I am planning a first trip to France in August. Can anyone direct me to sites that relate to the great French dramatist, Jean Baptiste Racine. I have found his resting place, but guidebooks seem to have no other information. Is there reason to visit his birth place, La Ferte Milon? France has always been so wonderful in acknowledging the great ones in the arts...is there a statue of Racine, a house, anything? Phedre

Sorry, I did not complete the above message...Phedre is considered by many to be his greatest work. Any chance of attending a performance this summer? Please, has anyone out there heard of Jean Racine?

You can visit the ruins and granges of the Port-Royal Abbey in Chevreuse. <BR>http://www.mairie-montigny78.fr/anglais/Montignya.htm <BR> <BR>In Paris, Ancient Abbey of Port-Royal <BR>123-125, bd. de Port-Royal <BR>75014 Paris <BR>Transportation:Metro Port-Royal/RER B <BR> <BR>For productions of Racine <BR>Compagnie Théâtrale de la Cité <BR>Direction artistique : Nicolas Hocquenghem <BR>19, rue Marcadet 75018 Paris.F <BR>tel. & fax. : 01 70 98 65 47 <BR>[email protected] <BR> <BR>Comedie Francaise doesn't seem to have any plays of Racine's on their calendar. <BR> <BR>He's buried in Saint-Etienne-du-Mont in the 5eme, in Paris, along with Pascal, Jean-Paul Marat and Ste Genevieve. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

Kelley, <BR>While the Comedie Francaise (Theatre Francaise) has no Racine scheduled this season (it's mostly Moliere with some Gogol, Chekhov and Shaw), neither does the Theatre of the Palais Royal. The Theatre Francaise is open for tours on the third Sunday of each month. On the exterior portico of the theatre you'll find medallions of Corneille, Moliere, Racine and Hugo. Inside the theatre, you'll find statues of the same foursame adjoining the stage. Look, too, for the statue by Duret titled "Tragedy". It's a study of the actress Rachel in the role of Phedre.

Thank you, Elvira...Now I have some good sites to visit. I am supposed to be a direct descendant of Racine. I hope to have my genealogy complete before my August trip. Visiting these sites will be very meaningful for me. <BR>Thanks again, Kelley.

Thanks also to you Wes...I shall happily visit all of these sites. Kelley

(Not travel info but couldn't resist.) Don't know if you're familiar with choral music, but one of the loveliest works composed by Gabriel Faure is the "Cantique de Jean Racine." If an ancestor of mine inspired this gem, I'd be very proud!!!

Thank you Karen, yes I am familiar with the "Cantique". Performances seem to be gaining in frequency and popularity. <BR>Kelley