The Hergé Museum 7-year birthday celebrations – 21 and 22 May
The Hergé Museum in Louvain-la-Neuve is a Belgian treasure, loved by visitors from all over the world. The story of how the Museum was created is full of exciting and moving events. Considering the amazing life and career of the artist to which the Museum is dedicated, how could it be otherwise?
This week is the occasion to look back at the history of the Hergé Museum and to relive some of those magic moments.
Laying the first stone
On 21 May 2007, the President of the Studios Hergé, Fanny Rodwell, placed the first stone for the Hergé Museum during an inauguration ceremony in the company of the architect of the Museum, Christian de Portzamparc. Over the course of his career, de Portzamparc has won numerous prestigious awards – notably the 1994 Pritzker Prize (the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for architecture) and the Grand Prix de l'Urbanisme in France ten years later.
Royal entrance
Many famous people have come to visit the Hergé Museum. The Museum was honoured to welcome the King of Belgium (at the time), His Majesty King Albert II, on Wednesday 1 July 2009.
The King is a connoisseur of the work of Hergé, and he was touched by the way in which the story of Hergé is presented within the context of the history of Belgium. One of the most moving moments was when the King came across a photograph of Hergé in a crowd of people, a few steps away from his mother, Princess Astrid.
One step forward for the Museum
The Hergé Museum has been the headline story for many a magazine and newspaper. In May 2010, Géo Magazine published a special edition dedicated to “the most beautiful museums of Europe”. The Hergé Museum was featured on the front cover of the Belgian edition.
85 years old – Happy Birthday Tintin!
On 10 January 2014, Tintin's 85th birthday was celebrated at the Hergé Museum. For the occasion, a delicious cake was made by one of the top Belgian chocolate makers: Pierre Marcolini.
There have been so many events in the history of the Museum, it would take too much time to list them all here. By browsing the Hergé Museum website you can find out about other past (and some future) occasions at the Museum.
Great things to come
There is so much planned for the Hergé Museum's seventh year – many upcoming events not to be missed. For the last two years the Museum has been open to visitors for free, on the first Sunday of every month. Over the days to come there is a programme of special events to celebrate the Museum's seventh birthday. And while paying a visit to the beautiful Museum, it is crucial not to miss the Petit Vingtième restaurant, where you can enjoy a gourmet meal to start or round off the perfect visit.
A beautiful treasure chest
“I wanted this to be a place that would display the work of Hergé in its totality. Of course Tintin is the most well known, famous, celebrated and loved side of his work, but it should not be forgotten that Hergé was much more than Tintin. Speaking for myself, as a little girl and then a teenager, I obviously did not know Hergé’s work outside of Tintin’s adventures.
It was only later that I discovered that while these books, translated into dozens of languages for hundreds of millions of readers, are clearly Hergé’s masterpieces, they still do not eclipse the other drawings, magnificent sketches, posters and caricatures of this first-rate artist.”
Fanny Rodwell President, Studios Hergé
Events being held from 20 May
From 20 May to 26 June 2016: Tonnerre de Brest ! (Thundering Typhoons!) Temporary exhibition at the Hergé Museum.
Come and discover the brand new temporary exhibition at the Hergé Museum.
Alongside original drawings from Tintin and Alph-Art visitors can admire a selection of modern art from Hergé's private collection, as well as a selection of paintings by Hergé himself.
CINEMA ROOM – SATURDAY 21 MAY – 10.45 am Conference (in French) EN VOITURE TINTIN How the scale models were created With Moulinsart S.A designers Nicolas Preumont, Alexis Tonglet and Marc Savary.
Practical information No reservation necessary. Free entrance upon presentation of a ticket to the Museum.
Spend a day in disguise on 22 May
Free entrance for all visitors dressed up as a character from The Adventures of Tintin.
At 2.30 pm visitors can enjoy an acoustic concert by the band Duo Nebraska.
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