Events & Festivals in Brittany in August

Local market-bought flavour…

Marketplaces are a means of connecting with the community, of breathing life into a neighbourhood and simply to meet others. An added bonus is the development of a distinctive local flavour which gives character to the neighbourhood…

Every week, local shops and producers set up their stalls to offer a variety of products for your enjoyment.

For ocean-loving folk…

The musée de Bretagne is organising its first retrospective dedicated to Paul Signac. This artist was in love with the ocean in particular the Breton coastline, and he often painted beautiful watercolours of local harbours. His taste for watercolours developed when he began using the style for preparatory sketches - it eventually became his favoured technique.

Signac's spontaneous process of creation was unique in itself, with a few smudged stains suggestive of a whole.

Dinard in one's mother tongue.

The Dinard municipality organised this fascinating tour, dedicated to the "Brits", in the early summer of 2008.

This guided tour will showcase the presence and influence of Anglo-Saxons in the city throughout history - discover how the English influenced sports culture, entertainment and even architecture.

Inside the coffers of France's cathedrals.

Just a mention of the word "treasure" will set off an cascade of jewels and gold coins in our imaginations, all the more fascinating because they are inaccessible. The treasures of the clergy are all these things at once, with mostly precious objects from the Christian liturgy, such as chalices, patens, ciboriums and vases, but also ecclesiastic garments and manuscripts.
A few other items may be of interest, such as royal emblems and unusual objects, but it is relics of the saints - which drove myriad believers to attempt pilgrimage - which are the heart of this treasure.

These objects were kindly lent by the Vannes Cathedral, the churches of the Morbihan region and the Vanne Museum's collections.

The old man and the sea…

André Dauchez is a talented landscape painter who has an exceptional ability to capture the typical Breton lighting and general atmosphere.

The exhibition will display a large number of works, paintings, photographs and personal objects. Don't miss out on this moving homage to a great artist.

Tradition and cultures.

The town of Saint-Malo will for a few days allow you to discover a particular traditional culture. Artwork and traditional objects from American-Indian cultures will be on display at the Chapelle Saint-Sauveur. Take the opportunity to let your mind wander and learn about these cultures.

Gestural Abstract Lyricism…

Jean Degottex, born in Sathonay, France, in 1918, came into the world of painting after the great artstic shifts of that era - cubism, abstract art, etc. Degottex was self-taught follower of Kandinsky, and his work was sometimes cryptically described as "gestural abstract lyricism".

His beginnings were geared towards a form of fauvism that was purified, broken down to essentials. He therafter turned to abstraction but with a deliberate, powerful brushstroke, reminiscent of chinese Calligraphy. The concept of Zen had always been predominant in his art.

Interestingly, Degottex later turned to the artistic base material, paper, which he scarred, tore and scratched, producing reliefs which he called "papier pleins" ("paper full"). Going further, he chose to focus on the rich and variegated textures of wood.

Degottex, who passed away in Paris in 1988, gave us art which acts as a successful counterpoint to the deluge of superficial, virtual images that has flooded the cultural landscape. His work is a balm, a truly appeasing experience that touches upon the essence of reality.

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.

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.

Photo-ethnography…

This exhibition of forty large-scale black and white photographs, introduced by Pierre de Vallombreuse, appears a moving homage to the Gwitchin, a community of Native Alaskans that has to fight for survival every day.

This exhibition is a part of Vallombreuse's overriding photo project entitled "Hommes Racine" (or "Root Men"). This massive undertaking represents 5 years of exploration and dialogue; 12 indigenous peoples, 12 completely different environments - 12 examples of how climate change can affect human lives.

The "Hommes Racine" project is a photographic journey, an awakening. It aims to depict the intimate connection between man and his environment and in doing so promotes a sustainable vision of humanity, where nature is protected in the name of human life.

Music above all else…

Bénodet will be alive and buzzing this summer with countless musical performances, shows and other free activities.

Holidaymakers will have a chance to enjoy some quality acts from local bands like Ridan, the Baobab Orchestra, or Dan Ar Braz. Expect some delightful music and a great ambiance in Bénodet this summer.

Discover new works…

Famed artist Raoul Gaillard will be exhibiting his latest pieces for this new exhibition.
"…Works on paper: gouache and watercolours from which surge stamps, portraits, stains, mould and various scars, and grand ships laying dead still or listing against the swell…"

The glorious female form…

Women have forever been a source of inspiration in African art.

This exhibition, dedicated to Women, gathers over 200 objects from some of the most prestigious collections for your eyes only.

Discover rare pieces, some of which date back to the 19th and 20th centuries, showing women in all social roles, as mothers, wives, princesses and even queens.

The magical curiosity of a child.

The cause for this event: a place. The book-lined walls of Château-Gaillard, a place filled with mysteriously locked cupboards, bring to mind a society of intellectuals and their obsessive collections - that was more than enough to convince Jean-Luc Parant to recreate his own personal collection of curious things…
His fake-libraries are home to strange books, crafted from wax, with words rolled up into little balls, and writing tablets covered with embossed symbols that one longs to touch… The curious aspect of this collection echoes the obscure 19th century "savant" journals that sit along side it.

Jean-Luc Parant is a curious man. He has been worrying clay since the 70's when he decided that, with this primal, eternal element, he could conquer the world. The erudite scholars of history share with Parant that ambition to embrace the universe as a whole, to collect treasures. Unusual animals, or the perfect shape of an egg - worth their weight in gold, Parant recreates them himself, crafting clay to trick the eye. Deep down, Jean-Luc Parant has that elusive trait of character that once killed the colloquial cat..

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.

Renaissance and the Roman muse.

Artists have been a migratory species since the Renaissance, and this has had a profound influence on the conception of European art. Italy in particular has always attracted those artists seeking a muse.

Painters of all nationalities and creeds have come to Rome since time immemorial, as the historic capital of the Antiquity and of Christianity. They came to build their art from common ground in a place where they could learn from each other, a place where artistic exchange is as natural as breathing…

The thin line between reality and fiction.

Taysir Batniji's work revolves around notions of individual or collective identity, dissapearance, displacement and exile. The images he brings back from his travels to Gaza, the traces of his journey, are like so many parcels of memory; they represent a vehicle for recording history…

Ville Lenkkeri's photographical works have unusual subjects: museums of natural history, university of medicine collections, or the mural decorations in waiting rooms… These reveal a cinematic approach to photographical art, blurring the boundaries between reality and fiction.

Artist Yvan Salomone is more interested in landscapes, even unusual ones such as harbours and industrial ports. His watercolours are made from photographs and video works and are always in the same, large format. His images are ambiguous in the sense that they are caught between an objective documentary-style and a more subjective vision.

Lena et Victor Vorobyev are two Kazakhstan-born artists who work with urban scenes. Within their works (installations, images, performances) the viewer is confronted with communist propaganda alongside the publicity of Western consumer society.

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.

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.

At the tip of a needle…

With this fascinating exhibition, organisers are working to show that the sewing machine is the paintbrush of the 21st century… This tool, which gives users a world of stylistic and artistic freedom, will be at the heart of the event.

Experience the new school of embroidery, contemporary art at needle-point.

Professional amateurs…

The In fine, Sans réserve exhibit is made up of 40 or so works that span from the 15th to the 20th century.

There is no overriding theme or historic timeline. The group was free to organise the display space along their own rules: parallels, a taste for this or that, a dialogue between the works… This subjective, almost whimsical approach is backed by serious, extensive documentation for each piece.

The group-members are not professionals and yet each has his own experience, his point of view as a spectator, and this provides a solid method for the elaboration of a display space which gives visitors the best possible experience…

Printing art the old-school way.

Denise Delouche is the kind of professor who goes out into the field to make better sense of her subject, namely artists, painters in particular, in Brittany in the 19th century. It is in this manner that she began to research a particular artform: the art print (engraving, embossment and other techniques).

A very common variation of the traditional painted canvas, the art print appears as a highly interesting and revealing practise. Delouche asked herself the following questions: "what does this art form tell us about Brittany and 19th-century Bretons? Who would buy art prints? And how did they affect tourism and travels?"

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.

13 centuries of farming history.

South of Rennes at the farm of la Bintinais, the Ecomuseum features exhibits on the history of Rennes and also serves as an observatory of ancient breeds of animals that have been preserved.
Lovingly restored, the farm recounts five centuries of the region's history through costumes, tools, farming equipment and reconstituted rooms (kitchens, larder).

To your bagpipes!

Ty Anna Tavern welcomes you to its Breton den for a session of local music.
Amateur and professional artists play Celtic music every Wednesday in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. A good night out is on the cards.

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.

Jazz time.

The club's reputation as a friendly venue for aspiring musicians extends well beyond Rennes, making it a meeting-place for jazz musicians from near and far. In addition to its regular jam sessions based on jazz classics, the club organises a series of theme evenings throughout the year (Wayne Shorter, free jazz, big band, jazz vocals, etc.) as well as numerous events open to all, at special rates for members.

Explore Saint-Malo's rich and varied past.

Since 1927, the main castle keep has housed the collections of the Municipal Museum that became the city's Museum of History after renovation by the French Historic Monuments department in 1950.

This massive horseshoe-shaped tower was built from 1424 onwards on the orders of Duke Jean V of Brittany.
It rises to a total height of 35 metres.
The Museum was extended in 1988 by a further three exhibition rooms created in the Tour Générale and is scheduled for yet another extension into the Quic-en-Groigne tower and the Petit Donjon.
The history of Saint-Malo and its maritime tradition begins with shipbuilding and the opening up of the Newfoundland fishing grounds, the region's two main activities in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Try out an organic market with 100% natural products.

As you stroll around the Sainte-Thérèse quarter, try some of the organic products for their quality and taste.

The Sainte-Thérèse market is sure to be selling its famous artichokes and cauliflowers and, if you happen to be there at the right time of year, maybe even the famous Coco de Paimpol white beans.

Discover the secrets of history!

Discover fascinating collections of Egyptian, Greek or Etruscan art in the brand new archaeology display space at the Fine-Arts Museum. A restored sarcophagus will be there to greet you from September…

Though the Egyptian collection is a large, coherent ensemble (with in particular the giant stele, courtesy of Doctor Godefroy in 1871), the other collections are significantly more specialised.

The Greek section is mostly comprised or Corinthian and Attic ceramic pieces (from the Campana collection). The Etruscans are represented by beautiful bronze and ceramic works, and the Romans by sumptuous bronze statues.

Attacking the Tour Solidor!

The Solidor Tower at Saint-Servan houses the Saint-Malo Museum's collection on this theme.
Numerous models, ship's instruments and objects, made by mariners during their long voyages or brought back as souvenirs of distant shores, fire the imagination with images of extraordinary voyages on the great sailing ships of the late 19th and early 20th century that carried cargoes of nitrates from Chile, wood and grain from California or Australia, nickel from New Caledonia, etc.

The "Solidor Tower" is in fact a fortified structure that originally consisted of a small guard-tower, the existing bastion which incorporates sections of Gallo-Roman masonry, and the three towers connected by curtain walls to the main body of the fortress.
Work on building the fortified keep began between 1369 and 1382, on the orders of Duke Jean IV of Brittany as a means of controlling the town of Saint-Malo, recalcitrant to his authority.

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.

Swing like a pro!

A matter of minutes from the beaches of Saint-Quay-Portrieux, the Ajoncs d'Or golf-course successfully accommodates players of all levels.
The "leisure" golfer is guaranteed a good game; the more experienced golfer keen to take on the technical challenge of the course is advised to bring out some top shots!

Compact course, golf lessons, equipment hire, pro-shop: everything is on hand to help you get the best out of this 18-hole course.

Retrace the history of art.

Like most of France's museums, the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Rennes dates from the Revolution. Founded in 1794 with works confiscated from the town's religious and civil buildings, the museum nonetheless owes the bulk of its collections to the magnificent "cabinet of curiosities" of Christophe-Paul de Robien (1698-1756), President of the Breton Parliament.
From La Femme entre les deux âges (16th century) by Saint-Luc de Heemskerck to contemporary art, the museum also houses an Egyptian archaeological collection (bronzes, ceramics, etc.), an exceptional collection of drawings, and a collection of engravings.

The contemporary art collection focuses on two main areas: artists with Breton roots, such as the Affichistes, and the various currents in abstract art from Sam Francis to Aurélie Nemours.

Shop inside an architectural masterpiece.

Architect Jean-Baptiste Martenot was responsible for the two market halls in the Place des Lices.
The two constructions are the very quintessence of 19th century metallic architecture.

They lend themselves perfectly to exhibitions as well as to events like the Marché des Lices, recognised as the 3rd biggest market in France.

Natural local flavours!

Quimper, one of the key towns of Finistère, offers a splendid range of markets.
Connoisseurs of Breton produce will appreciate the best of Brittany's vegetables like the cauliflower, as well as salty Breton caramels for those with a sweet tooth...

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).

Salsa style.

Most people think salsa means Cuba.
The roots of salsa are, in fact, more cosmopolitan. Salsa is a music and dance movement, Cuban and Caribbean in origin, that grew up in New York amongst the Porto Ricans, one of the most disadvantaged groups in the US between the 1920s and the 1960s.
A far cry from the folklore surrounding it today, salsa is above all else a form of sharing. Sharing senses and emotions, words and music, dance and bodies. If you let the Afro-Cuban rhythms get to you, you might just find yourself forgetting your steps!
Sip on a mojito, cuba libre or caipirinha, enjoy a refreshing tropical fruit juice, and let yourself dance.

An unforgettable plunge into the world's oceans.

The fantastic journey provided by the Grand Aquarium is an attraction not to be missed in Saint-Malo. With its spectacular tanks and cutting-edge displays, the aquarium offers a captivating insight into the rich worlds to be found under the sea. Discover an astonishing 600 species!
Follow the direction of the visit, from the cold oceans of the north to tropical seas, via sharks in the 360° tank, to the mysterious denizens of the sunken galleon and brightly-coloured tropical species.
Enjoy the unique experience of undersea exploring in the Nautilus submarine.

An architectural marvel.

After passing through Plancoët and describing a series of pleasing meanders at Saint-Lormel, the river Arguenon runs into the Channel at Port du Guildo, in the commune of Créhen.
This estuary is overlooked by the ruins of the old castle, known as the castle of Gilles de Bretagne.
There are a number of megaliths in the area and in a covered alley you will find what is undoubtedly the largest dolmen in the east of the département.
The alley, some 13 metres in length, is covered by five flat stones.
The castle must have been built over a fairly extended period.
From the preseent appearance of the ruins, it is likely that certain parts date from the 13th century.
The castle reached its present general form at the end of the 14th century or in the early 15th century.

Go walking in the woods...

In the centre of Tréveneuc, leave your car in the main square.
Admire the town hall, its turret tower giving it the air of a small castle, and the 17th and 18th century church.
Much of the construction of the church was the work of local craftsmen over a ten-year period (1743 to 1754).
Walk past the fornt of the church and leave the town, admiring on your left the lovely facade of the Château de Pommorio (under construction in 1789).
The château and grounds are privately owned and not open to the public.
Near Perhemeno, head for the beach of Le Palus by a track through the woods.
Before reaching the beach, turn right onto the coastal path recently reopened along the cliff tops, which will take you to the beach at Port-Goret (picnic tables), then on to the Pointe du Bec de Vir (orientation table and outstanding view over the Bay of Saint-Brieuc from Bréhat to Cap Fréhel), and finally to Saint-Marc's cove.
The cove offers moorings (for 50 boats), an oyster-farm (buy your oysters here) and the famous 18th century chapel.
Follow the road and then a series of tracks to a high point for a panoramic view over Tréveneuc, the sea and Kertugal in Saint-Quay-Portrieux.
The sunken lanes, reopened for walkers, offer a sight of agricultural activities, and the Mauretour Calvary.
Continue through the woods of Plouha into Kerdrape.

Between land and sea.

This magnificent path follows the steep coastal cliffs to explore the coastline and the magnificent turn of the century mansions such as the orientally inspired "Kermoor", before intersecting with the GR 34 footpath for a distance of 5.5km along the coast, on land belonging to the commune.
Le Portrieux, where the first infrastructure work on the bay was carried out, saw the first schooners setting off for the Newfoundland fishing grounds in 1612.
Wallk along Portrieux beach to the roundabout and take the steps that lead up to a magnificent panoramic view of the Port d'Armor, the only deepwater harbour between Cherbourg and Brest, and also over La Comtesse beach and the island of the same name, accessible on foot at low tide.
At the Pointe du Sémaphore, the orientation table identifies key landmarks out to sea, from Bréhat to Cap Fréhel, with an overview of: the plateau of the Iles Saint-Quay, 10km long and 3km wide, as well as Ile Harbour, easily recognised by its house and lighthouse.
Continue along the beaches of Châtelet, Casino and La Grève Noire, the Pointe de l'Isnain and the Grève Gicquel beneath the rock of Gerbot d'Avoine, then the Saint-Quay fountain commemorating the arrival of the evangelising saint, and on to the Pointe du Romeur marking the limit between the communes of Saint-Quay-Portrieux and Tréveneuc.
View over the cove of Saint-Marc and the 18th century chapel.

Place Charles de Gaulle: before and after.

You can admire this exhibition for the whole duration of the renovation period. This outdoor exhibit is dedicated to the historical evolution of the place Charles de Gaulle, but also to the soon-to-be renovated esplanade signed urban planner Nicolas Michelin.

You might be interested to know that this major square had four different names since its foundation, or that it was actually bombed during World War II.

The six display panels will showcase the various renovations projects for the esplanade which will become a huge entertainment centre with a multi-screen cinema, underground parking lot, a completely renovated Liberté, a Youth Centre and a Welcoming Centre for students and foreign academics.

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.

Guaranteed waterproof.

Sailing activities organised all year round for adult sailors, boat owners and works committees, regattas for monotypes and liveaboard cruisers.
Every Saturday morning, as part of the Voile Loisir scheme, beginners can try their hand at liveaboard cruiser sailing.