Dear readers, French, Canadians, francophiles, francophones. During this worldwide sanitary crisis time, as our way of life need to change drastically to slow down the progression of the COVID-19, we want to thank you for keeping coming here and we want to encourage you to use this special time to broaden your horizon from your sofa, your desk or your bed, using free online contents.
Warning, in a few case you may need to use a VPN because some contents are only available in France.
We are going to try to update this list of online resources on a regular basis, in order for you to navigate and discover, enrich and entertain you.
Good luck!
The team of the cultural and scientifique office at the French Embassy in Canada
Cultural resources including most of the categories
- Culturetheque: The Graal of the French culture is here! Books, comics, documentaries, music, video games : www.Culturetheque.com
Subscription possible via the Alliance françaises. For more information www.francecanadaculture.org - Culture chez nous: The French culture Ministry is launching « Culture Chez Nous » to help make an inventory of all the cultural online resources available during this special time. You can find there info about plays, operas, online shows etc… https://www.culturecheznous.gouv.fr/
- BNF : because its virtual exhibitions go way beyond books and writters but cover many subjets, discover the wonderful website of the Bibliothèques Nationale de France http://expositions.bnf.fr/index.php
Even more resources including virtual visits:
Visual Arts
Museum and art galeries – virtual visits
- Chateau de Versailles: www.chapelle.chateauversailles.fr
- Louis Vuitton’s fundation: virtual visit video about old exhibitions.
- Arts et métiers Museum: photo 360
- Le Louvre: site web and the Petite Galerie du Louvre and the Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/louvre
- Centre Pompidou: During this period, the Centre Pompidou opens its doors via its online site. Exhibitions visits, podcasts, masterclasses, web-série for children or trainings… www.centrepompidou.fr
- Musée Jacquemart-André : https://www.musee-jacquemart-andre.com/fr/decouvrir/collection-musee-en-video
- Musée de l’Orangerie : https://www.musee-orangerie.fr/fr/article/une-oeuvre-un-regard
- Musée d’Orsay : https://www.musee-orsay.fr/fr/outils-transversaux/galerie-video/une-oeuvre-un-regard.html including Youtube channel “Orsay en mouvement” :11 videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEHhHk0oOLk&list=PLwUa6C-N-kpbLKhHtm-gXj1k2VW4GT6KT
- Musée Bourdelle : http://www.bourdelle.paris.fr/fr/redecouvrir-bourdelle-de-latelier-aux-jardins
- Musée des Arts décoratifs : https://madparis.fr/francais/musees/musee-des-arts-decoratifs/parcours/
- Musée d’art Moderne de la Ville de Paris : http://www.mam.paris.fr/fr/collections-en-ligne#/artworks
- Petit Palais : from the history of its architecture to its collections – mostly XIX century –, the Petit Palais offers a virtual visit of its treasures and space.
- Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac : the museum of arts and civilizations for Africa, Asia, Oceania and Americas gives you a virtual tour from your home.
- Sèvres – Cité de la céramique : The amazing dishes are inviting themselves in your kitchen! Check the virtual exhibition « Un jardin de papier et de porcelaine », that focuses on pieces with plants and vegetal designs.
Inès Longevial, a painter, has put a few of her paintings in pdf for colouring on her site www.ineslongevial.com
- Colouring pages: www.Coloring_Longevial.pdf
- Performance by Léo Walk for a different way to see her work: www.youtube.com
Music and performing arts
- Spotify: list made just for you to listen to French songs www.open.spotify.com
- What the France: Another playlist of French music is available here www.whatthefrance.org
Concerts & Opera
- France Musique: www.francemusique.fr
- Arte Concert: www.arte.tv
- Philharmonie de Paris: www.live.philharmoniedeparis.fr
- Opéra de Paris: www.operadeparis.fr
Audiovisual
Cinéma
- Artfifa: The Art film festival in Montréal gives you access to more than 100 movies online until March 29 for only 30 dollars: www.artfifa.com
- uniFrance and MyFrenchFilmFestival.com invite you to discover or again enjoy the the best that short films have to offer from the past 10 editions of MyFrenchFilmFestival The STAY HOME edition is a selection of more than 50 short films, subtitled in many languages, available throughout the world until April 27, 2020: https://www.myfrenchfilmfestival.com/en/newsitem?newsitem=15759
TV
- TV5 Monde: www.tv5monde.com
- TFO: www.tfo.org
- Madelen: New streaming offer free for 3 months www.madelen.ina.fr
Podcasts and stories
- Promenades Imaginaires: to listen to stories inspired by famous paintings from the Musée d’Orsay www.petitsmo.fr
- Entre: discussions with children and pre teens on the family relationships, schools etc, from Louie Media
- Saison 1 www.louiemedia.com
- Saison 2 on Spotify
- Le Nuage: first audio serie from studio Nouvelles Ecoutes. What would happen if there was a Nuclear accident in France ? With Emmanuelle Devos and Damien Bonnard. (on spotify) www.nouvellesecoutes.fr
- Kiffe ta race: on cultural appropriation in fashion, music… www.binge.audio
- FloodcCast: some are dedicated to cinéma, including this one on Pixar www.soundcloud.com
- Remède à la mélancolie: discussions with French artists www.franceinter.fr
- Le Grand Urbain: show about Rap www.franceinter.fr
- Lunii (youth): free audiobooks www.lunii.fr
Sélection Audible : www.stories.audible.com
Books
Fiction / Non Fiction
- Gutenberg Project: 54 000 electronic books www.gutenberg.org
- Database Gallica from BNF : www.gallica.bnf.fr
- Editions la Découverte :
– Chez soi, Mona Chollet : www.fr.calameo.com
– Abondance et liberté, Pierre Charbonnier : www.fr.calameo.com
– Fabuler la fin du monde, Jean-Paul Engélibert : www.fr.calameo.com
– L’An 2440, Louis-Sébastien Mercier : www.fr.calameo.com
- Pocket Jeunesse : Vincent Villeminot updates everyday online his novel L’île www.fr.calameo.com
Comics
- Editions Dargaud online (no upload): www.dargaud.com
- Ana Ana Tome 1, Douce nuit
- Sardine de l’espace Tome 1, Platine laser
- Boule & Bill Tome 34, Amour de cocket
- Pico Bogue Tome 1, Vie et moi (La)
- Le Monde de Milo Tome 1, Monde de Milo (Le)
- Blake & Mortimer Tome 6, La Marque Jaune
- Murena Tome 1, La Pourpre et l’or
- Long John Silver Tome 1, Lady Vivian Hastings
- Le Scorpion Tome 1, La Marque du Diable
- XIII Tome 1, le Jour sur soleil noir
- Europe Comics puts the first halves of its tomes 1 in free access: www.europecomics.com
- Glénat is offering free 1 manga per day: www.glenat.com
Education
- Idello & Boukili: From our partner TFO, 2 plateforms for children that are recognized for their quality
- A page full of educational resources for all: www.liseo.ciep.fr
- Le Monde: The French newspaper gives you in this article links to educational websites including online classes and resources www.lemonde.fr
- Le Web Pedagogique: Learn while playing: www.lewebpedagogique.com
- Scilabus on youtube: More fun videos to learn on our current contest’s partner Youtube channel www.youtube.com
- EdTech: Its French affiliate gives free access to lots of educational tools for different age ranges: www.solidarite.edtechfrance.fr
- Fun Mooc: Online classes on various subjects like Law, management, Economics, Education www.fun-mooc.fr
- Labo Société Numérique : digital and collaboration tools, free courses, virtual desks etc… to keep activity and continuity of trainings https://labo.societenumerique.gouv.fr
- Takorama : Ask children from 3 to 17 years old to vote for the movie they prefer from this online film festival https://www.takorama.org/
Sciences – Research
- Learn more about the coronavirus and do not fall into fake news
www.franceculture.fr - Visit the International Space station from home
www.esamultimedia.esa.int - The whole collection of the Carnets de science (Revue du CRNS) free of access: www.carnetsdescience-larevue.fr
And to finish, some virtual tours to discover France
- caves Perrier-Jouët
- Chauvet-Pont d’Arc
- Lascaux
- Parvis Notre Dame Crypte archéologique
- Paris 3D Saga : 1 site web and iPad application (free, 12 languages) with 360° views.
- Phare de Cordouan site web 3D
- Virtual tour in Midi Pyrénées site web photo 360
- Paris in Virtual Reality (360 video): www.tv5monde.com