Azerbaijani history and music shown in Vannes, France
By Nigar Orujova
The Heydar Aliyev Foundation has organized an exhibition and a concert as part of the Days of Azerbaijan in Vannes, France.
The Days of Azerbaijan are being held as part of the "Cultural Treasures of Azerbaijan - the Pearl of Caucasus" project, under which numerous events have been held in other French cities, including exhibitions in Romorantin-Lanthenay and Niort cities, as well as cultural events in Italy.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the exhibition, Mayor of Vannes David Robo highlighted similarities between Baku and the French city. He stressed the importance of building cooperation between the two cities in the fields of agriculture and education.
Azerbaijani Ambassador to France Elchin Amirbayov said Vannes was the 12th French city to host the Days of Azerbaijan.
Noting the significance of cultural relations between Azerbaijan and France, the ambassador said similar events under the project on the cultural treasures of Azerbaijan would be arranged in 19 more French cities.
Amirbayov also spoke about the educational cooperation between the two countries, praising the fact that Azerbaijani language was taught at French universities.
He went on to say that the biggest French school in the Caucasus was built in Baku last year.
Bruno Bodard, who manages tourism for Vannes, said this is an interesting and memorable exhibition.
"The quality of the presented showpieces is amazing. Though Azerbaijan is not known well in France, we could gain some information about the ancient history and rich culture of your country from the exhibited items," he said.
The event also featured performance of jazz by Azerbaijani musicians Salman Gambarov, Isgandar Alasgarov and Emil Hasanov.
The exhibition demonstrated samples of Azerbaijan`s culture, and visitors were presented brochures and booklets.
Vannes' residents were especially amazed by the ceramic and brassy pieces of art, carpets and ancient garments.
Vannes is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany, north-western France, some 450 km south-west of Paris. The city was founded over 2,000 years ago. Vannes is located on the Gulf of Morbihan at the mouth of two rivers, the Marle and the Vincin.
The name Vannes comes from the Veneti, a seafaring Celtic people who lived in the south-western part of Armorica in Gaul before the Roman invasions. The Veneti were defeated by Julius Caesar's fleet in 56 BCE in front of Locmariaquer; all the Veneti were then either slaughtered or sold into slavery. The Romans settled a town called Darioritum (the romanized Gaulish name of Vannes) in a location previously belonging to the Veneti.