All Things to Do in Sainte Genevieve

October 22, 2022 “Meet” Dr. Lewis Linn, Missouri’s model Senator, Ferdinand Rozier an early merchant, and Jean Baptiste Valle an early leader of the community. Or “meet” folks portraying the well-to-do, or the not-so-well-to-do, residents of Ste. Geneviève’s history before 1880? At the Déjà vu Spirit Reunion, on the 4th Saturday in October from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., visitors will experience these stories and more as the Foundation for Restoration of Ste. Geneviève hosts its annual event in the historic Memorial Cemetery. Tour the cemetery via lantern light and chat “face-to-face” with friendly spirits clad in traditional dress and enjoy a hauntingly good time. Sponsored by the Foundation for Restoration of Ste. Geneviève as a fundraiser for Memorial Cemetery. Read more…

EKlekTix – Jean Rissover Became a Painter at 70 and Now Creates Narrative Art While You Watch At 130 North Main Street in an 1860s building, Jean Rissover paints during the hours her gallery is open—not as demonstration or performance but as working artist fully engaged in creating the figurative paintings that crowd her studio walls. About 75 original oil paintings, most 11×14 inches or smaller, fill the space alongside eclectic giftware sourced from artisans around the world. The paintings tell stories, primarily of women—their activities, experiences, relationships, joys, sorrows, and moods—drawn from Rissover’s imagination populated by characters who “live in her head” and demand to be painted. Some focus on Sainte Geneviève’s French colonial history. Others explore universal experiences of being female across time and culture. All are narrative in nature, inviting viewers to construct stories around the figures Rissover portrays with loose, impressionistic brushwork that suggests rather than defines, leaving space for interpretation. The remarkable part isn’t just the art—it’s the journey. Jean Rissover started painting in 2011 at age 70, after retiring from a career spanning teaching, social work, event organization, antique shop ownership, and managing editor of the Ste. Genevieve Herald. It was her first serious Read more…

102 South Main St. Ste. Geneviève, MO, 63670 Call us at 573-883-8233 Hours Open Daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed Wednesday This specialty shop sells fine European home décor and garden items made and manufactured only in Europe. Discover French linens, Scottish jewelry, Italian and German porcelain, English creamware, Swedish linens, Irish wools, and French and Italian soaps. In addition, many of these products come from companies that have been in business for well over a century. Read more…

Felix Vallé House State Historic Site – Where French Heritage Meets American Influence Step into a pivotal moment in American history at the Felix Vallé House State Historic Site, where the elegant furnishings and sophisticated architecture tell the story of how Ste. Genevieve’s French colonial community adapted to life under American rule following the Louisiana Purchase. This beautifully preserved home offers a fascinating window into a time of cultural transition, when old-world French traditions met the emerging American republic. A House That Bridges Two Worlds Built in 1818, the Felix Vallé House represents a significant departure from the earlier French Creole vertical log architecture that characterized Ste. Genevieve’s colonial period. Instead, the house embraces the American-Federal style that was sweeping the young United States—featuring refined proportions, symmetrical design, and the kind of architectural sophistication that announced the Vallé family’s status and their adaptation to the new American cultural landscape. Yet this wasn’t a complete abandonment of French identity. The house and its furnishings reflect a fascinating blend: French families like the Vallés maintaining their cultural heritage while simultaneously embracing the styles, goods, and opportunities that came with American governance. Walking through these rooms, you witness the negotiation between tradition and Read more…

Around 4th of July Admission is FREE Celebrate Ste. Geneviève’s Independence Day public gathering with music, speeches, and fireworks! At noon there is a traditional celebration with a church bell ringing, Pledge of Allegiance, patriotic speeches, and music, as well as an honor salute by various local organizations. That evening the local Muny Band will perform patriotic music, and at dusk, Fireworks will explode in Ste. Geneviève’s Pere Marquette Park. Read more…