Since 1984, the European Heritage Days have given the general public the chance to discover unusual and rarely accessible sites, free of charge. For the 2023 edition, take your family along the coast from your Les Rochelets campsite to discover the local heritage during free visits and shows!
Live entertainment on heritage sites
The association Les Murmures du Vent brings you memorial theater in places steeped in history. Join us on Saturday September 16, 2023 at 8:30pm at the Musée de la Marine, for a performance of “Peuple de la nuit” by Aida Azfharzadeh, a play that won the Molière 2023 award for best playwright.
On Sunday, September 17, 2023, at 7:30pm, at La Mare aux Fées, we’ll be reading “Chambre”, a text by writer Philippe Minyana, which captures the raw words of people who have been excluded from society.
Visit one of Saint-Brevin-les-Pins’ remarkable villas
Who hasn’t dreamed of discovering the interior of one of the magnificent old villas dotting the Pays de Retz coastline? The owners of Villa Duchesse Anne are opening their doors for the Journées du Patrimoine. Interior and exterior tours will focus on the work of sculptor Georges Barreau, who designed this early 20th-century villa, as well as the life of the duchess and queen who gave it her name. Reservations for the tour can be made at the Saint-Brévin Tourist Office, by telephone on 02 40 27 24 32 or online via the form at this link.
Visit the Saint-Louis chapel
Dating back to 1899 and enlarged in 1960 using modern materials, this modern-looking chapel boasts a rich history that you can discover during a guided tour on Sunday, September 17 at 4:30pm. Meet us at 31 avenue Georges-Clémenceau for this tour led by historian Véronique Mathot.
Entrance to an Atlantic Wall pillbox
The associations Bunker Archéo 44 and Mémoire de la Libération invite you to an immersive visit of the fully restored casemate 105C du Pointeau. Otherwise known as a bunker, this construction was part of the fortification system the Nazis hoped would prevent Allied landings.
40 Years of History exhibition at the Musée de la Marine
As in previous years, the museum is offering an exhibition with 7 different themes for 2023: a history of Mindin Fort, the Battle of Cardinaux, the liners “Normandie” and “France”, unusual boats, the French Navy and shipbuilding in Saint-Nazaire.
Model exhibition of the Saint-Brévin of yesteryear
Take a nostalgic trip back to the Saint-Brévin of the past with dioramas featuring typical places and scenes: fisheries, shops, remarkable villas… Admission is free, between 10am and 6pm, Impasse Penfour chez M. Bienfait.
You want more?
Find out all about the European Heritage Days program for Pays de Retz in this online program, featuring over 100 cultural offerings!
Photo “Poster for the Journées du Patrimoine en Pays de Retz” (credit: Société des historiens des Pays de Loire, Pays de Retz and Nantes Métropole)