February events in France: Art, agriculture, and festivals

1. Bonnat-Helleu in Bayonne reopens

Art-loving readers living in French Basque country will be thrilled to hear that the Bonnat-Helleu Museum in Bayonne (Pyrénées-Atlantiques) has now reopened to the public after 14 years of renovation work.

Work on the iconic venue began in 2011 after its large glass roof began to leak, putting several works of art at risk.

The museum was founded in 1901 when Bayonne-born painter Léon Bonnat donated his huge personal art collection.

Included in its collection are nearly 2,500 works belonging to the Louvre – the largest number in France outside Paris. 

Among its treasures are antiques, paintings, drawings, sculptures and objets d’art from the greatest European artists including Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Rubens, Van Dyck, Rembrandt, El Greco, Goya, Poussin, Watteau, Ingres, Delacroix and Degas.

Such is the importance of the museum’s reopening that many dignitaries attended the inauguration, including Rachida Dati, the French Culture Minister, and Miren Arzalluz, director of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain.

2. Countryside comes to the capital

One of the capital’s major early spring events is the annual Paris International Agricultural Show, which celebrates the diversity and excellence of France’s agricultural sectors. Last year’s show welcomed 607,503 visitors, nearly 4,000 animals, and over 1,000 exhibitors from all over the country. 

For visitors, it is a great way to learn about agriculture, taste local produce and enjoy the ‘best in show’ cattle, sheep, pigs, horses and more.

Last year also showcased international farming, with Morocco the country honoured. This year it is Ivory Coast, West Africa’s leading agricultural power.

Held across 16 hectares of exhibition space at the Porte de Versailles venue, the event runs from February 21 to March 1.

3. When life gives you lemons

Along with Nice Carnival, Menton’s Citrus Festival (Fête du Citron) is one of the biggest events on the Riviera. 

Held in its current format since 1934, the event draws up to 200,000 people a year to watch the parade of corsos, or citrus float parades, which are designed according to a different theme each year. This year, it is ‘The wonders of life’, with the promise of much colour, dance and music.

Fun facts: in the 19th Century, Menton was Europe’s lemon capital; some 1,000,000 rubber bands are needed to affix the fruits to floats; and at the close of the festival, the 140 tonnes of citrus fruit needed to make the floats and displays are sold to local residents and holidaymakers. 

Runs from February 14 to March 1.

4. Massive Matisse in Bordeaux

While they might irk some art purists, epic multi-sensory exhibitions, featuring large-scale digitised displays of the world’s leading artists, bring art to the masses in an accessible, immersive fashion.

The latest giant of art to feature is Matisse, whose work features at the Bassins des Lumières in Bordeaux, a former submarine base that is transformed into a huge theatre of lights, art and music.

“From the luminous interiors of Nice to the cut-outs of his mature years, this immersive experience traces the evolution of his art, showcasing the freedom of movement and the power of colour, accompanied by a soundtrack combining classical music and more contemporary works,” say show organisers.

Matisse: The Symphony of Colours, from February 7.