Calder in the heart of France
In 1953, Alexander Calder (1898–1976), an American sculptor internationally renowned for his Mobiles, settled in Saché, Touraine. It was love at first sight: the artist set up his studio there and worked there for more than twenty years.
In 2026, to mark the 50th anniversary of his death, the AR(t]CHIPEL festival, organized by the Centre Pompidou and the Centre-Val de Loire Region, will dedicate an exhibition tour to him titled “Calder at the Heart of France.”
Starting October 15, some fifteen castles, museums, and art centers across the region will showcase the artist’s works. Six of these venues are located in Touraine and are accessible with the Tours City Pass. A wonderful opportunity to (re)discover the destination through poetry and movement!
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Alexander Calder at his workshop in Saché ©J. Paul Getty Trust. All rights reserved © 2026 Calder Foundation, New York / Adagp, Paris.
Where can you see Alexander Calder's works?
In Tours
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Olivier Debré Center for Contemporary Art (CCC OD)
Olivier Debré Center for Contemporary Art (CCC OD)
Two complementary exhibitions offer a glimpse into Calder’s world. The first, a group exhibition, explores his influence on contemporary art through the works of eight artists who studied in his studio in Saché. The second, a solo exhibition, presents a selection of the artist’s works, focusing on movement, space, and perception.
Practical informations
- July 10, 2026, to January 3, 2027: group exhibition “The Idea of Celestial Bodies”
- October 16, 2026, to March 28, 2027: solo exhibition “Alexander Calder”
Wheelchair accessible • 1, Parvis Jean Germain • cccod.fr
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Fine art museum of Tours
Museum of Fine Arts
With the exhibition “Calder in the Heart of France,” the museum presents some of the artist’s most iconic works: his portraits and wire figures. Highlights include the portraits of Joséphine Baker IV and Kiki de Montparnasse (II), as well as The Shot Putter and The Little Horse.
Special events and guided tours round out the program.
Practical informations
September 30, 2026, through March 8, 2027
Wheelchair accessible • 18, place François Sicard • musee.tours.fr
![Façade de l'Hôtel Goüin]()
Hôtel Goüin
Hôtel Goüin
Gouaches, lithographs, aquatints, and sculpture sketches: here, visitors get a glimpse of a more intimate side of Calder. As you move through the floors, you’ll also discover original photographs taken in his studio—an exceptional loan from the Kandinsky Library—as well as the artist’s iconic mobiles and stabiles. Throughout the exhibition, performances and meet-and-greets extend the experience.
Practical informations
October 15, 2026–January 17, 2027
25, rue du Commerce • hotelgouin.fr
In Touraine
![Château d'Azay-le-Rideau]()
Azay-le-Rideau chateau
Azay-le-Rideau Castle
The sculpture “Reims, Croix du Sud” has found a home at Azay-le-Rideau Castle. Displayed in the park at the foot of the reflecting pool, this monumental sculpture interacts with the Renaissance architecture and transforms the site’s perspectives.
Practical informations
October 2026 through April 2027
Tourisme & Handicap certified • 19 Rue de Balzac, Azay-le-Rideau • azay-le-rideau.fr
![Château du Rivau]()
Château du Rivau
Château du Rivau
In the castle’s Renaissance stables, the film Le Grand Cirque (1927) shows Calder bringing a miniature circus to life. Echoing this, two iconic sculptures, La Vache and L’Oiseau, showcase his work with wire and wood. The exhibition is rounded out by “Animal Sketching,” a collection of his sketches drawn from life.
Practical Information
October 15–November 1, 2026
Gardens certified by Tourisme & Handicap • 9, rue du château, Lémeré • chateaudurivau.com
![Atelier de Calder à Saché]()
Atelier de Calder à Saché ©Guillaume Blanc
Calder Studio in Saché
It was in the village of Saché that Calder began to settle in the 1950s and, ten years later, had his house and studio built. Be sure to see the monumental sculpture *Totem Saché*, installed in the village square.
The studio, which has served as a residency for guest artists since 1989, will open its doors to showcase the work of artist Mimi Park in the fall of 2026.
Practical informations
Studio tour and exhibition of Mimi Park’s works from October 17 to November 15 • free • reservations at atelier-calder.com or by calling 02 47 45 29 29
12, route du Carroi, Saché
« Calder in the heart of France » with the Tours City Pass
With the Tours City Pass, discover the sites in Tours along the Calder in the heart of France: the CCC OD, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Hôtel Goüin, the Château d’Azay-le-Rideau, and—as a special exception—the Château du Rivau, exclusively for the duration of its exhibition, from October 15 to November 1.
Use your pass to extend your exploration of the other included sites.
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