Luther 500
It’s been 500 years since the Protestant Reformation begun with Martin Luther – when the religious world changed on its axis forever and marked a split with Rome. This was a time when Luther made his 95 theses known to the world and his influence can be felt on all aspects of modern-day life from culture, to language to education. He was also responsible for translating the bible into the vernacular (instead of Latin) in 1534 and included 117 woodcuts to reinforce the messaging.
So how do you celebrate a religious anniversary like this? There are three exhibitions that explore different aspects of the reformation – 12th April – 5th November 2017 “The Luther Effect. Protestantism 500 Years in the World”, Berlin / 4th May – 5th November 2017 “Luther and the Germans”, Eisenach and 13th May – 5th November 2017 “Luther 95 Treasures – 95 People”, Wittenberg. There’s also a Luther pop oratorio on tour, a World Reformation Exhibition in Wittenberg, a parade to celebrate Luther’s Wedding in Wittenberg and an intriguing take on reformation thinking with “Luther, Columbus and the Consequences” at the Germanic National Museum in Nuremberg, 13th July – 12th November 2017.
For more information on Luther 500, contact Victoria Kyme, PR Manager, German National Tourist Office. For European train travel to Germany, contact Gillian Green at Magellan for Voyages-sncf.com. German travel to Frankfurt for example, starts from £126, subject to change/fluid pricing.
Photo credit: German National Tourist Board – Photographer Andrew Cowin
You wait for one 500th anniversary and another one comes along at the same time! The French port city of Le Havre is celebrating its own half millennia. It was founded in 1517 by François I who reigned over France at the same time as Henry VIII. Almost completely destroyed in WWII, the French Government made it a priority to build one of the most interesting post-war architectural cities in the world. By choosing Auguste Perret, a modern architect with a big vision and who was a concrete pioneer, to create the new Le Havre, we now enjoy a a bright and vibrant city with clean lines and vistas, plenty of open space, trees and fountains and a grand boulevard that opens the city up to the sea. It became a UESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. So what’s happening over the five month period of the anniversary?
The festivities commence on 27th May with an opening ceremony overseen by Art Point M Collective. From 27th May – 20th August, there’s a retrospective of 80 works by Pierre et Gilles, taking place at André Malraux Modern Art Museum (MuMa). The highlight of the summer will be the return from 6th – 9th July of the Royal De Luxe Company’s giant mechanical marionettes for a unique show. From 9th September to 8th October 2017, Claude Monet’s masterpiece, Impression, Sunrise, which gave its name to the Impressionist movement returns to the city where it was painted. It can be viewed alongside works from Boudin, Turner and Dufy at MuMa. This museum holds the second largest collection of impressionist works in France after Paris’ Musée d”Orsay. There’s also an Impressionism Art in Le Havre app for free download following panels along a self-guided route. These are just a few of the events taking place until 8th October 2017.
Press contact for Le Havre is Fran Lambert.
Press contact for AFerry.co.uk for ferry travel with Brittany Ferries over to Le Havre is Gillian Green of MagellanPR. Sailings at the time of going to press start at £60 return, subject to change/fluid pricing.
Photo credit: Le Havre Tourisme
Monet in Basel
To mark the 20th anniversary of Basel’s stunning Fondation Beyeler, the museum is staging a wide-ranging exhibition of Impressionism’s best known artist, Claude Monet. A celebration of light and colour, the exhibit will illustrate the painter’s development from Impressionism to his famous paintings of water-lillies – there’s the haystacks, the wild flowers, the cathedrals and the atmospheric bridges – all the favourites. The exhibition runs until 28th May 2017. Combine it with a visit to Basel’s famous Fasnacht Carnival which takes place from 04.00 am on Sunday 5th March – Wednesday 8th March. There’s around 20,000 masked performers roaming the city and performing at will – a true concoction of music and mayhem.
Packages start at just 205 CHF (£165) per person for a three night stay with a guided tour of the Carnival and a free public transport pass. Basel rail fares with Voyages-sncf.com start at £109 return subject to change/fluid pricing.
Press contact for both Voyages-sncf.com and for Basel Tourism is Alexandra Pinhorn.
Photo credit: Fondation Beyeler
Photo credit thanks to: Cunard France / Les Grandes Voiles du Havre / Serge Koutchinsky / Karel Martens / Pierre et Gilles / Lang Baumann / Julien Berthier / Collection French Lines / Vincent Ganivet / Erik Levilly / Normandy Tourism
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