For the first time in China, more than 20 ancient French castles and castle-museums, including Versailles, will display their world-class artistic treasures.

The French Castle Culture and Arts Exhibition will be held at the Beijing Chateau Laffitte from May 26 to July 28. Among the more than 200 exhibits, many are the most precious treasures from the French castles, which were established during the 12th¨C19th centuries.

The exhibitors include classical oil paintings, tapestries, porcelain, jewellery, furniture and more. The most precious are "Vierge l¡¯Enfant" from Chateau de Chenonceau and "Le mois de Mars" from Le Petit Palais.

During the exhibition, about ten French handcraft artists will display their splendid skills of painting, tapestry netting, bronze-casting and wood-carving.

Introductions of the exhibits will be in three languages: Chinese, French and English. As Beijing Chateau Laffitte is a bit far from city centre, shuttle buses are available at Asian Games Village (Yayuncun). For detailed information on ticket price and shuttle buses, log on www.castleculture.com.

A grand French Royal Banquet will also be held at the end of July, when French Prince Louis de Bourbon and his wife Mary Margarette, successor of the royal family, will preside over the banquet.

The exhibition is also an important project of "Croisement(s)," the continuation of Sino-French Culture Year. After the curtain fell on the Sino-French Culture Year in 2005, the two countries agree to hold "Croisement(s)," aiming to extend the two countries' cultural exchanges.

Beijing Chateau Laffitte, owned by Zhang Yuchen and Zhou Jianmin, absorbs the architecture and decorative style of several French castles, such as Chateau Vaux le Vicomte, Chateau Maison. The huge wine cellar in the castle is also worth visiting.