Tourism and spare-time activities

Next visit: Synchrotron SOLEIL on the 11th of March

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Memories of visit of Le Marais district in Paris and Opéra Bastille

With AVF and Office de Tourisme de la Vallée de Chevreuse , Science Accueil has organized a guided tour of the district of Le Marais in Paris and an exceptional visit of Opéra Bastille. We have seen the public foyers, the main auditorium, and the backstage areas, included the wonderful decorations of the Opera Casse-Noisette.

This bilingual French-English visit has taken place on Saturday 5th of December in the afternoon. 31 researchers have came.

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Memories of visit of Versailles

With Office de Tourisme de la Vallée de Chevreuse and AVF Versailles, Science Accueil has organized a guided tour of the Antique district of the city of Versailles, a picnic in the park of the castle around Grand Canal and the guided tour of "Les Grandes Eaux Musicales". 

29 researchers came with us to visit this beautiful royal city.

For further information, please  see attached file. 

 

 

 

 

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Memories of visit of Evry Cathedrale and Mosque

Science Accueil Evry has proposed on the 16th of May, a bilingual (French/English)  guided tour of Evry Cathedrale, the last builded in France and Evry Mosque, which is one of the largest Mosque of Western Europe

 

The Cathedral of Evry

The Cathedral has a very particular cylindrical shape, covered by 840 000 red bricks from Toulouse (South West of France). Its roof is covered by a “hat” of 24 silver lindens.

Mario Botta (born in Ticino, Italian Switzerland) is the architect of this masterpiece. In France, it is the last and only Cathedral built in the 20th Century. The Cathedral was inaugurated in April 1995. It can receive up to 1300 people including 800 in the nave.

Mario Botta’s work has achieved international renown and important awards. Among his realizations The Museum of Modern Art of San Francisco, Cymbalista Synagogue in Tel Aviv, Watari Um Museum in Tokyo, the Kyobo Tower in Seoul and the Leeum Samsung Museum of Arts in Seoul must be remembered.

 

The 11 million euros for its construction have been provided by private sponsorship and public donation which brought more 300 000 donors.

Due to the law of secularity (separation of church and state), many people from Evry still remember the direct marketing campaign to raise public funds.

This was one of the famous posters: Who can still build a Cathedral? (Intending now a days)

 

The Mosque of Evry-Courcouronnes

 

The Mosque of Evry-Courcouronne is the biggest in France. The architect Henri Daudot designed it.

The history of this Mosque began in the late 70’s. The idea of building this Mosque came form a group of Muslims who wanted to find a place to pray together.

After 10 years of work, the Mosque and the Cultural Centre opened in 1994. The expenses for the interior design have been provided by King Hassan II of Morocco.

 

18 researchers came to this pleasant visit.

 

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Memories of visit of SOLEIL

With Office de Tourisme de la Vallée de Chevreuse, we  have proposed on the 2nd of April, a bilingual (French/English)  guided tour of SOLEIL synchrotron in Saint-Aubin (plateau of Saclay), from 12:00 am to 2:00 pm.

 
Memories of visit of Rambouillet

With Office de Tourisme de la Vallée de Chevreuse, we have proposed on the 11th of October 2008, a bilingual (French/English) vist of Rambouillet, pleasant and historical city of arts, located in the large forest of Yvelines. 
With a guide, 29 researchers and 3 children have discovered the city and the park of presidential castle ; the Bergerie Nationale (National Sheepfold) where they have seen a demonstration of care of animals ; then they have visited in the Palais du Roi de Rome the exposition of tapestry works of Annie Christy.

 

Learning French with ALFAP Association...
It's learning French cooking as well!
So Science Accueil and ALFAP propose to foreigner visitors cooking workshops a Saturday afternoon at a French's house in Gif-sur-Yvette where the participants are invited to prepare a meal and to share it together with the hostess and the other guests in a friendly atmosphere.

Each workshop starts at 4 p.m. for 5 participants maximum.
Participation fee for one session is 35 euros or 15 euros for ALFAP members.
Reservation can be made to Science Accueil

• French cooking workshops

 

• Activity for young mums and their babies
  Thursdays from 9:45 to 11:30 a.m.

If you are a mum with young children this is the activity for you! During the year, AVF organises different activities and visits specifically aimed at toddlers and pre-school children. Come and meet other mums, make friends, share experiences and hopefully find answers to the questions posed by living abroad.

Information and contact: Francine Mathern - Phone: +33 (0)1 69 07 53 51 or Isabelle Segretain - Phone: +33 (0)1 69 07 17 33

Sport and cultural Associations

• You or your family want to practice a sport or your favourite cultural activity in the area of Saclay Scientipôle. Thanks to our local implantation, we are able to orient you towards associations, clubs or other organisms that can provide what you are looking for. Don't hesitate to contact us.

Tourist Offices in the Saclay Scientipole area

• The Vallée de Chevreuse Tourist Office

  17, rue de l'Yvette - 91 400 Orsay
  Phone: +33 (0)1 69 28 59 72 - Fax: +33 (0)1 69 07 28 46
  tourisme.valchevreuse@wanadoo.fr
  www.tourisme-valleedechevreuse91.com
  
  
  Open:
  Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 9am to 12:30pm and 2pm to 6pm
  Wednesday: 2pm to 6pm
  Saturday: 9am to 12pm.
  
  Covers the following communes: Bures-sur-Yvette, Gif-sur-Yvette, Gometz-la-Ville, Gometz-le-Chatel, Les Ulis, Orsay, Saclay, St Jean de Beauregard, St Aubin, Villebon-sur-Yvette, Villiers-le-Bâcle

• Palaiseau Tourist Office

  5, Place de la Victoire - 91120 Palaiseau
  Phone / Fax: +33 (0)1 69 31 02 67
  si_palaiseau@wanadoo.fr
  
  
  Open:
  Tuesday:10am to 12pm and 3pm to 6pm
  Wednesday and Saturday: 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 6pm
  Thursday and Friday: 10am to 12pm

• Vauhallan Tourist Office

  Cour de la Mairie à Vauhallan
  BP 37 - Grande Rue du 8 mai 1945
  91430 Vauhallan
  si.vauhallan@laposte.net
  Phone / Fax: +33 (0)1 69 35 53 04
  http://sivauhallan.com

• Jouy-en-Josas Tourist Office

  29 bis, avenue Jean Jaurès
  78350 Jouy-en-Josas
  Phone: +33 (0)1 39 56 62 69
  Fax: +33 (0)1 39 56 17 98
  jouyenjosas.tourisme@cegetel.net
  
  
  Open:
  Monday to Friday: 1:30pm to 5pm
  Saturday and Sunday: 2pm to 5pm from March to November

• Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse Tourism Office

   1, rue Ditte
   78470 Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse
   (In front of RER B station)
   Tél./Fax : 01 30 52 22 49
   contact@saintremyleschevreuse-tourisme.com
  www.saintremyleschevreuse-tourisme.com
  
  Open:
  Wednesday and Saturday 9am to 12:45am and 1:30pm to 3:45pm
  Sunday and legal holiday 10am to 12:45am and 1:30pm to 4:45pm

Several interesting web sites

• Tourisme en Essonne
• Tourisme en Ile-de-France
• Tourisme à Paris
  
  

Associations which propose cultural events

• The Accueils des Villes Françaises association (AVF) organise cultural events too for everybody. You can find its address in the heading « our partners ».

• To extend your knowledge of French culture and put your French into practice, you can join ALFAP which propose French cooking workshops and discovery walks in Paris or in the near country and forests