Opening of the International City of the French Language!

[Laly]

On 1 November 2023, the Cité internationale de la langue française (International City of the French Language) will open in the castle of Villers-Cotterêts, built buy François I in the Aisne, in the XVIth century. This place will be, from now on, dedicated to the most beautiful, the most wonderful language in the world, French, and to francophone cultures.





THE CITY

Open to the world and anchored in its territory, the Cité internationale de la langue française, whose tour will open soon, will be a cultural and living place entirely dedicated to the French language. It will link the past, present and future of the French language and the French-speaking world, around three pillars: culture & creation, education & training, research & innovation .

A multidisciplinary space accessible to the greatest number of people, it will articulate varied and complementary activities: tours, temporary exhibitions, shows, residency workshops for artists, researchers and entrepreneurs, educational activities, learning and training in the French language...

The Cité's ambition is to reveal the French language as a source of creativity and exchange, of intellectual and aesthetic development, of pleasure and as a lever for social, economic and civic integration.

In view of the many issues raised by the French language (cultural, social, political) in its relationship to the world, the Cité will combine a variety of activities with a creative, sensitive, participatory and open approach to the language.

The Cité in figures :

1600 m² of permanent and temporary exhibitions
250 seats in the auditorium
12 residency workshops for artists, researchers and entrepreneurs
2 local shops: a bookstore-boutique and a café-tea room
A varied program of shows, events, conferences and exhibitions
Educational activities, training and language learning
A research and innovation laboratory on linguistic issues
The Centre des monuments nationaux works with nearly 80 public and private partners, from local to international, from the cultural, artistic, educational and training fields, social and associative organizations, etc., to build the cultural, artistic and institutional program of the Cité.

THE PERMANENT COURSE

The permanent tour of the Cité internationale de la langue française will offer a sensitive immersion in the heart of the French language thanks to an interactive and playful tour that will provide moments of wonder, discovery and learning.

A room will be dedicated to the interpretation of the castle in its territory.

Some key figures :

1200 m² of permanent tour
100 works, objects and documents
60 audiovisual and digital devices
About thirty scientific contributors representative of the French-speaking world
About twenty lenders of works
About fifteennational and international partnerinstitutions
3 artistic commissions

More information here: https://www.cite-langue-francaise.fr/en

[Mopi Licinius Crassus]

I would love to hear you speak French , Laly