The Preservation of Patrimoine

Patrimoine (m) n. patrimony, heritage legacy.

This is an English translation for a word that really cannot be translated.  Yes, we can have a sense that it points to things from the past; art, architecture, literature, music.  All the cultural elements that create a nation.  France, as well as all of Europe, is bursting with patrimoine. One need only set their sight in any direction and come face to face with a rich, diverse and splendid past.  Imagine growing up with that.  All around are the ghosts that shaped a nation over hundreds of years.  Those ghosts remain to this day, both good and bad, giving the French and all Europeans a unique and deeply ingrained sense of self.

In the states, the only part of the country where we can get a taste of that is in the northeast. And our ghosts are babies, not too unlike Casper, in the scheme of things.  The very fact that we are a nation of immigrants, coming from around the world, having brought old world traditions to a new home makes the idea of “patrimoine” invalid for Americans.  It’s not a wrong way to be but certainly creates a more watered down sense of place.  In France, you’re French. In Italy, Italian. In America you  are or can be anything you want.

For those of you interested in the preservation of patrimoine and how passionate the French are about their past, I suggest heading over to the Carrousel du Louvre (map).  Here you will find the Salon International du Patrimoine Culturel, an exhibit dedicated to the preservation, restoration and promotion of cultural heritage.  That can include craftsmen who work to maintain pieces of history, curators who display it and are responsible for telling its story and individuals who have new technologies to help them discover new ways to do both.

This year’s theme is the Heritage of Religions which will look at ways religion, while possessing a spiritual heritage, is also linked to the works of man in the art and architecture that has been created over centuries in honor of specific beliefs.   These works have allowed cultures from around the world to establish roots and identities, communities and place which is the very essence of patrimoine.

I attend many events like this in Paris as they usually are so well done and I end up being exposed to something wonderful in the process.  They tend to go below the surface of what you will find in museums or exhibitions meant specifically for tourists or the general public.  For those of you who like to go outside the box of what one would normally do on a weekend in Paris, I would have to say, this is it.

Addtional information:

Salon International du Patrimoine Cutlturel

Carrosel du Louvre November 5th thru 8th, 10am to 7pm

Metro: Palais Royal/Musée du Louvre

Admission: 11 Euro

Photo credit:  davesandford@flickr