Culture Châteaux de la Loire

The Bibliothèque Centrale, also called "la BM" by the people of Touraine, is an impressive building with a green roof on the banks of the Loire. It is a meeting point for heavy readers and the curious, where you will find heritage collections, a fine selection of novels and other art books and comic books, a collection of CDs and DVDs and a children's area. The subscription card allows you to borrow books from all the city's libraries. Conferences, meetings with authors, stories for children, exhibitions... The librarians have no shortage of ideas to bring the place and its treasures to life, including one Sunday afternoon a month, so that culture is part of our daily lives.

This site, located on the banks of the Sarthe, presents the history of inland waterway transport and the development of the rivers of northern Anjou, from the Middle Ages to the present day. In an educational museography of 10 m length, a model shows the stages of the development of the Sarthe from the first dams to the contemporary locks, passing by the marine gates, while a slide show evokes the life of the bargemen, all in work and in songs. Temporary exhibitions on the themes of water and the environment are held throughout the year.

Hiking: 30 km of marked circuits, and for bicycle lovers, signposted itineraries and equipped with washing machines.

The association consists of six associations that aim to enhance the heritage and know-how of the township of Azay-le-Rideau. It organizes themed circuits or days on the discovery of ridellois heritage. In addition to the existing museums, the network of associations also allows to participate in guided tours across the municipality.

The IEHCA (Institut européen d'histoire et des cultures de l'alimentation) is one of the most prominent research laboratories of the University of Tours. Here, researchers cultivate the art of eating well by conducting investigations into the history of food. What did people eat in the past, how and why? These are all questions that established researchers and students are asking themselves, and that visitors are invited to explore during events open to the general public: conferences, cooking classes, chefs' residencies, a gastronomic book fair... All good things to discover in the Villa Rabelais, the epicenter of the "Tours cité de la gastronomie" project.

Montargis is home to a volunteer association offering friendly events for new residents and people looking for social ties. The national network of Accueils des Villes Françaises (AVF) is based on the principle of voluntary work, and aims to offer a warm and friendly welcome to new arrivals. The AVFs enable people to discover their new surroundings and make new friends. They also offer activities to encourage social encounters and integration. The AVFs are committed to their local communities, and are open to all who wish to participate.

AVF Cholet is part of the AVF network, an association dedicated to helping new arrivals in French cities. Its aim is to help people with geographical mobility to settle in successfully.

Saint-Georges-sur-Loire is a small town in the Maine-et-Loire department of the Pays de la Loire region. Although a small town, it is home to a large number of cultural and sporting associations. These include the AVF Loire-Layon, a cultural association offering a variety of activities and events for the town's residents.

Vendôme, a city of art and history, welcomes many newcomers every year, attracted by its charm and proximity to Paris thanks to the TGV high-speed train. To facilitate their integration, the Association Accueil des Villes Françaises (AVF) de Vendôme offers a range of cultural, recreational and sporting activities and outings. AVF organizers are on hand to build friendships and share good times with newcomers. Whether it's discovering exhibitions by AVF artists at the Jardins d'Arcadie, taking part in culinary workshops or enjoying an aperitif-dinner at Ô Bar à Vin, there's always something to do in Vendôme. The AVF also organizes outings to discover the surrounding area, such as an excursion between Berry and Sologne. Don't hesitate to contact the association for more information.

Their telephone number is 02 47 28 05 46 and their website is avf.asso.fr/saint-avertin.

Amboise, a charming town in the Centre Val de Loire region, offers many activities and services for new arrivals. The AVF offers a range of activities to promote social integration, such as workshops and events. In addition, the AVF regularly organizes outings and events to discover the region.

This architectural square houses a swarm of musical culture in the heart of Pellouailles. Everything is concentrated here: classical music courses, amplified music workshops and artists'residences that come there for a few days to prepare and refine their concerts before going on tour. But there is also a show room, adjustable, which has already hosted known groups and singers, some-man-shows, etc. The acoustics are not the most successful, it must be admitted, but having a real hall in the middle of the northern Angers countryside is rather bad! Because culture is not confined to big cities…

The Bibliothèque Municipale Bourgogne is a library located in Orléans. It offers a wide selection of books, from detective novels to children's fiction, manga and non-fiction. The library also has a space dedicated to the practice of musical instruments. The library also offers activities for all ages, such as story readings, drawing workshops, adventure games and video game sessions.

The Médiathèque Toussaint will undergo major renovation and extension work, postponed until 2023 following the discovery of an ancient cemetery during archaeological diagnostics. The main aim is to renovate the existing buildings and build a new wing to meet users' needs, before temporarily relocating some of the documents to the Institut municipal, place Saint-Eloi. Most of the library's collections will therefore remain accessible (185,000 books, 12,000 DVDs and 400 periodical titles, 35,000 audio documents), and the library will close in April 2025 to allow for the completion of these major works.

For young and old alike, the Association Courteline offers artistic, sporting and cultural courses of all kinds and for all levels, in Tours Centre (Courteline and Mirabeau districts) and Tours Nord (Gentiana site). Sewing, hip-hop, African dance, Spanish, oenology, karate... You'll find just about any activity you can think of! Classes are held at the association's various branches (rue Courteline, rue Preuilly, rue Boutard, rue Mirabeau and rue Gentiana). Prices are deliberately reasonable, with a view to popular education and access to culture for all. Training courses, social action and integration workshops complete the association's offer.

For all those who want to learn to speak English or Spanish in a different way, Dora, the creator of Rock the Talk, offers a totally different approach to traditional academic teaching. Just as with music, you can learn solfeggio for months before touching an instrument, you can start a language with its grammar, but not here. With Dora, you're going to live the language, you're going to find yourself in situations of exchange, of play to learn it naturally as you did at your nursery school.