The Musée de l'Armée challenges us to a duel in its exciting new exhibition

The Musée de l'Armée tells us about the art of combat and fencing in the exhibition "Duels, l'art du combat", on view from April 24 to August 18, 2024.

What do David and Goliath, Mortal Kombat, Cyrano de Bergerac and the Vicomte de Valvert, Batman and Superman, Federer and Nadal all have in common? These famous duels have left their mark on minds and cultures. History, sport, politics, literature, video games, personal conflicts: for millennia, men have fought and clashed to prove their worth, save their honor, belittle their enemy.

The Musée de l'Armée takes a closer look at these duels in a new, multidisciplinary exhibition. From April 24 to August 18, 2024, come and admire Duels. The art of combat, and learn more about this widespread and highly coded practice.

From the samurai to the French knights, from ancient Egypt to American pop culture, the duel is a practice that is deeply rooted in society, whether romanticized, regulated or banned... Duels are governed by numerous rules: depending on the era, the country, the reason, these singular combats will be applauded or outlawed.

The exhibition at the Musée de l'Armée provides an overview of these different customs, starting with a historical explanation of the duel, from its original purpose to its fantasized image in the 21st century.

With theOlympic Games just around the corner, it's impossible not to talk about sporting duels: fencing, judo or karate, boxing, running, tennis, shooting... The disciplines are numerous. This section of the exhibition presents the various ways in which duels are fought, highlighting different weapons such as swords, sabres, pistols, daggers, sports rackets, navajas... And to make the experience even more educational, the museum offers a role-playing situation, with an immersive, theatrical setting and interactive devices that should amuse young and old alike.

The Musée de l'Armée then looks back at the great duelists of history, men and women whose battles are still remembered. Across the centuries and around the world, the stories of these duelists continue to fascinate us.

The last part of the exhibition explores this fascination, this attraction that we can have for these stories of combat. When artists get involved, and turn duels into a spectacle, a whole swathe of culture is transformed: cinema, literature, video games, painting, poetry... Duels and duelists have gained eternal renown thanks to these works and styles.