The Festival of France in Croatia

Between May and September, 22 cities around Croatia will be hosts to Rendez-vous, a French festival in Croatia that will feature more than 150 happenings. Various cultural, artistic and social events will offer visitors plenty of opportunities to get to know the great diversity of France.

If you are a fan of French culture and way of life, make sure to visit Rendez-vous, a French festival taking place in Croatia. The festival, comprising more than 150 various events, will take place between May and September in 22 cities around Croatia. The organizers of the festival are the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, the French Institute and the French Embassy in Croatia.

The festival pre-programme has already begun in April, and ten French-related events have already been held. Among them were lectures by one of the most influential contemporary economists in the world, Thomas Piketty, who presented the Croatian edition of his book – Capital in the 21^st Century, as well as political scientist Joseph Maïle, who spoke about diplomacy as a challenge to religion. One of the key contemporary French composers, Bruno Mantovani, presented his work at the Music Biennale Zagreb, while two single-act ballets choreographed by Pascal Touzeau were performed at and co-produced by the Croatian National Theatre. The church of St. Mark in the Upper Town was the venue for a performance by the multiply awarded French organist Thomas Ospital. There are also exhibitions of photos by the famous conceptual artist Philippe Ramette, and photos of the famous Tour de France bicycle race at Zrinjevac…

During this festival visitors will have plenty of opportunities to get to know the great diversity of France through various programmes, including concerts, visual arts, theatre, circus, dance, design, architecture and economy, as well as discussions about social and global issues, sports, gastronomy, tourism, science and education… Among the numerous events, one of the most significant will be the exhibition of fascinating works by the great French sculptor Auguste Rodin, featured at the Art Pavilion in Zagreb and the Meštrović Gallery in Split. There will also be performances of the opera Pelléas et Mélisande by Claude Debussy, co-produced by the Croatian National Theatre and the OpéraComique theatre of Paris, and the Concert Spirituel by Hervé Niquet. Performances by many other prestigious baroque ensembles will take place at the Festival of Baroque Music in Varaždin on July 14^th, and there will be a great ball on Zagreb’s main square, etc.

More information about this major cultural event taking place in Croatia can be found online at www.rendez-vous.hr.