Salon du Ripault

The Salon du Ripault: over sixty years of artistic passion

Founded in 1964 by Dr. Luthier and Jean Guéraud, the Salon du Ripault is one of the oldest and most important painting and sculpture exhibitions in the Centre-Val de Loire region. Born within the Artistic and Cultural Association (AAC) of the CEA du Ripault Centre in Monts, this exhibition was created in a spirit of cultural democratization, with the mission to "facilitate access to all possible forms of art, culture, and leisure".

A history linked to industrial and scientific heritage

The history of the Salon du Ripault is intimately linked to that of the Centre for Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) in Monts, established in 1962. The first exhibitions were organized within the center itself, before moving to external venues. The salon then settled permanently on the Vaugourdon site in Monts, where it became an annual event attracting an increasingly large regional audience.

Decades of artistic influence

Over the decades, the Salon du Ripault has hosted renowned artists, including official painters of the Navy like Claude Fauchere, as well as many regional and national talents. Each edition features guest of honor (painters and sculptors) and awards prizes to the most remarkable works. The opening nights, enhanced by magic or theater shows, contribute to the friendly and festive atmosphere of the exhibition.

A new chapter in Montbazon

After the definitive closure of the Vaugourdon site in 2022, the Salon du Ripault found a new home in the cultural spaces of the Town of Montbazon: the Maison des Arts et Découvertes and the Espace Atout-Cœur. This relocation, made possible by the support of the Montbazon municipality, has allowed the tradition of the exhibition to be perpetuated while giving it new momentum and a renewed presentation setting.

A benchmark exhibition for visual arts

Every summer in July, the Salon du Ripault presents approximately 200 works of art—paintings and sculptures—by a hundred artists. The exhibition is open daily for a week, with free admission and free parking. The salon is a meeting place for artists and art lovers, where the diversity of techniques (oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastel, wood, stone, metal, ceramic sculpture) testifies to the vitality of regional artistic creation.

In 2025, the Salon du Ripault celebrated its 60th anniversary, bringing together 11 former guests of honor and several award-winning artists from past editions for an exceptional event celebrating six decades of artistic passion.