From 2 December 2024 to 1 March 2025, the town of Saint-Raphaël is celebrating the 220th anniversary of Napoleon’s coronation. As a ‘Ville Partenaire Impériale’ (Imperial Partner Town), Saint-Raphaël is highlighting the impact of this historic figure on France and Europe through a rich and varied cultural programme: an exhibition entitled ‘Le sacre de Napoléon’ (The coronation of Napoleon), a symposium, a screening of the film ‘Austerlitz’ by Abel Gance, and a concert entitled ‘Napoléon, l’opéra rock’ (Napoleon, the rock opera)!

The Fondation Napoléon is the main lender for the ‘Le sacre de Napoléon’ exhibition, with some fifty objects from its collections. Pierre Branda, Scientific Director of the Fondation Napoléon, has curated the exhibition. The vernissage will take place on the evening of Monday 2 December, following a historical re-enactment in the streets of Raphaël of some of the key scenes in Napoleon’s epic.

► Artworks loaned by the Fondation Napoléon (link in French)
► More information on the website of the town (in French)

– The ‘Coronation of Napoleon’ exhibition from 2 December 2024 to 1 March 2025: immerse yourself in the sumptuous world of the First Empire thanks to an exhibition featuring a host of art and historical objects in the Raphaël Room at the Centre Culturel.The exhibition will trace Napoleon’s rise to power and his lasting influence on French culture and society.
Around fifty objects from the Fondation Napoléon and museums in the region (the Musée Masséna in Nice, the Musée des Troupes de Marine in Fréjus and the Musée de l’Artillerie in Draguignan), including his throne, the civil code, his train, his bicorne, his ceremonial armchairs, as well as paintings and sculptures in his likeness, will plunge visitors into the heart of Napoleon’s private life. A guided tour of the exhibition will also be given by historian David Chanteranne on Sunday 8 December at 10.30am.

Cultural centre
Place Gabriel Péri
83700 Saint-Raphaël
France
0498118900

Opening times and prices
Opening times: 10am to 6pm Tuesday to Saturday / 10am to 5pm Sundays
Exhibition entrance fee: €5 (free for minors, students, youth card holders, Pass Culture, jobseekers)

Other events:

– A symposium on the coronation of Napoleon, on Saturday 7 December 2024 from 10am to 5pm in the Salle Félix Martin. This event will bring together renowned experts to explore the many dimensions of Napoleon’s coronation and its repercussions on our contemporary world.

– Screening of Abel Gance’s film “Austerlitz”: come and see this film on Sunday 8 December at 2pm at the Lido cinema. Synopsis: 1802. Napoleon Bonaparte is about to be crowned Emperor. The battle of Ulm has just been won and the eagle is at its zenith. A new campaign is being prepared. The battle will take place. It will be Austerlitz, the French Emperor’s most complete victory.

– Napoléon, l’opéra rock’ concert: discover a rock opera retracing the life of Napoléon, from Ajaccio to Saint Helena. It’s an opera that develops an educational concept of learning history: fun listening. With easy-to-remember tunes and a giant screen that not only projects images during the show, but also displays the lyrics of the songs live (like karaoke), the key events in Napoleon’s epic are easy to remember for all generations. Ages 7 and up.

[First published in French on 28 November 2024]