Music and Dance

France is the home of some 28,841 dramatic artists and dancers, 30,415 musicians and singers, 250 music, opera and dance festivals. The country also boasts 7,078 variety performers. In addition, amateur performers are increasing in number as formal training in the performing art has developed apace (more than 5,100 institutions specialize in music alone.


Theatre

A total audience of 8 million is drawn to some 50,000 performances put on by theatres, national drama centers, other subsidized playhouses and private theatres. In 2005, 10% of the French population went to the theatre at least once. Well-known theatres can be found throughout Paris and other cities, not to mention the activity of world-renowned festivals such as Avignon. Over a thousand independent theatre companies have sprung up in recent years.


Museums and Monuments

Around 1,200 museums draw more than 48 millions of visitors each year. The Louvre, the Chateau de Versailles, Beaubourg and the Musée d’Orsay alone welcome 16 million people annually. Most cities outside Paris have at least one museum. In addition, more than 2,400 historic buildings are open to the public (eight million visitors a year), with the Eiffel Tower the most popular attraction with 6 million visitors a year. Moreover, some 42,300 buildings are classified as historic monuments and as such are protected by the Ministry of Culture.

In addition to the classical arts, in which France has excelled for the last 10 centuries, there are endless modern galleries, events, exhibitions and creative workshops in all aspects of art.

Cultural Crossroads Tours of France at a Glance

• Gardens and Gastronomy in France
  

  This “colorful and tasty” program has been designed especially for Cultural Crossroads travelers who are particularly interested in discovering the secrets of French cuisine and some of the most interesting gardens including many private gardens not normally opened to the public. Cultural Crossroads travelers will enjoy a cooking demonstration by a well-known Chef, wine and olive oil tastings, and a private visit to a Renaissance castle which is now a private residence. We also visit a workshop that creates Provencal fabrics, a glass blowing museum, the impressive estate and winery of Val Joanis, and a class with a perfume expert in her laboratory in one of the most famous perfume factories of Grasse. Of course, every day will include local French cuisine.

• Treasures of Art in the Loire Chateaux Country
  

  Amboise will be our home for 6 nights, a perfect location in the heart of the Loire Valley, which is often referred to as the center of the French “Art de Vivre” because of its long tradition of elegant chateaux and delicious food. Cultural Crossroads travelers will follow our expert study leader, from castle to castle from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance to the 18th and 19th century, we will discover treasures of art, exceptional parks and gardens, arts and crafts of the region and enter the fascinating history of the châteaux country.