Events & Festivals in Brittany in November

Sailor's fashion…

This exhibition is dedicated to Brittany, and in particular historic Brittany with its unique and unusual costumes. A well known Breton aphorism stated: "a hundred countries, a hundred fashions" - each burg had its own traditional garb which was different from that of its neighbour.

This tour/expo will be an opportunity to discover the various garments of Breton country.

Film, music, bubbles…

In 1950, Brest was in a state of mutation, milling with thousands of labourers working on the reconstruction of the city after the war. Yet these were difficult times, society was ridden with envy and contempt and the class struggle reached a crisis in April of 1950…

Film director René Vautier was sent to the city to record events, and his film shook the system from top to bottom, from the president's office to the lowly streets.

A BD-concert or "Comic&Concert" is at once a concert, a film and a cartoon… Written by Kris and illustrated by Etienne Davodeau, this new production made noise in the comic book world, winning prizes and awards and revealing the power of an unknown genre: the comic book documentary.

Cultivate your Rock sense…

The Agrock Festival was put together by students of the ENSAR (agronomy) and INSFA (food industry) graduate schools. The Agrock festival gathers a huge crowd every year, people with a passion for quality music and an interest in good food. Since its early years, this festival has welcome some top performers: Eiffel, Sergent Garcia, Mass Hysteria, Dionysos, Lofofora, Dolly, Spook & the Guay…

The once and future king.

This first ever exhibition dedicated to the legend of King Arthur aims to retrace, understand and explain the mythology related to Arthur. This event boasts the prestigious "Exposition d'intérêt national" label (or "exhibition of interest to the nation") which is granted by the ministry of culture.

This legend is one if not the most important literary and artistic theme in European culture, and it has always been a highly-popular story. The Champs Libre exhibition aims to reveal the actual King arthur, the keystone of a veritable literary institution that blends magic, war and love… Aside the actual historical fact, this expo refers to old sources as much as contemporary adaptations, in order to better understand the birth of an almost universal legend.

Over 200 works linked to the myth will be on display, along with a number of historical and iconographical documents.

Second-hand boats!

At the Mille Sabords Fair you have a thousand and one reasons to buy or sell a boat. From wind-surfing boards to prestigious caravels, yachts and speed-boats, for leisurly fishing trips or tearing a gash in the ocean at break-neck speed, discover over a thousand different models in every shape, size and colour… Also, you can enjoy a host of activities and events revolving around marine life, sailing culture and boating more generally.

Traditions of Normandy.

After this traditional "fête" you will know everything there is to know about cider and old-style brewing or threshing… Also, you can experience folk dances, traditional markets, musical activities and more!

Don't miss out on this much-awaited annual event in Roscoff.

THE reference for Jazz in Europe.

It was back in 1990 that the first edition of Jazz à l'Ouest took place, a great festival featuring Chet Baker or Steve Coleman!

The Jazz to the West festival has become a major musical event on Rennes's cultural calendar. This new 2008 edition will be jazzy as they come.

Real art for art's sake.

The objective of Artissim' is to promote artistic and creative professions. As the world increasingly turns towards uniform, copy-paste art and decorative objects, this event, dedicated to real, authentic, personalised artwork is like a breath of fresh air. Take part in a convivial, fun and cultural event in the Fouesnant forest.

All exhibitors are carefully picked according to strict criteria, guaranteeing a fascinating show of professional-level art.

Hunting for good deals

Are second-hand stores, flea markets, boot sales, and craft fairs your favorite places to shop? If so, don't miss this opportunity to find a deal of a lifetime. Whether you're into antiques or collectibles or just looking for something original, you can find anything and everything here at bargain prices. Take advantage of this local marketplace to find just what you've been looking for!

Ancient Beauty.

A new exhibition dedicated to Pharaohs and Egypt will begin at the Park des Expositions Chorus for All Saint's Day - the focus will be the discovery and excavation of Tutankhamun's grave, and the inestimable treasure locked away with the dying "God" for his travels to the underworld. Over 1000 pieces, replicas crafted by the Cairo museum's workshops, will be presented in a sumptuous decor.

Digging into the past…

For 20 years now, archaeological research has been taking place at Mez Notario, located at the centre of the Isle of Ouessant. The excavation site, managed by Jean-Paul Le Bihan, director of the Finistère Centre for Archaeological Research (CRAF), required 400 professional and volunteer diggers to help bring to light many fascinating details about the origin of Ouessant.

The Armoric Regional Natural Park and the CRAF have organized an exhibit which retraces the history of the digs at Mez Notario to be presented at the Museum of Phares and Balises ("Lighthouses and Beacons"). Numerous objects, scale models and preparation materials will be on display. Visitors will be able to easily reconstruct the history of this fascinating island by visiting the site.

Cuba is in the house!

Aqui Cuba will be special this year, with dancer straight from Cuba and the mythical Elito Revé orchestra - a leader on the Cuban music scene.

So what's the plan for this great weekend? Workshops galore! Learn to dance Cuban-style, or just improve your technique (in traditional Yoruba or Afro-Haitian styles, or the more popular styles such as son, casino, salsa suelta, reggaeton, despelote, etc.).

The workshops will be run by a team of professional dancers from throughout Europe and even Cuba…

The alphabet of history…

Museum collections have often been put together by seemingly ordinary men who were no more than victims of circumstance; brought by chance to discover a field of research, they often became passionate scholars, archeologists or explorers…

For example, naturalist Frédéric Cailliaud came across egyptian civilisation during the Napoleonic campaigns. In 1882 he embarked on an expidition up the Nile to the antique city of Meroë - he returned with countless artefacts and a mine of information. There is also Louis Audemard who travelled to Carthage in 1889 and brought back a collection of funerary urns…

These botanists, mineralogists, doctors, printers, artists, preachers and explorers all shared a common culture - they worshipped curiosity and asked only to transmit what they had learned.

Light-giving music.

The theme for this 2008 edition of the Musicales de Blanchardeau will be "L'esprit des Lumières or "the enlightened spirit".

The Age of Enlightenment brings to mind writers and philosophers of the 18th century, often in terms of avant guarde thoughts and democracy. Yet, musicians too were subject to these new thoughts: Mozart in particular was interested in the new currents of ideas flowing at the time.

His operas, such as Don Juan, Figaro's Wedding are rich with such grand themes as Freedom, Happiness and Knowledge in opposition to abusive power.

Natural pleasure.

The Amateur Gardener festival aims to reveal the wonders of landscaping and gardening to non-professionals. This third edition will be celebrating a special theme, "The Garden: a place to live in".

Thus a total of 11 specialy-landscaped gardens are open to the public from June 15th to November 1st. These are the creations of ceramic artists, visual artists, horticulture students, handicapped artists, etc. The themes are varied, from "Secret Garden" to "The Green Room".

Nature through the looking glass…

The Living Boundaries series represents the views from inside modern houses in Florida, creating a contrast between habitats (all so similar and standardised) and the wild, unpredictable natural landscapes outside.

The photographs are framed by window frames, giving the impression that the view outside is no more than a painting on a wall, the motif of a strip of wallpaper…

The window is the boundary between the two worlds -- the inside is seen without, and the outside crosses over to the inside; household elements are outside the frame, while the exterior is framed, nature becoming another decorative element within the house.

Whopping success for Breton music.

The Yaouank festival, organised by Skeudenn Bro-Roazhon and affiliates, is back for another edition. The festival will feature a giant fest noz (a "night feast") and a number of concerts featuring some of the best Breton acts in Rennes and throughout Brittany. The Yaouank festival, dedicated to modern Breton music, draws larger crowds every year.

Nature, civilisation, politics…

The 08-09 season of the Passerelle art centre will this year be dedicated to "political metaphor", nature, and its domestication.

From September 12th 2008, the Passerelle art centre will be presenting a monographic exhibition dedicated to Tania Mouraud, an art display broken into two phases.

The first will deal with the relations between political image and complex, multifaceted civilisation, while the second will be focused on the representation of nature in relation to politics.

The struggle to the top

Anglo-Pakistani band Asian Dub Foundation had to fight for recognition in England... After five albums and numerous concerts worldwide, the whole of Europe knows that ADF is a major Asian beat group.

Their distinctive sound is a combination of jungle, ragga rhythms, indo-dub baselines, sitar and 'traditional' sounds; they were the first band to discover the perfect recipe: rock, Indian ambiance, hip-hop, techno and dub.

But back in 1995, Dr Das (bass) teamed up with DJ Pandit G and the young rapper Deeder Zaman to form a sound system and campaign against racism. With the arrival of guitarist Chandrasonic and Sun-J later on, ADF was complete and ready to roll in new directions.

Their debut album, 'Facts and Fictions', did make a certain amount of noise, yet ADF had to work hard to get attention -- skin just a bit too dark, lyrics just a bit too political and their image a far cry from the neat and tidy norms of Brit Pop.

So ADF left to take their words elsewhere, develop their performance skills and acquire their characteristic power and energy.
It wasn't until 1998, after a tour with Primal Scream, that ADF finally achieved the recognition they deserved in their country.

A painter among painters…

Pierre Tal-Coat was a famed 20th century painter, nomadic artist, a wanderer nevertheless respected by his contemporaries (Staël, Braque, Giacometti, Philippe Joccottet, Henri Maldiney…).

Born in the Finistère County, Tal-Coat always kept his heart in Brittany - his alias, Tal-Coat, means "Wooden Forehead" in his Breton dialect.

Versatile, varied, great fun!

This edition will feature a programme that is determinately feminine to say the least…

Juliette will be presenting her new album, Bijoux et Babioles, while newcomer Berry will be performing Le Bonheur, and Pascaline Hervéet will be introducing a new show: Joseph

The event is definitely taking on a folk festival colour this year, with Marie Modiano and Jimme O'Neil (former vocalist for The Silencers). But there will also be a pop dimension, with Florian Mona or Troy Von Balthazar, Le Loup, and the excellent pop-rock blend signed The Delano Orchestra.

The green thumb of Rennes…

The city of Rennes is linked to the history of gardening. Though green areas were located solely outside the city during the Middle Ages, gardens soon became a central feature of the city's landscape, especially in new areas such as Courrouze.

This feature is the focus of the exhibition: green spaces in Rennes and the ways in which locals make the most of them.

A dark room…

Camera Obscura is an invitation to embark on a sensory journey… All your senses will be solicited, all except for your eyes… Someone brushing up against you, a whiff of perfume, a presence sensed but not seen, snatches of music, time slowed… The dark is here a magnifying glass; feel the world like never before.

Don't panic, just relax and experience the moment. Feels like floating, strange and unsettling -- you might even forget where you are...

You're in the Carole Novak's dark room…

An ecclectic repertoire

The Brittany Orchestra, with its platoon of 50 musicians directed by a team including Lionel Bringuier and Moshe Atzmon, is an important part of cultural life in Brittany. They regularly perform symphonic concerts, artist portraits and recitals.

The orchestra is also regularly joined by soloists of national and international repute such as pianist Laure Favre-Kahn.

An Italian take on an English masterpiece…

"King Henry V does everything he can to goad his troops into battle against the French, yet he is asking the impossible. His calls for bravery, revolt, his outbursts of rage, fear, love, all picked from Shakespeare's masterpiece, become gestures, images, sounds and dances… It will be a dance of War, a dance of fugitives…"
Pippo Delbono

Celtic heritage in the spotlight.

Come one, come all! Experience the magic of Celtic heritage with a performance by the best Celtic Circle and Bagad in the area. Both are renowned, one for its excellent choreographies and the other for compositions which blend modern tunes with the celtic musical heritage. Experience age-old creative traditions…

The wonderful world of shells.

The Maison du Littoral, which stands at the heart of this natural site looking out to the Pors Kamor lighthouse, offers an insight into the Côte de Granit Rose through its exhibitions and explanations of nature.
For children: workshops to learn how to tie sailors' knots, a "touch and learn" house full of minerals and a light-table display on local flora.
There is also a model explaining place names along the channel leading to Ploumanac'h harbour.

Exploring the heritage of religion.

Rosporden and its environs is dotted with fine churches and chapels ideally suited for a delightful round of visits.
First is the church of Notre-Dame de Rosporden, on the banks of the first lake. This listed church dates from the 14th century. The interior contains a very fine retable and a large painting of the Assumption by Nicolas Loir.
Next is the chapel of St-Eloi which stands on the ancient Roman road from Cascadec to Locmaria, then the church in the small town of Kernével, the Moustoir chapel, also in Kernével, the chapel of Locjean and, finally, the little chapel of Sainte-Yvonne, dating from 1706.

A fine church organ into the bargain.

The church of Saint-Rémi was first built in 1778, then rebuilt in 1930 after suffering damage. It was at the time of its reconstruction that it was consecrated to Saint Remi. Consisting mainly of a broad nave and a square sanctuary, the church is remarkable for a number of ancient paintings and statues, but more particularly for its modern stained-glass windows. These represent the battle of Camaret and also the defeat of the English at Trez Rouz.

For walkers with a sense of curiosity.

Follow this route along Rue de Rimbernin to the Manoir du Tertre (privately owned) and the Passage des Druides with its outcrop of granite boulders.
The Kertugal nature trail crosses the GR 34 footpath which leads to Saint-Marc's cove and the chapel of Saint-Marc, rebuilt in the 18th century.
After crossing the wood and alley of Le Palus, you will come to the church of Saint-Colomban (18th century) opposite which lie the grounds of the Château de Pommorio (privately owned).

A wildfowl reserve.

Off Perros-Guirec, the archipelago of the Sept Iles (seven islands) makes up the largest wildfowl reserve in France.
The archipelago is home to 27 species of nesting bird including 13 species of sea bird, making a total of over 20,000 nesting pairs.

The seven islands are Rouzic, Malban, les Costans, Bono, l'Ile-aux-Moines, l'Ile-Plate and Le Cerf.
This group of rocky islets has been a protected site since 1912 and was designated a nature reserve in 1977.
Imagine hundreds of Atlantic Puffins, Northern Gannets, European Shags, Razorbills, Common Guillemots, Northern Fulmars, Great Black-backed gulls, Herring gulls and Lesser Black-backed gulls nesting in hollows in the rocks.
The island of Rouzic is home to France's only colony of Northern Gannets.

Yesterday and today.

Calling all students! Thursday night is students' night at Le Pym's in Rennes!
Opt for the atmosphere of your choice: recent hits in the Planète room (house, commercial dance, R'n'B) or an 80s feel in the Club, with funk & disco and French pop.
Admission free before 1 a.m. on presentation of a student card!

Ideal for walkers.

The valley of the Arguenon makes Plorec-sur-Arguenon and Pléven favourite centres for lovers of walking, fishing and countryside holidays.
A number of footpaths have been marked out along the lake of La Ville Hatte, leading through varied landscapes.
Admire the dam, built in 1973, retaining some 12 million cubic metres of water.
The lake is 17km long, and extends to the commune of Jugon-les-Lacs.
The dam supplies water to around fifteen water towers, providing drinking water for many of the communes in the region.
In the church of Saint-Pierre, note the extremely fine 15th century font and the recumbent figure of a lady of Plorec.
Also of note is the polychrome wood statue of Saint Roch, dating from the 16th century.

Follow in the footsteps of a great explorer.

The museum, dedicated to Jacques Cartier, retraces the life and times of its former owner: his everyday life and his great expeditions.
It is housed in the Manoir de Limoëlou, in the Rothéneuf quarter, a building considered to be the ancestor of the malouinières, the mansions built by the shipping magnates of Saint-Malo.

Inspired by a learned Scotsman.

The museum's earliest collections are owed to a learned Scotsman by the name of James Miln.
The furniture and the archaeological treasures discovered at Carnac are for the most part presented in the Musée de la Préhistoire.
Visitors will follow the adventures of mankind from the Old Stone Age (450,000 years ago) to the Gallo-Roman period (4th century B.C.), by way of the Neolithic period when the megaliths were erected. A total of 6,600 exhibits are on display.

Visit the Château de Quintin and its permanent collections.

Two chateaux for the price of one in the same park, in the centre of the characterful town of Quintin. An unfinished 17th century chateau, listed as an historic monument, and an 18th century chateau, also listed.
The base of the 17th century chateau, the richly furnished apartments of the 18th century chateau, the former kitchens (including a granite kitchen-garden of extraordinary size), the permanent collections of china, glassware, silverware, trinkets, christening robes and fans are open all year round.

Time to yourself.

As you gaze at the works on display, you wonder; perhaps you wish you had a better understanding of how an artist works? The Galerie du Triangle invites you to a privileged visit for a personal approach to the work.
Throughout the year, in the gallery and its light well, explore the full dimension of the exhibitions, installations and performances staged at the Triangle.

History or gardening?

At the gateway to Dinan, the small commune of Languenan lies at the extreme eastern end of the Val d'Arguenon.
Les Jardins Associatifs, a magnet for all keen gardeners, is a vast educational project that seeks to encourage children into closer contact with nature.
In the choir of the church of Saint-Jacques, built in 1846, note the heavily-worked Baroque high altar and the gilded wooden baldaquin, both listed as historic monuments in 1969.

See also the 18th century polychrome wooden statues representing Saint Anne, Saint Jacques and the Virgin Mary.

A writer's whole life in this house.

Ernest Renan (1823-1892) was born in a late 16th century/early 17th century half-timbered Breton house. The street front facade is two storeys high and corbelled.
While the author spent only the first fifteen years of his life here, he never parted with the house and continued to spend his holidays here.

The interior has been designed to recreate the presence of Renan as a child, as a teenager and as a famous writer: it contains the room where he was born, with its granite fireplace and box-bed, the schoolboy's room under the eaves with a little desk, and also a reconstitution of Renan's study at the Collège de France.

Authenticity intact.

The Domaine de Kerazan estate was bequeathed to the Institut de France in 1928 by Joseph Astor, the last of an eminent Breton family.
The estate consists of a manor house surrounded by 5 hectares of parkland and a vast expanse of farmland and forests. The land is farmed and maintained in accordance with the wishes of the testator, who stipulated that it should be inalienable.

The manor stands in the Finistère département, halfway between Pont-l'Abbé and Loctudy and some twenty kilometres south-west of Quimper, in Cornouaille, part of the "Bigouden country".
The heart of the estate is the manor house itself, its commons and its park, and the adjoining farm of Grand Kerazan: this was the "big farm", occupied by the "big farmer".
The most striking aspect of the estate is its authenticity: the buildings have remained intact, the manor house retains all its furnishings and collections, as if Joseph-Georges Astor had left it only yesterday.

Bring your friends.

Spend an evening with friends here, and you won't regret it! If only for the amazing "Chien Fou" cocktail (strawberry cordial, vodka, Tabasco) served in a shot glass, or the famous "Verre Vert" (green glass) consisting of Get 27, vodka and Perrier). The beer list is impressive, too, and the English pub atmosphere makes for a relaxing evening.
The music tends towards rock'n'roll, and lots of regulars enjoy a game of table football or two. An upstairs room is available for functions and concerts.

Potée bretonne, galettes and delicious crêpes.

Children's playground, Shetland pony stud farm (pony rides in the afternoon), pedalos, valley walk, craft shops, flea market (books, old crockery, ornaments, etc.): the parents and four children of the Lamour family invite you to discover local traditions and history.
Also on offer: home-made cider, home-made rhubarb jam, local honey, chouchenn (mead), apple juice and a range of sweet treats.

Join the Thursday night skate-in in Rennes!

Beginners, professionals or amateurs, strap on your roller-skates for a night-time ride through the streets of Rennes. The perfect combination of exercise and fun!
Zip through the city with a huge crowd of like-minded skaters, and share in the dynamic, friendly atmosphere.
Watch out for the first drops of rain, though; the evening is cancelled in the event of rain.

History and heritage at your feet.

Take the Sentier des Douaniers footpath to begin the circuit along Casino beach, la Grève noire, la Grève de l'Isnain, until you come to Rue de la Source, which you follow up to the Saint-Quay fountain.
Take a right along the Boulevard du Littoral, then left along the Rue des Grèves.
At the roundabout, take a right along Rue Pierre-Loti, then immediately left into Rue Théodore Botrel; continue until you reach Rue des Landes.
Turning right, you will come upon the chapel of Notre-Dame de la Garde then double back down the Rue des Landes to the D 786 road (be very careful when crossing) and follow Rue de la Garenne to the crossroads: turn left and you will reach the Moulin Saint-Michel, with a magnificent view over Saint-Quay Portrieux and the whole of the bay.
From Rue du Tertre-Breton, after a few steps, go down Rue de la Fontaine and turn right into Rue des Banches. Take a left onto the GR 34 footpath: continue to the Château de Calan (now the KerMoor Hotel) and its oriental style, and the "Viking" memorial stone.

Monumental granite sculptures.

François Breton has been creating monumental sculptures for almost 15 years. He splits the stone with a punch and leaves the rough form as it stands.
Then he hacks away with a spike until a human form begins to emerge, and this gives rise to the Ankou.
He is undoubtedly expressing a pitiful and highly contemporary vision of human nature: torturing and tortured.
Painter, fresco painter, decorator, restorer of old manor houses or stone-carver, the artist uses any and every pretext for creation.
His works inclulde a totem representing the Great Bear or Big Dipper, the constellation that guided the sailors of Saint-Malo to the New World, a sculpture with presence detectors that replays an acoustic and visual memory of the visitor, images of combats between man and the superior forces of nature.

All these works are created in the hope that the viewer will derive as much pleasure from them as the artists did from making them.

Rural history for the cityfolk…

The agricultural tour provided by the Ecomusée du Pays de Rennes is an introduction to the history of Breton farming. As you make your way along, take the opportunity to admire the plant collections and learn about which crops were farmed over the centuries, which are obsolete, and which are mass-produced today. One of the aims of the museum and this guided tour is to ensure the survival of certain plant species.

The orchard, where over a hundred apple varieties are grown, is particularly impressive.

In the land of the irreducible Gauls.

The Park extends from the confines of the Côtes-d'Armor in the east to the Molène and Ouessant archipelago in the west.
There are two main components of the Park: one, land-based, covers the Monts d'Arrée massif. The other looks to the sea and encompasses the Ria de l'Aulne and the Crozon peninsula which separates the waters off Brest from the bay of Douarnenez.
The isles of Sein, to the south off Cap Sizun, and the Molène-Ouessant peninsula to the north, mark the western confines of the Park.

Go green.

At the very heart of the Côte de Granit Rose, in the communes of Trégastel and Perros-Guirec, the Traouïero are two deep valleys: the Grand and the Petit Traouïero, through each of which runs a stream that ends its course in the natural harbour of Ploumanac'h.
A network of signposted paths pionts the way through this designated Breton natural heritage site.

Centuries of light.

Opened in June 2005, the museum's new presentation of its permanent collections of paintings offers a new outlook on the works of the 19th and 20th centuries.
For the most part, these are landscapes whose common feature is an attempt to grasp rhythm, colour and light and fix this impalpable illusion on canvas.
In the 19th century, painters began experimenting with outdoor painting.
Little by little, light begins to dissolve the subject and lead towards abstraction.
This progress towards modernity can be traced through the works of Elodie La Villette, Eugène Boudin, Claude Monet, Jean Le Moal and Geneviève Asse.