Lot-et-Garonne. The exhibition on the Agenais Agenais Enlightenment will be held in partnership with the Palace of Versailles.

The event, which promises immersive scenography, has been awarded the "exhibition of national interest" label. Loans from major national institutions will be presented to the public from December 5 to March 8, 2026.

Following the success of the Goya exhibition, which attracted 27,000 visitors between 2019 and 2020 , the City's cultural department has been working on organizing a new ambitious event, still within the walls of the Jacobins church. This time, visitors will embark on a journey through time, heading to the Age of Enlightenment, to slip behind the scenes of history and rediscover the music, customs, and habits of the time. A large-scale project, which has been awarded the "exhibition of national interest" label.

"We are quite proud to have received this distinction. Each year, only about twenty exhibitions can receive it," assures Adrien Enfedaque, general curator. "It will notably allow us to benefit from the Ministry of Culture's communications." But also loans of ten works from the collection of the Palace of Versailles, enhanced by pieces from the Louvre, the National Library of France (BNF), the national and departmental archives, as well as museums in Toulouse and Bordeaux.

The catalog's preparation took advantage of the collections already present at the Agen Museum, which will be closed for the duration of the exhibition, as well as a call for contributions launched among Lot-et-Garonne residents who may possess private documents, paintings, or furniture from this period. In total, more than 250 works will be offered to visitors, including paintings, sculptures, clothing, and art objects. They will highlight the spread of 18th ^- century ideas in the Agenais region, which particularly developed with the arrival of the Duke of Aiguillon, who brought the art of living of the court of Versailles to the region.

"It was a time of excitement for the city; Agen was wealthy thanks to its trade, particularly linen weaving. The municipal museum is the repository of part of the Duke's collection. The project has a civic education dimension," explains Mayor Jean Dionis du Séjour, who mentions a target of 30,000 admissions. A full program of activities is being prepared around the exhibition, including guided tours, conferences, and late-night events. A concert will be organized in partnership with the Agen Conservatory around the Aiguillon music library, as will an 18th ^- century buffet or afternoon tea. Finally, a costume ball will be recreated to allow visitors to step into the shoes of our ancestors.

After the event in Agen, some of the works will move to Aiguillon for a display at the Stendhal school complex, scheduled for May-June 2026. "I'm very happy to welcome them. I don't know if they'll remember that they come from there... Some haven't been back to the town since 1793," Mayor Christian Girardi points out with a touch of humor.

"French Lights, from the Court of Versailles to Agen." Open seven days a week, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (except December 25 and January ¹ ). Prices: €12 (full), €6 (reduction), free for children under 10. Late opening every Thursday, until 9 p.m.