The wonders of Lyon!

Lyon (historically spelled Lyons) is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Etymologically it relates to the Celtic God Lugoves, Lugh as do Laon and Leiden. Lyon is located approximately 470 kilometres (292 miles) from Paris, 320 km (199 mi) from Marseille, 420 km (261 mi) from Strasbourg, 160 km (99 mi) from Geneva, 280 km (174 mi) from Turin. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais.

The population of Lyon is 484,344 (2010)Together with its suburbs and satellite towns, Lyon forms the largest conurbation in France outside Paris. Its urban region represents half of the Rhône-Alpes region population with 2.9 million inhabitants.Lyon is the capital of this region, as well as the capital of the smaller Rhône département.

The city is known for its historical and architectural landmarks and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lyon was historically known as an important area for the production and weaving of silk and in modern times has developed a reputation as the capital of gastronomy in France. It has a significant role in the history of cinema due to Auguste and Louis Lumière, who invented the cinematographe in Lyon. The city is also known for its famous light festival ‘Fête des Lumières‘ which occurs every 8 December and lasts for four days, earning Lyon the title of Capital of Lights. Legend says that the Virgin Mary saved the city from the plague and, to thank her, a statue was built. On the day it was erected, the whole city was lit by candles that its citizens had put at their windows. The local professional football team, Olympique Lyonnais, has increased Lyon’s profile internationally through participation in European football championships.

Economically, Lyon is a major centre for banking as well as for chemical, pharmaceutical, and biotech industries. The city contains a significant software industry with a particular focus on video games, and in recent years has fostered a growing local start-up sector. Lyon also hosts the international headquarters of Interpol, Euronews and International Agency for Research on Cancer. By some measures, Lyon is ranked 2nd in France as an economic centre and convention centre.Lyon was ranked 8th globally and 2nd in France for innovation in 2011.It ranked 2nd in France and 38th globally in Mercer’s 2010 liveability rankings.

Museum of Fine Arts in Roanne!

Exhibition “Arkeo nineteenth-twenty-first century, when the man had written his” Museum Joseph Déchelette, Roanne, from March 1 to November 11, 2014

From March 1 to November 11, 2014, Joseph Déchelette Museum presents an exhibition outside the box, “Arkeo.” Accessible to all, “Arkeo” tells a adventure of archeology and its repercussions on the history of man.

Tribute to Joseph Déchelette the 100th anniversary of his death, the exhibition focuses on his favorite discipline, archeology. The museum offers a unique ride through several approaches to archeology centuries. And this is a preview for you to Roanne!

2014 centenary of the beginning of the Great War … every corner of France remembers his way this conflict so deadly. City Roanne will honor one of its great men, Joseph Déchelette killed in an attack in the first weeks of combat. But rather a biographical exhibition, the choice was made to honor the discipline in which he illustrated: archeology. Rooted in ceremonies around the world war of 1914-1918, this exhibition has been awarded the “Centenary”. For the Museum of Roanne, named Joseph Déchelette, this event will mark the return of archeology, excluded from nearly twenty years of temporary programming. ‘s “Arkeo nineteenth and twenty-first century show, when the man writes his past “traces the turbulent birth of archeology and the evolution of its methods with the center, the contribution of Déchelette. It leads the visitor to the conquest of an invaluable asset: its heritage. decidedly European character of the vocation of Déchelette occupies a central place in the discourse. This is the meaning of partnerships entered into with the European Archaeological Centre Mont Beuvray Bibracte and Römisch-germanisches Zentralmuseum (RGZM) Mainz in Germany. This exhibition will occupy the spaces for temporary exhibitions museum conferred on two levels. Nearly 450 objects from prestigious national and European loans (Musée d’Orsay, Centre Pompidou, Museum of National Antiquities, Laténium Neuchâtel in Switzerland, RGZM of Mainz, Germany) will be highlighted by the clear scenography Sophie Couëlle and graphics Charlotte Clement. The envisioned by the curator, Marine Lechenault course, comes in five chronological sections: inheritance, beginnings, construction of a new science, the wars and time laboratories.

Déchelette Joseph, father of archeology (1862-1914)

Joseph Déchelette is one of the major figures of French archeology of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Born in Roanne in 1862 in a family of industrialists in the textile, he leads an original scientific career. It has:
– been curator of the Municipal Museum of the City
– carried out excavations at Bibracte (archaeological site in Burgundy)
– correspondent of the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres was elected
was on the front during the First World War – .
document: Prehistoric Archaeology Manual, Celtic and Gallo-Roman Death to the field of honor in 1914, he bequeathed his collections and his hotel in the city of Roanne.

Purefrancenow visits this exceptional museum in the heart of Roanne in the Roannais, Rhône-Alpes.This remarkable place on the site of a chateau is dedicated to Art and Archaeology.

Built at the end of the 18th century, and nestling in the centre of the bustling township of Roanne, the museum is named after Joseph Déchelette, a locally renowned man from a large, successful, local family, and now an internationally famous figure of archaeology.

The building, itself, was given to Roanne in 1892, and the museum was installed in 1923.

It remains unique in its field, and houses both a large deposit of archaeological finds, and a research library specialising in archaeology and art history.

We had been prompted to visit by our ever inquisitive son, Ellis, who recently, having had a school outing to view an art exhibition, held in a couple of the main galleries at the museum, wanted to investigate further.

Thanks to the amazing endeavours and dedication of Joseph Déchelette, the museum’s collection illustrates Gallo-Roman life in Roanne with artefacts displayed alongside details of exactly from which street or village in the Roannais they were excavated – amazing!

There is also an important collection of Egyptian relics, including the beautifully decorated sarcophagus of Tjesisetperet. Dating from 820 BC, alongside lies the ‘mummy’, x-rayed to reveal her to be a young girl of about 14 years.

All absolutely fascinating.

The photographs documenting the expedition to Egypt displayed on nearby walls, bring to life the reality of the great turn-of-century journeys of discovery and gathering of these priceless archeological finds.

There is much more to see if you have the time. An extensive collection of ceramics, dating from the 15th century to modern period. Then there is a weird and wonderful display of African masks nd tribal artefacts gathered during the 1930′s with pictures documenting the voyages and African village life at the time.

The important research library at the museum houses more than 15,000 books.

Joseph Déchelettewas born in Roanne in 1862, and, after a prolific, extremely successful young career in archaeology, was only 52 when he was killed during the first world war whilst leading his company in an attack on 4th October, 1914 at Vingré.

The importance of his work and his contribution to archaeology cannot be overstated, and he is widely recognised throughout the world, and this fascinating, and well-presented museum is a fitting tribute to his memory.

Don’t hesitate, just go and visit. It is a pleasure.

Le Musée de Beaux-Arts et D’Archéologie Joseph Déchelette – Roanne

Opening Hours:

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday:

10.am – 12 noon, 2.00pm – 6.00pm

Saturday : 10.00am – 6.00pm

Sunday :2.00pm – 6.00pm

Entrance 4€, Free on Wednesday afternoon.

www.purefrancenow.com

Roanne.fr

Cote Roannaise Wines.

Cote Roannaise Wine

Cote Roannaise is the appellation for red and rosé wines from 14 communes which lie just west of Roanne, in the Rhone-Alpes administrative region of France. The wines are light in body, low in tannin and very much reliant on their fresh, vibrant fruit flavors. They bear all the hallmarks of classic Gamay vinified through carbonic maceration, and the majority are best consumed within a few years of vintage.

The Cote Roannaise appellation was first created as a VDQS in 1955 and was promoted to full AOC status in February 1994. About 445 acres (180ha) of vines (all Gamay) are devoted to Cotes Roannaise wines, producing just under 8285hL of wine each year. One in six bottles is rosé, with the remaining proportion taken up entirely by red wines.

Although predominantly a land of sandy, granitic soils, the terroir here is spiced up by the presence of volcanic soils rich in basalt; many Cotes Roannais cuvees bear names that evoke this landscape. The climate is decidedly continental, and characterized by unpredictable weather patterns and high diurnal temperature variation.

Cote Roannaise wines, like those of the Cotes du Forez just to the south, suffer from something of an identity crisis; the outside world can’t quite decide which wine region they belong to. The vineyards are located along the upper reaches of the Loire river, but fall inside the Rhone-Alpes administrative region; they grow Gamay – best known as the grape of Beaujolais, less than 50 miles (80km) to the north-east. This makes the Cotes Roannaise very hard to pigeon-hole as part of a recognized wine region. (courtesy of Wine Searcher)