dramatic art centres) – Comédie de Caen and Comédie de Rouen. The Centres Chorégraphiques Nationaux (national choreographic centres) in Caen and Le Havre.

Cinema

The scene of many a production and festival, Normandy nurtures a cherished alliance with the film industry… Hundreds of feature films have immortalised its landscapes and its historic past. Normandy is also the birthplace of a cast of renowned actors: Jean Marais, Bourvil, Jacques Gamblin, Philippe Torreton, François Morel, Karine Viard, etc. And prestigious names by adoption: Jean Gabin, Claude Lelouch, Luc Besson. The Regional Council has signed a partnership with the Centre National du Cinéma for filming in Normandy.

Circus and street performance

La Brèche, Pôle National des Arts du Cirque (national circus centre), in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin. The Cirque-Théâtre in Elbeuf, (national circus centre). L’atelier 231 in Sotteville-les-Rouen, Centre National des Arts de la Rue (national street performance centre). The Centre Régional des Arts de la Marionnette (regional puppet art centre) in Dives-sur-Mer. Spring: the only modern circus festival at regional level. For five weeks, sixty or so partners (cultural sites and communes) proudly fly the flag of contemporary circus.

Festivals

Cinema: American and Asian in Deauville, Romantic in Cabourg, Russian in Honfleur… Contemporary music: Jazz sous les Pommiers and Papillons de Nuit in Manche, Archéo Jazz and Green Horse in Seine-Maritime, Rock in Evreux, Beauregard near Caen, Art Sonic in Orne, Nördik Impakt in Caen. Classical and modern music: Eure Poétique & Musicale, Septembre Musical de l’Orne, Aspects des Musiques d’Aujourd’hui in Caen. Circus and street performance: Spring (Normandy), Côté Court – Côté Jardin (Bernay).

Cultural facilities

They play the role of ‘locomotive’ for the region’s performing arts. Zénith indoor arenas in Rouen (7,900 seats) and Caen 6,990 seats). Two regional Conservatoires of music, dance and the dramatic arts in Caen and Rouen, 7 at département level and 15 at (inter)communal level. 7 contemporary music venues: the 106 in Rouen, the Tétris in Le Havre, L’Abordage in Evreux, the Cargo in Caen, the BBC in Hérouville-Saint-Clair, the Normandy in Saint-Lô, the Luciole in Alençon.