Versailles : Les défis du roi Soleil

La Case du Siècle is a French television program launched in 2010 and broadcast on France 5. Hosted by Fabrice d'Almeida, it airs documentaries every Sunday that aim to shed light on the history of the 20th century, both in France and around the world. Through these documentaries, viewers can deepen their knowledge of a specific subject or simply discover a particular era. *La Case du siècle* offers an in-depth look at the events that changed the course of history.

A look at relevant scientific issues

At Carnac, in the Morbihan, the multitude of menhirs continues to question archaeologists. The most recent scientific research has identified dozens of new alignments of stones, some of which lie under the sea. Why, in the Neolithic period, did men erect gigantic funerary monuments at Carnac, to the glory of dignitaries as powerful as the Pharaohs? From often minute clues, scientists try to pierce the grey areas that still remain on this site and this unique society that radiated and disappeared suddenly in the heart of Brittany.

French current affair show

The idea of the primitive Gauls, living in the forest until they were civilized and assimilated into the Roman Empire, is now being seen as totally obsolete. Archaeologists and historians uncover Gaulish settlements to reveal the true face of the Gauls. A civilisation with high level of craftsmanship, developed cities, culture and religion.

Four French museums, the Louvre, the Quai Branly, the French National Library, and the Rouen Museum, are faced with pressing demands for the return of works of art. The number of demands is multiplying. They come from all over the world, and in particular from Egypt, Mali and New Zealand. The question of returning works of art to their countries of origin is increasingly making news. Take for example the emotions aroused by President Sarkozy’s decision, on the 12th November 2010, to return 297 royal manuscripts to South Korea. The ensuing row involved diametrically opposed points of view. Was it a violation of the principle of inalienability of France’s national collections or was it a just reparation for the victims of colonization? The rich countries’ great museums and the countries of origin have completely different visions of the issue. The museums defend the idea of a universal museum whose works belong to the whole of humanity.