1200 years after Charlemagne’s death this grand
and original exhibition tells the untold story of his
legacy. Why did Europe stay divided for centuries
after the splitting up of his immense realm in
843? Why did France and Germany fight one
another until well into the 20th century? What is
the missing link between the Roman / Carolingian
Realm and Europe’s recent history?
You will be introduced to Francia Media, the
forgotten realm that linked up the North Sea with
the Mediterranean after 843. This was the cultural
and economic artery of Europe. Later, the founding
fathers of the European idea would stem from this
area. This story and many other rich stories are part
of the legacy of Charlemagne. Unique objects and
innovative presentation techniques show you the
struggle of Europe to bring unity in diversity, with
the Carolingian past as a legitimation. Time and
again the attempts failed.
For half a century now Europe wants to become
one Europe again.
Will the dream come true this time? And can we
learn anything from the past?
Equestrian statuette of Charlemagne or Charles
the Bold, grandson of Charlemagne, 9th century.
Duplicate
Practical information
Patrons are:
· Herman Van Rompuy, president of the Council of Europe
· Kris Peeters, Flemish minister-president
· Geert Bourgeois, Flemish vice-minister-president
· Joke Schauvliege, Flemish minister of Culture
· Dr. Eckart Cuntz, German ambassador in Brussels
· Bernard Valero, French ambassador in Brussels
· Jozef Dauwe, deputy East Flanders
· Horst van Cuyck, founder of Diomedes AG
Provinciaal Erfgoedcentrum (Provincial Heritage Centre)
Lotharingenstraat 1, 9700 Oudenaarde-Ename (Belgium)
10 May–30 November 2014
Open: Thur–Sun: 10:00 am–5:00 pm;
Tues–Wednes: by appointment only from 20 pers.
Aachen also celebrates Charlemagne
in 2014. Three exhibitions show
the palts as a centre of power and
exhibit forgotten pieces from the
treasury of the cathedral and unique
masterpieces of miniature painting at
the court of Charlemagne.
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Copyrights:
· Equestrian statuette of Charlemagne or his
grandson Charles the Bold, duplicate: private
collection
· Bronze Venus: pam Velzeke
· Merovingian golden ring, Libice nad Cidlinou: Praag, Archaeological
Institute ASCR, foto: Martin Frouz
· Guilded Carolingian spurs and golden Byzantine coin: Split, Museum of
Croatian Archaeological Monuments
· Arabian pot from a ship’s wrek: Musée archéologique de Saint-Raphaël
· Gilded bronze strap divider from Gradišče above Bašelj: Ljubljana, National
Museum of Slovenia
· Scale model of the column of the Grande Armée: Paris, Musée de l’Armée
· Plate Treaty of Verdun (843–1943). Hitler propaganda: Paris, Musée de
l’Armée
· Golden imperial crown, duplicate: Rothenburg, Kriminalmuseum
This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the European
Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of
the information contained therein.
814–2014
5 Euro, various reductions. Children up to 12 and pupils on school visit: free.
Groups +15 persons: 4 Euro per person. The ticket entitles the visitor to free
admission in pam Ename and pam Velzeke.
10th of Mai–30th of November 2014
Provinciaal Erfgoedcentrum
Ename, Belgium
Groups
Adapted guided tours (2 hours): 50 Euro. Day arrangements, combination
visits: for more information tel. +32 55 30 90 40.
Schools
Specific educational packages are offered for primary education (5th and 6th
form) and secondary education (3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th form). Price with guide
(2 hours): 35 Euro.
More information: www.pam-ename.be
Schools and groups: [email protected]
tel. +32 55 33 17 30.
Reservations
Provinciaal Archeologisch Museum (pam) Ename,
Lijnwaadmarkt 20, 9700 Oudenaarde-Ename
tel. +32 55 30 90 40 or [email protected]
The exhibition is part of a European project, “Cradles of European Culture”,
a collaboration of 29 heritage institutions, museums and universities from
10 countries.
www.expocharlemagne2014.eu
Culture
Realisation Province East Flanders
With the support of the Culture (2007-2013) programe of the European Union
www.cradlesec.eu & www.facebook.com/ECradles
The Legacy of
Charlemagne
Entrance fees
rgrosse2014.
Curator: Dirk Callebaut
International exhibition
vu: Jozef Dauwe, gedeputeerde, Gouvernementstraat 1, 9000 Gent
Charlemagne, one of Europe’s most remarkable
historical figures, died on 28 January 814. Even
centuries after his death he kept firing the
imagination of many and inspired rulers with good
as well as bad intentions.
A Magical Figure:
Charlemagne (748–814)
The past history? A stable Roman empire that holds
out for centuries. A burgeoning Christian religion
that finds a breeding ground in it and develops into
quite a (European) bonding element.
After the implosion of
the Western Roman
Empire Germanic
peoples redraft the map
of Europe. Christianity
remains a stabilizing
factor.
Bronze statuette of
Venus, 2nd century
(Velzeke, Belgium)
Merovingian golden ring
(Libice nad Cidlinou,
Czech Republic)
Arabian pot from a
ship’s wreck,
end 9th-beginning
10th century
(Agay, France)
Gilded bronze strapdivider from Gradišče
above Bašelj (Slovenia)
Splitting up
Gilded Carolingian spurs
and golden Byzantine
coin, 9th century
(Biskupia, Croatia)
cuyck.eu
Two bloody World Wars tear Europe apart
in the 20th century. The frontline of
the Great War looks suspiciously
like the break that originated after
the splitting up of the realm of
Charlemagne. History is never a
coincidence.
A few decades later fascist regimes
lavishly use symbols from the European
past.
Building Site Europe
Through military expansion, the enforcement of
Christianity and the development of a FrankishRoman culture the Franks establish a great
Carolingian unified realm under the rule of Emperor
Charlemagne.
843: unity vanishes. Europe splits up in three power
blocks. The Middle Realm, Francia Media, acquires
an economic, cultural and political importance
that resonates even today. The exhibition will allow
you to travel through this amazing early medieval
realm. And we make excursions into Central and
South-east Europe.
You will learn about the Mediterranean gateway
to the Carolingian Middle Realm, the border
communities that have to choose between two
Europe Abused
prominent cultures, peoples
from a transversal world, rivers
that develop into political and
economic arteries, medieval
nostalgia for the Roman
Empire.
Scale-model of the
column of the Grande
Armée, Place Vendôme
(Paris, France)
Dreams of Unity while
Keeping an Eye on the Past
After the disintegration of medieval feudality new
dreams of European power are budding.
The glorious past inspires and legitimizes! The
protagonists: Burgundian dukes, Habsburgers and
Napoleon.
The Treaty of Rome (1957) signifies the
beginning of a new Europe in which the
historical chalk lines are recognizable.
The Fall of the Wall in 1989 is yet another
European turning point.
New perspectives are opening up. However:
how dynamic, elastic – and above all –
re-definable is the ‘old’ concept ‘Europe’?
Artists express their views.
And you too will be invited to think about the
earlier, present-day ànd, especially, future
Europe.
The treaty of Rome, 1957
Plate with Charles the Bald,
grandson of Charlemagne,
1943
Golden imperial
crown made around
the middle of the 11th
century. Duplicate
Francia
Media