Mont-Valérien This Hill dominated by a fort is today an important national memorial site. From 1941 to 1944, more than a thousand hostages, Jews, Communists and partisans were exe- cuted here by the German occupying forces. Erected against the wall of the fort, the memorial to ‘Fighting France’, inaugurated on 18 June 1960 by General de Gaulle, hon- ours the memory of all those killed in the Second World War. An emotional tour of the site is completed by a permanent exhibition ‘Resistance and Repression, 1940-1944’. Av. du Professeur Léon Bernard. 92150 Suresnes.tours only, by appointment. Daily, except Mon,01 47 28 46 35.Mémorial: guidedLa Seine 1 Jan, 1 May, 17 June, 18 June (am), 15 Aug,1 Nov and 25 Dec. March to June, Sept and Oct: Musicale Tues to Fri, 3pm and 4pm; Sat and Sun, 2.30pm The opening of La Seine Musicale, designed and 4pm. Nov to Feb, July and Aug: Tues to Sun, and built by architects Shigeru Ban — winner 3pm. Free. www.mont-valerien.fr of the Pritzker Prize in 2014 — and Jean de Gastines, was one of the highlights of 2017. This national and international music and performing arts centre, situated on the Île Seguin in Boulogne-Billancourt, has many facilities. The Grande Seine, with a 6,000 seat capacity, hosts major events: concerts, musicals, ballets … The Auditorium (1,150 seats), whose external appearance is a visual indicator of the venue, is given over to the performance of classical music. Musée National des Châteaux The Maîtrise des Hauts-de-Seine, the chil- de Malmaison & Bois-Préau dren’s choir of the Opéra de Paris, the Insula Acquired in 1799 by Joséphine Bonaparte, Orchestra, directed by Laurence Equil- the Château de Malmaison became the res- bey, and the Académie Musicale Philippe idence of the future emperor and his wife Jaroussky have taken up residence here. and the seat of the French government: The complex also includes recording and balls alternated with meetings of state! rehearsal studios, restaurants, and culture Av. du Château de la Malmaison. 92500 related shops. The Bellini Garden, on top of Rueil-Malmaison. M or RER A La Défense –o the main auditorium, invites the public to Grande Arche, then bus 258. 01 41 29 05 55. strolland reflect on biodiversity conserva- Daily, except Tues, 1 Jan and 25 Dec. 1 Apr to tion in urban areas. For a full and exclusive 30 Sept: 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-5.45pm visit of the Seine Musicale, guided tours with (Sat and Sun: 6.15pm). 1 Oct to 31 March: 10am- guides from the agency Cultival provide the 12.30pm and 1.30pm-5.15pm (Sat and Sun: public with an insider’s view of the histori- 5.45pm). Full rate: €6.50 (additional fee €2 cal, technical and architectural aspects of during temporary exhibitions). the venue. http://musees-nationaux-malmaison.fr Île Seguin. 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt. Access by the pont Renault – Boulogne- Billancourt. M Pont de Sèvres.o 01 74 34 54 00. Times and prices vary according to programme. www.laseinemusicale.com 46 WEST PARIS