As part of the commemoration of the death of Napoleon I in 1821, the Berry-Val de Loire Delegation of Napoleonic Remembrance is organising several local events.

Updated 19 January 2021.

For further information, please visit the site of the Souvenir napoléonien and the Berry Val-de-Loire delegation in particuliar

Painting competition > The Place Sainte-Hélène and the statue of General Bertrand
Up to 30 November 2020
The local delegation of the Souvenir Napoléonien is organising a painting competition on the theme of “the Place Sainte-Hélène and the statue of General Bertrand” both of which in Châteauroux, “ville impériale“.
Amateurs and professionals alike are invited to compete .
Format: Canvas 55 x 46 cm
Prizes: 1st Prize: 450 €; 2nd Prize: 250 €; 3rd Prize: 150 €
The paintings will be exhibited in March 2021 in Châteauroux Town Hall. At the end of the exhibition, a jury made up of members of the Souvenir Napoléonien, the municipality and partners will meet to award the prizes to the winners.

The paintings that have won the first two prizes will be offered to the Governor of St Helena (“Ville Impériale” by association) and the Consul and Curator of Longwood, during a trip to be made by the delegate of theSouvenir Napoléonien Berry-Val de Loire in May 2021 to commemorate the bicentenary of the death of Napoleon I.

See the Press Communiqué (in French)

Talk > The Creation of the Légion d’Honneur
Wednesday 27 January 2021 at 6.30pm
By Thierry LENTZ, Historian, Director of the Fondation Napoléon
In partnership with the Société des Membres de la Légion d’Honneur, on the occasion of the Centenary of their creation. Venue: Auditorium of the Cité du Numérique – Balsan Campus Site – 36000 Châteauroux
Admission is free, the conference will be followed by a drink

Antique Fair
28-29 & 30 January 2021 from 9am to 6pm
The Berry-Val de Loire delegation of the Souvenir Napoléonien will have a stand at this event. Organiser: Association Patrimoine et Tradition 36. Venue: Château des Planches 36250 St Maur sur Indre.

17e Salon du Livre d’Histoire [History Book fair]
29 & 30 Janvier 2021, de 10h à 18h
The Berry-Val de Loire delegation of the Souvenir Napoléonien will have a stand at this event. Organiser : Association Agora Défense 18. Entrée gratuite. Venue: Palais du Duc Jean de Berry Conseil Départemental du Cher (near the Préfecture) in Bourges (18).

Talk > Napoleon without Bonaparte
30 January 2021, at 3pm
by Arthur CHEVALLIER, writer and publisher of the Humensis group’s History section, and as part of the 17th History Book Fair organised by AGORA Défense 18 (see above). Book-signing at the Souvenir Napoléonien stand.

Talk> Américans in Châteauroux
Wednesday 10 February 2021 à 6.30pm
By Bruno MASCLE, journalist, editor in chief of Nouvelle République. Venue: Centre d’Etudes Supérieures de Châteauroux – Balsan Campus. Free admission
(reservation is recommended, taking into account the presence of students). With the participation of BOUINOTTE Editions.

Talk > Le Raft of La Méduse
Sunday 14 March 2021 at 3 pm
by Jacques-Olivier BOUDON, President of the Institut Napoléon, Professor at the Sorbonne. Venue: Maurice Genevoix Hall (near the Town Hall) in Mehun-sur-Yévre (18). Free entrance, the talk will be followed by a drink.

Concours > Peinture de la Place Sainte-Hélène
Jeudi 25 Mars 2021 à 17h
Inauguration de l’Exposition et Remise des Prix. Lieu : Hall de la Mairie de Châteauroux.

Talk > St Helena, 200 years later
Thursday 25 March 2021 – 6.30 pm
By Pierre BRANDA, historian, head of the Heritage Department of the Fondation Napoléon. Place: Redemptorists’ Chapel on rue Paul-Louis Courrier in Châteauroux. Admission free of charge.

Open Day at the Train Museum
Saturday 27 March 2021
At the École militaire of Bourges. Free Entry

Talk > L’Aiglon
Friday 16 April 2021 at 6.30 pm
By Laetitia De WITT, historian, winner of the 2020 Grand Prix of the Fondation Napoléon for her book L’Aiglon (also labelled 2021 Année Napoléon), great-granddaughter of Prince Victor Napoléon. Location: HEI Campus Balsan – 2, allée Jean Vaillé 36000 Châteauroux. Admission free, the conference will be followed by a drink.

Exhibition > Bertrand – Napoléon, le retour des héros [Bertrand -Napoleon, the Heroes are back]
From Saturday 19 June (inauguration Friday 18 June 2021 at 5 pm)
Exhibition curator: David CHANTERANNE, historian, editor of the magazines Napoléon Ier/Revue du Souvenir napoléonien, Napoléon III.

Musée Hôtel BERTRAND
Rue descente des Cordeliers
36 000 Châteauroux
Contact: M. Jean-Michel Lavaud
+33 (0)6 86 17 46 22
berry.delegation@orange.fr

GENERAL Information

List of partners of “2021 Année Napoléon”.

Calendar of Events.

Follow the special Instagram account for “2021 Année Napoléon” events.

Follow the Fondation Napoléon’s Facebook page in English.

Follow the Fondation Napoléon on Twitter.

Consult the page of the partner publishers and their published or republished works
on the occasion of the bicentenary of Napoleon’s death.

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PrEsentation of THE Souvenir Napoléonien

The Souvenir Napoléonien was created on 27 December 1937 and is the largest Napoleonic association in Europe, registered as a non-profit on 5 November 1982.

Throughout France and in certain European countries, the Souvenir Napoléonien organises various cultural events, always with the desire to share and enjoy the history of the First Empire and the Second Empire. These two periods form the foundations of modern France, in terms of institutions, law, education, culture, town planning and landscape art. Study of all areas contributes to an understanding of France’s specific identity and its place in Europe and the world.

With to its delegations spread throughout France and Europe, the association Le Souvenir Napoléonien represents 83 years of research and voluntary activities related to the two Empires covering more than a century of French history.