Voltaire Iconography database

The Voltaire Foundation blog announces  the launch of  Voltaire Iconography, a critically annotated database dedicated to the visual representations of Voltaire.  

Pope visits Saint-Joseph-des-Carmes

Saturday 26th September:  Leo XIV visited the church of Saint-Joseph-des-Carmes, once the notorious Revolutionary prison, pausing to pray at the "Staircase of the Martyrs".

Louisville's Louis XVI preserved

After some to-ing and fro-ing, it looks like Louisville Kentucky has finally found someone to give that statue of Louis XVI a makeover (and agreed to foot the bill!)

Louis's bedroom at Versailles

 This spring the Château de Versailles unveils the reconstruction of Louis XVI's bedchamber.

Christmas in the Loire châteaux

Every Christmas the  Centre des monuments nationaux organises festive events at a selection of Loire Valley châteaux. This year's special celebrations take place at  six venues  - Amboise, Azay-le-Rideau, Chenonceau, Chinon, Loches and Villandry. The attractions run from 29th November 2025 to 4th January 2026.

French heritage reinvented (article)

 A feature in France Today, first published on 27th November, considers the strategy of the Centre des monuments nationaux in "reimagining" French heritage sites.

"Queen of Versailles" - musical

The musical The Queen of Versailles, directed by Michael Arden and starring Kristin Chenoweth, runs on Broadway from 9th November. 

Flag of the Citizenesses of Amboise

An appeal has been launched by Musée d’Art et d’Histoire in Amboise, in conjunction with the Fondation du Patrimoine,  to restore a Revolutionary flag, presented by the women of Amboise to the municipality in 1791.

Catacomb closure

It has just been announced that the Paris catacombs are to close for six months to allow renovations; the aim is to modernise, with better ventilation, lighting and an improved layout.

French Crown jewels heist

 The theft on 19th October 2025, of  the French Crown Jewels from the Galerie d'Apollon of the Louvre is making major headlines.  Whatever the final outcome of investigations, the heist is likely to go down as one of the most daring art thefts of all time....

Can Louis XX save France?

Somehow I rather doubt it  - but it makes a good newspaper story!

Marie-Antoinette's jewels

American historian and jewellery expert Lauren Kiehna publishes a post on her "Court Jeweller" blog, dated 11th October, which lists the most spectacular of the known surviving pieces which belonged to Marie-Antoinette. 

Hall of Mirrors makeover

The Palace of Versailles reports that, following major restoration, the Hall of Mirrors has now been has returned to its authentic historical appearance, with only six central chandeliers.

Chance to see ... a guillotine

The Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations (Mucem) in Marseilles has temporarily put a guillotine on display to mark the pantheonisation on 9th October of Robert Badinter, the justice minister responsible for the abolition of the death penalty in France.

AI at Versailles

The Château de Versailles announces the result of a competition to create AI generated personalised visits. 

Lunéville bids for UNESCO World Heritage status

On 20th August the candidature of Lunéville in Lorraine for World Heritage status was officially forwarded to the French Ministry of Culture.  Initial reports suggest the bid is looked upon favourably. 

New database of Voltaire iconography

The Voltaire Foundation announces the launch in 2026 of Voltaire iconography, a critically annotated digital database of visual representations of Voltaire.

Gérard Lhéritier fraud trial

The trial  has begun in Paris of manuscript dealer Gérard Lhéritier, former owner of the company Aristophil, who was charged with fraud by French authorities in 2015.

News from Port-Royal des Champs

 A article by Alexandre Marque on Actu.fr ,17.08.2025, features the National Museum of Port-Royal des Champs, at Magny-les-Hameau (Yvelines) which reopened in July of this year.

New Revolutionary Paris app.

 The City of Paris has recently launched an English version of its"Parcours Révolution" app., a self-guided walking tour of the Revolutionary sites of the capital, with text by Guillaume Mazeau and Jean-Claude Caron.