The theme of this edition, ' Hidden Heritage», responds to the primary purpose of the European Heritage Days, by encouraging owners to unveil the real estate or movable property they have little habit of presenting to the public. It also enhances a buried, underground or high heritage on which visitors are invited to take a fresh look.
In the region, close to 1,000 sites and monuments, both public and private, in 297 municipalities (167 in the North, 130 in Pas-de-Calais) will honour their “hidden heritage”. the time of a weekend opening them exceptionally to the public and will propose as each year different animations (guided tours, exhibitions, conferences, concerts, circuits...)
The 2012 theme:
These days invite to rediscover a heritage melted in our daily environment like the Sainte-Thérèse de l'enfant jésus contemporary chapel in Hem, witness of the sacred art of 50 years ago, the church of Saint-Jean Baptiste in Tourcoing desecrated in 1990 then transformed into a loft or the Gare Maritime de Boulogne-sur-Mer that dialogue with the Pompidou Mobile installed until September 16. Finally, circuits reveal the hidden heritage of cities such as the circuit «L'abbaye à la lorgnette» organized by the tourist office of Saint-Amand-les-Eaux.
The European Heritage Days also allow visitors to visit the unexpected interiors of castles, beautiful houses and administrative buildings. Thus the Hippodrome, national stage in Douai offers to the curious to visit its backstage and the site Scrive of the prefecture of the North its foundations and vaulted basements.
The unknown underground heritage is also valued as the old quarries of the market place in Cambrai, the archaeological site or the Archaeological Museum- forum de Bavay.
The heritage can also be hidden in a landscape reshaped by history and human activities. Let us mention the Memory Museum 1939-1945 in Calais, a bunker that served as a telephone station and command post for the German navy, Fort Vauban in Ambleteuse and of course the discovery circuits of the mining basin as in Sains-en-Gohelle, where the animations offered at Carreau 9-9 bis à Oignies take their full meaning with the recent inscription of the mining basin to the UNESCO World Heritage.
This heritage can finally be found in a know-how, habits and customs or techniques and trades. However, this intangible heritage is not visible. Let us take as an example the enhancement of the profession of restorer of photographic support at the Augustin Boutique-Grard photo library in Douai, the demonstration of a bread oven at the Grad Fayt mill, or the discovery of lace-making activity at the International City of Lace and Fashion in Calais.
As every year, the young public is not forgotten with animations dedicated to him, especially to the’Saint-Jean-Baptiste church in Bourbourg where children are invited to build a tower on the model of the works of Anthony Caro present in the Choir of Light.
About the European Heritage Days:
Created in 1984, the European Heritage Days offer, for a weekend, the opportunity for millions of French people to discover exclusive sites and monuments.
They are coordinated in France by the Ministry of Culture and Communication and are implemented by the Regional Directorates of Cultural Affairs (DRAC). In the regions, these days are organized by associations, administrations, local authorities and private owners.
The programme of the European Heritage Days can be found on the national European Heritage Days and from the 27 August 2012 the press kit on the DRAC Nord-Pas-de-Calais website.