Calder year: Touraine in balance!
In 1953, Alexander Calder, an internationally renowned American contemporary artist, settled in Saché, in the Touraine region. It was love at first sight: the artist set up his studio there and worked there for more than twenty years. In 2026, the 4th edition of the AR(t]CHIPEL festival, a partnership between the Centre Pompidou and the Centre-Val de Loire region, will pay tribute to the artist, 50 years after his passing. Across some fifteen iconic venues, castles, and art centers will showcase his multifaceted works: mobiles, stabiles, drawings, jewelry… A wonderful opportunity to (re)discover the destination through poetry and… movement!
![Calder dans son atelier à Saché]()
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
![Extérieur CCC OD]()
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
![e du Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours]()
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 whimsical 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
