What’s NEW spring What’s NEW spring 2024 the Modern Games (1900 and 1924). The majority of events will take place across the heart of the city with iconic landmarks – from the Eiffel Tower to the Place de la Concorde - being transformed into sporting arenas. Some events - like football - will take place in stadiums around France including Lille, Lyon, and Bordeaux. Note that travel in Paris during this time will be affected, and hotels, restaurants etc are likely to be super busy. Find out more: paris2024 .org/en 2024 promises to be a bumper year for major events from the Paris Olympics to the re-opening of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame… Major EVENTS Spring 2024 Nuits des Musées 18 May 2024 All over France on a weekend in mid- May on the Nuits des Musées – hundreds of museums, churches and Government offices open their doors to the public and offer free entry from nightfall until 1.00 a.m. Many of them put on special exhibitions and demonstrations in this unique annual event. Why not enjoy a magical moonlit museum tour! Our Festivals of France podcast covers some of the biggest, best and quirkiest events in France – from pig squealing contests to giant strawberry tarts, and giants! Tour de France 2024 29 June – 21 July 2024 For the first time in the race’s history the Tour de France won’t be finishing in Paris as the city will be preparing for the Olympic Games. For 2024 the route embarks from Florence, Italy, on June 29 and features four high altitude panoramic finishes as the Nuits des Musées Nice, where the Tour de France will end, July 2024 © Juliet V Simpson race crosses the Alps twice, races through the south of France including Nimes, Gruissan and Pau, Burgundy, the Loire Valley and Champagne before ending with a dazzling Monaco to Nice time-trial! Paris Olympic Games 26 July – 11 August 2024 More than a million visitors are expected to attend the Olympic Games in France! It’s the third time that Paris has hosted Major Anniversaries 150 years of Impressionism 2024 is the 150th anniversary of Impressionism and there will be exhibitions and events in Normandy, Paris, Ile-de- France and Hauts-de-France. The Eiffel Tower celebrates 135 years She was only supposed to be there for 20 years – but this grand old dame is now one of the most popular monuments in the world and has stood for 135 years wowing millions. (Have a listen to our Eiffel Tower podcast to discover some of its most fascinating secrets). 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings There will be events throughout May-August 2024 in Normandy and in Pas-de-Calais. At La Coupole Historic Centre and 3D planetarium near Saint-Omer, there will be an exhibition dedicated to the liberation of the region which will run from June 2024 – June 2025 calais-cotedopale.co.uk Regional Events International Kite Festival 20-28 April, Berck-sur-Mer, Pas de Calais 10 days of kite flying on the beach of Bercksur-Mer on the glorious Opal Coast. This is 110 | The Good Life France The Good Life France | 111
