The Alliance Française de Singapour, a local non-profit dedicated to education and culture, is currently hosting the fascinating exhibition AROUND THE WORLD, which highlights the finest of French transportation throughout the years. The exhibition, which runs from 27 April to 15 July 2023, is an appealing call to travel and is inspired by the works of French novelist Jules Verne and his famous Extraordinary Voyages collection, which includes the celebrated novel, “Around the World in Eighty Days.”
Displays includes classic travel luggage used by French travelers.
In the spirit of the novel’s protagonist, Phileas Fogg, visitors are encouraged to accept the challenge of time and space travel by embarking on a journey around the world by any means necessary (air, land, sea, or space). They can learn about the development of French engineering and creativity through the lens of transportation over the ages. When guests check in, they’ll be sent to the Itinerary Office, where they may start penning the story of their own incredible adventure.
Immersive Gallery Displays
Visitors can learn France’s aviation history by viewing historic planes that had a hand in developing contemporary air travel. A model of Air France’s Concorde, the first commercial airplane capable of carrying passengers at supersonic speeds and the current holder of the record for some of the fastest commercial flying itineraries, is one such artefact that exemplifies the French way of life. The original menu, tableware, and beauty purse from the Concorde are on display so that guests can reminisce about the plane back when it was at the height of its popularity.
A land travel icon.
Next up is the high-speed trains of France on the Train à Grande Vitesse. Aptly given the moniker “high-speed train,” it currently holds the record for fastest train in the world. The next generation of high-speed trains, called TGV Modular, is also introduced, offering a glimpse into the potential for more sustainable and affordable terrestrial transportation in the future.
Guests will next enter the interesting realm of French maritime transportation on the next leg of their tour. As the longest Trans-Atlantic liner ever, the SS France captivated seafarers from the 1960s until her final voyage in 1974 with her opulence, elegance, and grace, becoming a symbol of French greatness in the process.
Immersive displays brings to life France’s aviation, sea and land travel history.
In the exhibition’s last room, guests are whisked away from planet Earth and into the cosmos. Here, visitors may experience outer space like never before thanks to cutting-edge VR technology. The French European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Thomas Pesquet, who is famous for spending six months on the International Space Station, invites readers to experience space like never before in his book Dans la peau de Thomas Pesquet which translates to “in the skin of Thomas Pesquet.”
Win a Flight to Paris
There will be a raffle for an Air France flight from Singapore to Paris for everyone who attend the exhibition. Visitors need only return their admission ticket and finish a short exhibition-related quiz to take part.
The AROUND THE WORLD exhibition is held in La Galerie , Alliance Française de Singapour at 1 Sarkies Road, Singapore. For more information about Alliance Française de Singapour and on booking tickets, click here.
