On the 125th anniversary of the birth of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Tolosa celebrates the small prince between interactive museums, historical aviation and space dreams
Have passed 125 years from the birth of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. It was the 1900a special era, the beginning of a short and dramatic century, but also the one that will see the birth of theaviationpassion and life of aviator writer that will disappear right on board an airplane On July 31, 1944 in the Borgo skynot far from Corsica.
From that moment the humanity would have been poorer and if we had to choose a phrase symbol of its existence, it would undoubtedly be “The essential is invisible to the eyes”among the most famous of world literature, taken from his most famous work, “The little prince” that, in spite of the title, It is certainly not a children’s bookbut one Guide for adults who teaches not to forget the essential values: “It’s the time you dedicated to making your squad special.”
Well, the next date was chosen in the 2020 from the “Antoine de Saint Exupéry Youth Foundation” To celebrate the “Little Prince Day”thus celebrating universal values enclosed in this extraordinary work.
Masked by a fairy tale for children, the story explores gently deep themes like the sense of life, love And The importance of relationshipsleaving a legacy capable of speaking to heart of each generation.
TO Tolosacapital ofOccitania and beating heart of the epic of theAéropostalthe historic transatlantic airline that united France with South America and who gave work to the writer, in the neighborhood of Montaudran is found The Entvol des Pionniersan interactive museum that celebrates the aviation pioneers companies.
Antoine often started from Toulouse for missions that brought him to the Sahara or theLatin America and here he stayed on the third floor of theHôtel du Grand Balconoverlooking the plant Place du Chapterin the room 32 that the French Ministry of Culture he said commemorative site.
The Experiences lived in flightThe silence in the cloudstheMeeting with the desert and the lonelinesshave deeply influenced his writing, inspiring works like “Flight at night” And “Land of men”.
Tolosaa city full of aeronautical culture, starting with being Airbus headquarterswanted to pay homage to Saint-Exupéry and his literary production by dedicating him Avenue Saint-Exupéryvia that leads to the district of the adventures of theAéropostal (Montaudran), but also one statue located in the Jardin Royalthe first public garden of the city, which portrays him with a book in his hand intent on an ideal dialogue of looks with his most famous character.
In the 1933 The French government decided to unify Five airlines (including the Aéropostale) in a single state entity: it is The beginning of the story of Air France.
To celebrate its history, but also the present, just The Entvol des Pionniers host “Air France, A History of Elegance”a temporary exhibition thanks to which you can admire About 200 original objects which constitute its assets.
Tolosa today It is also home to the company that manages the Spot satellite systemThe Cluster of Aerospace Valley companies and the Space center of Toulouse (CST)the largest in Europe.
And for those who dream of touch the starsthere is the Cité de l’Espaceunique site in Europe where you approach recreational and at the same time scientific to the Mysteries of the Universe: they can Discover the challenges to which space agencies are prepared, explore the reproductions of the Martian soiladmire the images captured by the James Webb telescope and live the immersive experience Luixplorerto try firsthand the sensations of the astronauts during one Mission on our satellite, exploring the infinite with wonderjust as he did Saint-Exupéry with the wings and with his words.
