Cercle Français de Winchester
Supported by the Alliance Française de Londres
Welcome
Our aim is to promote the French language and culture in Winchester and surrounding areas. We welcome people with all levels of French with an interest in French.
We organise a number of lectures each year, always in French and usually by native French speakers. Monthly evening meetings take place in the Recital Room at the St Peters Church, Winchester.
Our lectures start promptly at 7:30pm. Doors open at 7pm for a welcome drink.
Our book group meets regularly to read and discuss French books. Members also get together at social events throughout the year.
The Cercle Français de Winchester is supported by the Alliance Française de Londres, one of London’s foremost French language tuition providers. The Alliance Française de Londres proudly supports affiliated French circles which hold an annual programme of lectures and socio-cultural events across the UK. Our mutual endeavours are part of a global network of like-minded associations.
Cercle Français de Winchester is a charity, regulated by the Charity Commission, registration number: 1020086.
Attention new membership rates 2025/2026
Click on membership information 2025/2026
Upcoming Events
CHAMPAGNE : L’ÂME PÉTILLANTE DE LA FRANCE
Cécile Bergat, Owner Hampshire Wine School – “Region Champagne” – with tastings
Accompagnés par Cécile Bergart, experte et native de la région, partez à la découverte des vignobles, cépages et styles qui font du Champagne un vin unique. Entre anecdotes pétillantes et dégustation guidée, elle partagera avec passion les secrets de ce joyau français.
LA FRANCE D’EDOUARD VII
Isabelle Schloesing
Découvrez le lien exceptionnel entre la France et le Prince de Galles, Albert-Édouard, futur roi Édouard VII, au-delà de sa réputation sulfureuse. Ses nombreux séjours en France lui ont permis de tisser une profonde affection pour le pays et de renforcer les relations franco-britanniques. À travers sa vie, revivez le Second Empire et la Belle Époque, une France parfois oubliée.
FÊTE DE NOËL
Célébrez la magie de Noël autour d’un repas convivial, accompagné de musiques françaises et d’un quiz amusant. Une soirée festive pour partager rires, traditions et esprit français entre membres du Cercle.
LE GOÛT DE LA FRANCE : VOYAGE CULINAIRE A TRAVERS L’HISTOIRE
Laure Gournay
De la table des rois de France aux bistrots parisiens, en passant par les spécialités régionales, la cuisine française raconte bien plus qu’une histoire de plats : elle révèle l’art de vivre à la française. Cette conférence interactive propose un voyage savoureux à travers les siècles, à la découverte des traditions, des rituels et des saveurs de l’un des plus grands trésors culturels de la France.
LA GRANDE BOUCLE : LE TOUR DE FRANCE DE 1903 À 2026
Vincent Raymond-Barker
Découvrez la France en pleine couleur à travers anecdotes et chansons célèbres du Tour de France. (Votez même pour vos morceaux préférés!) et écoutez des histoires de vainqueurs, de perdants… et même d’un coureur qui sentait le vin ! Une conférence animée, ludique et variée.
L’INFLUENCE DE TURNER SUR MONET
Pascale de Terwangne
Génie de la lumière et des paysages, Turner a révolutionné la peinture par ses aquarelles et ses effets de transparence. Son art, rendu accessible au public après sa mort, a profondément inspiré Monet lors de ses voyages à Londres et Venise. Découvrez l’influence de Turner sur l’un des plus grands peintres impressionnistes.
BORDEAUX HIER ET AUJOURD’HUI
Maryse Wright
Découvrez Bordeaux, ville classée au patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO, où histoire et modernité se mêlent à chaque coin de rue. Cette conférence illustrée de photos retracera les moments clés de son passé et vous fera admirer son patrimoine architectural. Plongez dans l’atmosphère unique de la capitale de la NouvelleAquitaine.
FÊTE NATIONALE !
DATE A VENIR
Célébrons la richesse et la vitalité de la culture française lors de cette journée conviviale. Musique, échanges et surprises viendront ponctuer ce moment festif entre membres du Cercle, dans l’esprit du 14 juillet. Une belle occasion de partager traditions et bonne humeur autour de la France.
IMPORTANT
Membership 2025/2026
If you would like to join the cercle please email Craig Eales at secretary@cfwinchester.org.uk or telephone 07869049220.
Book Club
The Cercle has two active French Book Clubs and Reading Groups which meet in Winchester every four to six weeks. We all read a French book and discuss it either in French or in English depending upon the Reading group. Mostly we read novels, but not always. We choose books that are easily obtainable on line and which are not too long. Discussions are completely informal. The French Reading Group (discussion in French) starts at 4.30pm. The French Reading Group (discussion in English) starts 3pm. We try to programme our reading three meetings in advance.
The group would welcome new members. If you are interested in joining or finding out more about the French Book Group (discussion in French), please send an email to Jonathan Mardall jonathan@jmardall.co.uk . If you are interested in joining or finding out more about the French Book Group (discussion in English), please contact Pauline Eaton or Sarah Lavers.
The programme for 2026 is:
Our History
The first ever meeting of the then Alliance Française de Winchester was held in St. Paul’s Church Hall on Tuesday, July 8th, 1941 and the speaker was Capitaine Barlone of the Free French Forces, who “gave an admirable and moving account of the war from the point of view of a French soldier, an account based on his own experiences” (Hampshire Chronicle, July 12th, 1941).
Following the success of this first meeting it was decided to inaugurate a season of talks, beginning on Tuesday, October 7th, 1941.
In these early days, when France was a defeated and occupied country, many of the speakers were members of the Free French Forces and their talks had patriotic and morale-boosting titles, such as “France has lost a battle, but not the war” and “How France is resisting”. Indeed, as the war progressed the Alliance received first-hand accounts of the physical and psychological damage which was being wreaked upon the French people.
Emphasis was placed on hope for the future, however, and eventually, by 1945, the speakers could talk about victories, such as the Battle of Normandy, which was graphically described by Professor Contamine of the University of Caen, whilst a talk by Mlle. Anne Marie Bauer of the French Resistance about her two-year internment in Ravensbruck concentration camp had the immediacy then that a talk by a released conflict hostage would have today.
The yearly subscription was eight shillings and sixpence in 1941 but it was reduced to five shillings in 1942 because of the problem in getting speakers to come to Winchester owing to “difficulties of travel, especially in trains to and from London”. Plus ça change!
Not all the meetings were devoted to political themes; there were musical recitals, “lantern lectures” on French art and architecture, an exhibition of rare French books and manuscripts, and tea-time “get-togethers” for French conversation at the Cadena Café and Cercle Français de Winchester, as it is now known, continues this tradition of fostering an understanding of historical and contemporary French themes.
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Get in touch
- 07869049220
- ku.gro.retsehcniwfc@yraterces