The Arthurian legends have crossed the channel from Great Britain and are well and truly anchored on the continent. In Rennes, where King Arthur's presence is never far away in many local customs and traditions, the city's main cultural institution, the Champs Libres, is hosting a major exhibition on the Arthurian tales from 15 July 2008 until 4 January 2009. The exhibition will include around forty original documents from some of the most respected collections in the United Kingdom*, which will help to ensure that this event is one of the most important literary, scientific and artistic exhibitions ever held about King Arthur.

The Arthurian legends are widely considered to be one of Europe's most important artistic and literary themes and they have remained popular for centuries. The stories, with their tales of amazing adventures, courtly love and the quest for the Holy Grail, have fascinated academics and ordinary people alike throughout the ages. In Brittany, Arthur's presence has been felt for centuries in the mystical Brocéliande forest. And at the cinema, on television or in children's books his amazing adventures still inspire writers and directors today.

The Champs Libres exhibition explores Arthur's life, the keystone of a truly exceptional body of literature, which combines fantasy, love and war. More than a simple historical account, it also compares ancient texts and their modern interpretations to show how this universal myth was born and is still evolving today. Covering a total space of 1000 m², and spread across three rooms on two floors, the exhibition includes over 200 works linked to the adventures of the King and his knights. Documents include manuscripts and precious books, paintings, bronzes, artifacts and film posters, all showing just how deeply the Arthurian legends are now rooted in Europe's popular consciousness. Among these objects is a document held by the library of the Rennes metropolitan council. It is a real treasure and one of the oldest known illustrated manuscripts of the tales of the Round Table.

The exhibition is open to all with a particular emphasis on families. While it is intended as a serious, educational  experience, it is extremely accessible and, above all, fun. « King Arthur, A Legend in the Making » can be enjoyed by people of all ages and with all levels of knowledge about the Arthurian tales and it was was particularly put together with a young audience in mind.

The two giants, the Green Knight (Bertilak de Haut Désert in French) and Morgan le Fay, are two key figures in the English tradition of holding parades of giants, a custom that died out towards the end of the 16th Century as it was judged overly pagan. The practice became popular again in the 20th century and the giants now take part in large « rounds » or dancing parades organised by enthusiasts across Europe. David Lobb, head of a London group that organises such events and a great Arthur enthusiast himself, decided to create two new giants, taking his inspiration from ancestral myths. In 1993 he built the Green Knight (Bertilak du Haut Désert) a character who appeared in the 14th Century novel Gawain and the Green Knight, then in 2000 he breathed life into Arthur's diabolical half sister Morgan Le Fay.

After a long absence, these two giants will be coming back to France and taking up residence for the first time in Brittany. They will not be able to dance but for six months they will be present at « King Arthur, A Legend in the Making » at the Champs Libres, where it is hoped that they will delight visitors.

When the exhibition opens, the University of Rennes 2 will be hosting the 22nd Congress of the International Arthurian Society, which will bring together the world's leading experts on the legends. That event will take place from the 15th to the 18th of July.

The exhibition has been fully translated into English and German and is open to all.

* Birmingham, Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery Cambridge, The Fitzwilliam Museum Cardiff, Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum of Wales Cheltenham, Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum Londres, Guildhall Art Gallery Londres, The British Library Londres, Victoria and Albert Museum Manchester, Manchester Art Gallery Oxford, Bodleian Library Southampton, Southampton City Art Gallery