Protest season is officially over until September, it’s now time for French people to indulge in other more typical seasonal activities.

Even though France lost to Spain yesterday in the Euro 2024 semi-finals, bars and restaurants are as full as ever, live football game or not. Olympic hate lost momentum because of the snap elections but I’m sure we will soon start complaining about hosting them again. Everybody is going somewhere, the trains are full of rural France residents exploring cities and urban families moving to the countryside for a few weeks.

It’s summer. The French take July and August very seriously and just like school-aged kids, they take time off—not just the odd long weekend like Canadians, but a month or more away from work, home and daily responsibilities.

Nobody is expected to work in summer, except people who make summer work (seasonal workers will take a long break in the fall and enjoy lower prices, so the deal seems fair enough).

But as much as they like to do just do nothing and relax, the French seem to worry about the grownup version of summer slide—or at least this is how I explain why cultural events always draw crowds.

Kids complete summer vacation workbooks. Adults make lists of museums, historic sites and must-go cultural events (and drag their kids along).

Last Saturday was the opening night of the Voyage à Nantes, a summer-long event with large-scale artworks scattered throughout the city. Museums and various exhibitions were also free and open until late.

I couldn’t believe how many people showed up.

We spend most of our time at the Musée d’arts de Nantes to see the newest exhibition, Faire bonne(s) figure(s) by video artist Pierrick Sorin, a series of short films with a funny take on human nature.

Then we walked to the Château des Ducs to see the exhibition Ivresse de l’encre by Lassaâd Metoui. We accidentally arrived at the same time as the former mayor of Nantes, the artistic director of the Voyage à Nantes and the artist himself. “No bodyguards?” Mark asked, amazed, when I explained what was going on. Yeah, well, it’s Nantes, not Hollywood…

Then we explored the huge permanent collection featuring Nantes from the birth of the city to modern times, with a focus on the slave trade, the industry and the two wars.

We ended the night at the market, where everybody was eating and drinking… another French year-round activity and passion!

Musée d'arts de Nantes, exhibition "Faire bonne(s) figure(s)" by Pierrick Sorin, Nantes, July 2024
Musée d’arts de Nantes, exhibition “Faire bonne(s) figure(s)” by Pierrick Sorin, Nantes, July 2024
Musée d'arts de Nantes, exhibition "Faire bonne(s) figure(s)" by Pierrick Sorin, Nantes, July 2024
Musée d’arts de Nantes, exhibition “Faire bonne(s) figure(s)” by Pierrick Sorin, Nantes, July 2024
Musée d'arts de Nantes, exhibition "Faire bonne(s) figure(s)" by Pierrick Sorin, Nantes, July 2024
Musée d’arts de Nantes, exhibition “Faire bonne(s) figure(s)” by Pierrick Sorin, Nantes, July 2024
Musée d'arts de Nantes, exhibition "Faire bonne(s) figure(s)" by Pierrick Sorin, Nantes, July 2024
Musée d’arts de Nantes, exhibition “Faire bonne(s) figure(s)” by Pierrick Sorin, Nantes, July 2024
Musée d'arts de Nantes, exhibition "Faire bonne(s) figure(s)" by Pierrick Sorin, Nantes, July 2024
Musée d’arts de Nantes, exhibition “Faire bonne(s) figure(s)” by Pierrick Sorin, Nantes, July 2024
Musée d'arts de Nantes, exhibition "Faire bonne(s) figure(s)" by Pierrick Sorin, Nantes, July 2024
Musée d’arts de Nantes, exhibition “Faire bonne(s) figure(s)” by Pierrick Sorin, Nantes, July 2024
Musée d'arts de Nantes, exhibition "Faire bonne(s) figure(s)" by Pierrick Sorin, Nantes, July 2024
Musée d’arts de Nantes, exhibition “Faire bonne(s) figure(s)” by Pierrick Sorin, Nantes, July 2024
Musée d'arts de Nantes, exhibition "Faire bonne(s) figure(s)" by Pierrick Sorin, Nantes, July 2024
Musée d’arts de Nantes, exhibition “Faire bonne(s) figure(s)” by Pierrick Sorin, Nantes, July 2024
Musée d'arts de Nantes, exhibition "Faire bonne(s) figure(s)" by Pierrick Sorin, Nantes, July 2024
Musée d’arts de Nantes, exhibition “Faire bonne(s) figure(s)” by Pierrick Sorin, Nantes, July 2024
Musée d'arts de Nantes, exhibition "Faire bonne(s) figure(s)" by Pierrick Sorin, Nantes, July 2024
Musée d’arts de Nantes, exhibition “Faire bonne(s) figure(s)” by Pierrick Sorin, Nantes, July 2024
Musée d'arts de Nantes, exhibition "Faire bonne(s) figure(s)" by Pierrick Sorin, Nantes, July 2024
Musée d’arts de Nantes, exhibition “Faire bonne(s) figure(s)” by Pierrick Sorin, Nantes, July 2024
Musée d'arts de Nantes, exhibition "Faire bonne(s) figure(s)" by Pierrick Sorin, Nantes, July 2024
Musée d’arts de Nantes, exhibition “Faire bonne(s) figure(s)” by Pierrick Sorin, Nantes, July 2024
Musée d'arts de Nantes, exhibition "Faire bonne(s) figure(s)" by Pierrick Sorin, Nantes, July 2024
Musée d’arts de Nantes, exhibition “Faire bonne(s) figure(s)” by Pierrick Sorin, Nantes, July 2024
Musée d'arts de Nantes, Le Cube (21st-century art), Nantes, July 2024
Musée d’arts de Nantes, Le Cube (21st-century art), Nantes, July 2024
Musée d'arts de Nantes, Le Cube (21st-century art), Nantes, July 2024
Musée d’arts de Nantes, Le Cube (21st-century art), Nantes, July 2024
Musée d'arts de Nantes, Le Cube (21st-century art), Nantes, July 2024
Musée d’arts de Nantes, Le Cube (21st-century art), Nantes, July 2024
Musée d'arts de Nantes, Le Cube (21st-century art), Nantes, July 2024
Musée d’arts de Nantes, Le Cube (21st-century art), Nantes, July 2024
Musée d'arts de Nantes, Le Cube (21st-century art), Nantes, July 2024
Musée d’arts de Nantes, Le Cube (21st-century art), Nantes, July 2024
Nuit du VAN, "Le rêve de Fitzcarraldo", Place Graslin, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, “Le rêve de Fitzcarraldo”, Place Graslin, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, "Le sursaut des bois courbes", Place Graslin, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, “Le sursaut des bois courbes”, Place Graslin, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, "Le rêve de Fitzcarraldo", Place Graslin, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, “Le rêve de Fitzcarraldo”, Place Graslin, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, "Le rêve de Fitzcarraldo", Place Graslin, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, “Le rêve de Fitzcarraldo”, Place Graslin, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, rue Crébillon, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, rue Crébillon, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, exhibition "Ivresse de l'encre" by Lassaâd Metoui, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, exhibition “Ivresse de l’encre” by Lassaâd Metoui, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, exhibition "Ivresse de l'encre" by Lassaâd Metoui, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Jean Blaise, artistic director for the Voyage à Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, exhibition "Ivresse de l'encre" by Lassaâd Metoui, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, exhibition “Ivresse de l’encre” by Lassaâd Metoui, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, exhibition "Ivresse de l'encre" by Lassaâd Metoui, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, exhibition “Ivresse de l’encre” by Lassaâd Metoui, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Marché de Talensac, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Marché de Talensac, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Marché de Talensac, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Marché de Talensac, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Marché de Talensac, Nantes
Nuit du VAN, Marché de Talensac, Nantes

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