Loire River to be transformed into art exhibition

From 1 June to 1 September 2007, one of the world’s most astonishing contemporary art exhibitions will be revealed on the River Loire, featuring over 40 installations by internationally renowned artists such as Anish Kapoor, Daniel Buren and Atelier Van Lieshout.

Stretching a total of 40 miles from Nantes to St Nazaire, the Loire Estuary Project 2007 will create a geographic and symbolic link between these two cities, which share a common history of shipbuilding. Inspired by this unusual backdrop, the works are lively, fun, unusual and everywhere; in the cities and ports, on the river banks, on the water and even in the water.

Spectacular exhibits will include an 80 foot duck, astonishing feats of architecture, dramatic fountains and a floating house, all of which can be viewed free of charge on foot or by bike.

However the best way to see the exhibition will be via a three-hour river cruise on board a specially-built mirrored boat or ‘floating diamond’. This unique audio guided tour, designed by the artists and available in English and French, will accompany visitors through the river’s landscapes, its cultural and historic heritage and the installations themselves.

Also incorporated into the trail will be each city’s most important art and cultural venues such as Le Grand Café art centre in St Nazaire, Nantes’ Museum of Fine Arts, the recently reopened Chateau of the Dukes of Brittany and the extraordinary Gallery of Machines containing a 40 foot tall animatronic elephant, which conducts local tours carrying 30 passengers on its back or in its stomach.

Visitors will have a wide choice of accommodation from city centre hotels, many of which will offer special rates, to more unusual places to stay including an eccentric campsite for up to 60 persons comprising amphibious caravans, floating saucers, tents, tree houses and cardboard houses. Rates start from 10 Euros per person per night. For reservations call +33 (0)240 757 507

The Loire Estuary 2007 pass costs 30 Euros per adult and 20 Euros under 18s and includes seven coupons each providing free access to each of the participating venues and the cruise along the Loire.

The project will also be repeated in 2009 and 2011.

For further information in English on the Loire Estuary Project 2007 visit
Estuaire.info

Participating Artists:

Anish Kapoor (UK)
Yan-Pei Ming (China)
Martin Ruiz de Azua (Spain)
Minerva Cuevas (Mexico)
Los Carpinteros (Cuba)
Tadashi Kawamata (Japan)
Kinya Maruyama (Japan)
Tatzu Nishi (Japan)
Felice Varini (Switzerland)
Thomas Lanfranchi (Switzerland)
Erwin Wurm (Austria)
Julius Popp (Germany)
Jeppe Hein (Denmark)
Thomas McIntosh (Canada)
Kevin Van Braak (Holland)
Edwin Van Der Heide (Holland)
Morgane Tschiember (Holland)
Dre Wapenaar (Holland)
Denis Oudendijk (Holland)
Atelier Van Lieshout (Holland)
Florentijn Hofman (Holland)
Honoré d’O (Belgium)
David Bartex (France)
Daniel Buren - Patrick Bouchain (France)
Concept Plastique (France)
Jean-Luc Courcoult (France)
Marie-Pierre Duquoc (France)
Gilles Ebersolt (France)
Franck Gérard (France)
Fabrice Hyber (France)
Ange Leccia (France)
La Valise - 73 artists (France)
Bevis Martin - Charlie Youle (France)
Alain Séchas (France)
Jean de Loisy (France)
YKFD (France)

More accessible than ever with direct flights to Nantes from all major regional airports and via Rail Europe and Brittany Ferries, the Western Loire region stretches from the Atlantic coast to Le Mans and is intersected by the famous River Loire with its many tributaries and waterways.

For further information visit Westernloire.com.