What’s New? Roundup of

What’s New? Roundup of openings and major events Chartres © Gojira photographie © Spectaculaires Chartres-en-lumière, Chartres lights up! Until 14 January 2023, the town of Chartres in the Centre-Val de Loire region, will light up for the largest heritage highlighting operation in the world. The glorious Gothic Cathedral of Chartres, the bridges and washhouses on the banks of the River Eure, the Montescot mansion, church, theatre and museums – more than 20 monuments are included in this free and fabulous programme. Chartres-en-lumière takes place every night from dusk to 1am until October 31, then from dusk to 10.30 pm until 14 January. chartresenlumieres.com © eric Barnabe Photographie Dive into a new underwater eco-museum, Cannes The first underwater eco-museum in France has opened in Cannes, off the island of Sainte Marguerite. British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor has created six statues made of an ecological material to raise public awareness and promote the return of underwater flora and fauna to this now protected space where boat mooring is prohibited. To enjoy, a mask and snorkel are all you need. cannes-destination.com 86 | The Good Life France

Pressoria, Champagne Pressoria is a new visitor centre dedicated to understanding the production process, history and culture of champagne. Housed in the former Pommery press in Aÿ near Epernay it offers multi-sensory exhibitions as well as a tasting area with a view of the vineyard listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. pressoria.com © BOEGLY+GRAZIA © Sophie Spiteri Aix-en-Provence Festival – 4-23 July 2022 The Aix-en-Provence Festival, one of the most famous classical music and opera festivals in France, takes place each year in July, attracting major European orchestras and top conductors. festival-aix.com Cité du Vitrail – Stained glass museum, Troyes Troyes in the Champagne region has been known for centuries as the stained glass capital of Europe. This year, the city, which is also famous for its medieval quarter with beautiful half-timbered houses and Gothic churches with striking windows, will open a new museum dedicated to stained glass. The Cité du Vitrail will be housed in the magnificently restored 18th Century Hôtel- Dieu-le-Comte, with more than 32,000 square feet to showcase stained glass works dating from the 12th to 21st centuries. Cite-vitrail.aube.fr Castle of Villers- Cotterêts in Picardy, to reopen to the public Abandoned for decades, the only Renaissance castle, built by French King Francis 1 in the Picardy Region of Northern France, Château Villers-Cotterets, will reopen to the public in autumn of 2022. It was here in 1539 that Francis 1 signed an ordinance which ruled that the French language was to be used in all administrative and judicial areas of work and not Latin which had been used for centuries. This link with the French language has endured over the centuries: The great medieval writer François Rabelais stayed at the castle, Molière presented Tartuffe there, and Alexandre Dumas was born in Villers-Cotterêts. Cite-langue-francaise.fr Les Chorégies d’Orange, Provence – August 2022 Les Chorégies d’Orange, world famous opera festival, is staged in the exceptional location of the UNESCO listed 1st century AD Roman amphitheatre at Orange. The Chorégies d’Orange—with a program of operas, ballets and recitals, is the oldest French festival and the world’s oldest opera festival, dating back to 1869. choregies.fr The Good Life France | 87