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CULTURE

Festivals

Jazzfestival

Each year the city of Montauban is the stage for an international jazz festival. In July to mid August a choice of well-known international artists perform in the open air in the park “Jardin des Plants” and on several other places in the city.

Hat Festival

Caussade, the hat producers’ town, has its yearly two-day festivities with events such as a hat parade, an exhibition and a hat fair. Ascot pales before this one.

Offenbach festival

Near to the castle of Bruniquel there is an Offenbach festival which takes place every year in the open air. In 2008 this will take place for the 12^th time. From the end of July till early August there is a nightly concert followed by a supper together with the performing artists. A small-scale event, but extremely attractive

Falconers’ festivities

A splendid sight is the annual ‘Fêtes du Grand Fauconnier’ , the falconers festivities, in Cordes-sur-Ciel. During two days in July you imagine yourself in the Middle Ages, when the streets of the town are flooded with musicians in medieval costumes, with minstrels, fire-eaters and acrobats

Dance festival

“Les extravadanses”, is the name of the 7-day festival of dance in Castres, with a great number of international dancers and dance groups. A varied programme from ballet to Irish folk dance and Spanish flamenco

Classical concerts

Ten concerts of classical music performed by young international soloists form the festival called “Musique sur ciel” in Cordes-sur-Ciel. These concerts are held in the St. Michel church and start at 21.00 hours. In 2008 the concerts will be performed for the 37^th year.

Jazzfestival

In the second half of August there is a three-day jazz festival in Castelsarrasin, which mainly takes place in the open air. A lot of Dixieland and New Orleans style jazz.

Light and Sound Show

“Son et Lumière” is a historical light and sound show in Penne, every Wednesday and Friday evening from the end of June till mid September, which starts at dusk. From a stand just outside the town this spectacle can be seen. With the use of sound effects and spectacular lighting the long history of the town is told

Museums

Albi – Museum Toulouse-Lautrec.
Over more than 1000 works of the painter, who was born in Albi, among which his famous posters. Fine exhibition, lovely museum.
Blaye-les-Mines – Glass museum.
The history of glassblowing is told by means of images of every day life of the miners and glassblowers. Also a visit to a glasswork studio.
Castres – Goya museum.
Art work of Goya and other great Spanish painters from the 18^th to the 20^th century.
Cordes-sur-Ciel – Museum Yves Brayer.
A collection of works from the painter Yves Brayer, who died in 1990. Beside works of 20^th century artists such as Picasso, Miro, Klee and Jenkins.
Cordes-sur-Ciel – “L’art du sucre” , sugar art.
A hundred sculptures and other work completely manufactured from sugar with varied themes, such as the Middle Ages, mythology, nature and technology.
Durfort – Brass museum.
The restoration, manufacturing and design of brass objects.
Giroussens – Museum of contemporary pottery.
An exhibition, a studio and a gallery for contemporary ceramic work.
Lisle-sur-Tarn – Chocolate museum.
Sculptures manufactured in chocolate by a sculptor and chocolate confectioner.
Mazamet – Cathars Museum.
Permanent exhibition on the occupation by the Cathars in the “Occitan” area in the Middle Ages.
Montans – “Archéosite”.
Montans used to be one of the most important centres for the production of pottery in the Roman era. The exhibition offers a view on day to day life of the Gallo-Roman potters.
Montauban – Ingres museum.
Permanent exhibition of works by this French painter, who was born in 1780 in Montauban