Events & Festivals in Brittany in August

Party animals.

Astropolis will as usual be waving the banner of fun and freedom; this event is a beacon for militant party-animals and adepts of no-holds-barred festivity. Whatever your music of choice Astropolis will be four days of sublime, dreamlike, visual and auditory madness…

This one-of-a-kind event went from the underground to the official, from a damp field in the Finistère area to a beautiful mansion, the Manoir de Keroual in Brest. Astropolis is fully dedicated to fully letting go - it is probably the most important electro event in the whole of France.

The festival has always been a militant supporter of the Do-It-Yourself spirit of raves throughout the world, and for this reason carefully selects the acts on their line-up. Thus a whole scene will be dedicated to the Detroit Underground Resistance label, and a "village" will be reserved for an association that fights for alternative lifestyle solutions. And as you'll see when you reach this natural wonderland, "big business", advertising and corporate culture will remain very far away…

Muses of the depths…

The Festivoile des arts de la mer will be lighting up the town of Paimpol for a few days. An art biennial dedicated to maritime culture will be organised throughout the town with contemporary art exhibitions and various activities and events based on a common theme: Vague d'Art, "the Art Wave".

A variety of blends and mixes…

This 9th edition of the Festival du Bout du Monde will as usual give you a great 3-day festival on August 8th, 9th and 10th. This "Ends of the Earth" festival already features an impressive line-up. With such variety and quality acts, both recognized artists and more obscure but no less talented bands, world music enthusiasts will not be disappointed.

You can expect to hear unusual reggae, cutting-edge flamenco, sizzling soul music straight from Niger and some unique oriental electronica… Truly the kind of variety you can only expect to find at the end of the Earth.

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.

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…

Morbihan goes classical…

The Musicales du Golfe is a festival that aims to put the Morbihan architectural heritage in the spotlight - quality music will be centre stage, but the stage itself will be the age-old churches and chapels of the region.

Compositions by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and many more will be performed by some of the most talented ensembles in the area.

A thousand and one Brittanies…

The famed "1000 Milles" race, organised by Brittany Ferries, is a high-level sailing event for doubles on 40-Class craft over 1000 nautical miles. This thousand nautical mile race is broken into three steps with stopovers in Plymouth, Santander, Roscoff and Saint Malo.

Regional newspaper Ouet-France will be covering the event throughout. This regatta will indeed be racing, but the event is also a means of showcasing the Saint-Malo naval base ideally located in the heart of the channel.

The event will be making the most of the state-of-the-art nautical centre extablished in the Duguay-Trouin basin, only a stone's throw from the brand new TGV station…

Today's art world wide open.

This artistic journey will travel through 6 towns of the Vannes area in the Morbihan county. 17 artists will be displaying their artwork. Painters, potters, sculptors, plastic artists, video-artists, photographers… All have come from the whole of France and abroad to present their installations and pieces - all will be built around a common theme: "illusions, signs and symbols".

The displays will be set up throughout two outdoor venues and 4 beautiful chapels that rarely open their doors to the general public. With the artists themselves on location, this event will be a great opportunity to discuss their vision of art and their respective careers.

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.

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.

The best of Brittany.

The Festival des Filets Bleus (or "Blue Nets Festival") was sparked by a tragic event and yet has always been a fun and convivial celebration.

The event came about in 1905 in Finistère in Brittany as a means of supporting the people of Concarneau, a small fishing village that was all but crippled by the sudden disappearance of sardine shoals from local waters.

Though the tragedy is now history, this joyous celebration still takes place every year. To recreate the 1905 feel in the streets of Concarneau centre, organisers have planned period photograph exhibits and retrospective film screenings, and a number of people will be wearing traditional costumes. Expect a time warp into the early 20th century, with fish markets, foot races, folk dances and all kinds of activities and events. Old sailor's songs will be followed by bagadou fanfares, celtic music concerts and a whole range of old-style, typically Breton performances.

In Brittany, night doesn't rhyme with sleep but with celebration! Put your dancing shoes on to take part in the traditional fest noz (night feasts), noz glas (blue nights) and nozvezh breizh (or Breton nights)…

Multi-coloured jazz…

This jazz festival is relatively young but is expected to go on far into old age…

With free events and activities and performances by some top notch jazz musicians, you can expect some quality entertainment for all ages and to suit all tastes… This year the main theme is "Quebec"!

Electronica fever.

The Bar in the Bénodet Casino will come alive every night this summer with a live DJ mix to rock the night away…

Expect a different DJ taking over the turntables every week for a great night of fun among friends. Practise your steps because on Saturday Night at the Bénodet Casino there will be an epidemic of electronica fever!

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?"

Four thursdays to enjoy Brest.

The Jeudis du Port festival appeared in 1986 - the idea was to get locals in Brest to enjoy a local celebration every Thursday in the summer, and the venue was set as the local harbour. Over time, the event spread along the banks and quays of Brest's harbour. Now every Thursday is a family outing day for the Brestois, a unique festival anchored in maritime culture.

Enjoy free and spectacular performances every Thursday - for once, you won't get what you pay for but much more for much less.

Dan Ar Braz, celtic guitar player.

A rock musician at heart, Dan Ar Braz can thank Alan Stivell (with whom he began his career as a guitarist) for teaching him to find the close connections between Celtic music and rock. As a matter of fact, it was during these early formative years that he developed a technique with which the guitar would take on the sound of bagpipes - a technique which helped him earn a reputation as one of the world's most skilled guitarists.

In the 90s, his career took an important turn with the creation of the Héritage des Celtes, which earned him a Victoire de la Musique and a clear path to Eurovision.
His performance at the 2007 Saint Patrick Night at Bercy in Paris was an opportunity to discover tracks from his new album Les Perches du Nil.

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.

One of a kind Breton band.

With over a thousand concerts and 4 albums under their belt, Red Cardell have proved that Breton music and Rock go together like a horse and carriage. The three Quimper-bred musicians are back on stage to the delight of their fans.

Jean-Michel Moal (accordion), Jean-Pierre Riou (guitar, bombard and vocals) and Ian Proërer (drums) will be providing you with a riveting musical experience.

Ladies first.

The Musiciennes festival in Ouessant is an all-women's performance in honour of composer Rebacca Clarke. It will be taking place on one of the beautiful islands of the Finistère region.

This 8th edition is scheduled from August 4th to 13th, with a rich repertoire of composers such as Morart, Puccini or Schumann, but also Poulenc and Bernstein.

A classic on the Emerald Coast.

Dinard is a homely town and a major beach resort. With its beautiful scenic landscapes and architecture, it is the perfect site for this international classical music festival that takes place there every year.

The event brings together some of the best performers in the field and draws large crowds, in part because a number of concerts are completely free of charge.

An insane evening.

This one-of-a-kind festival will be taking place on a unique venue, the median strip which is usually a repair harbour for trawlers. This small area will be jam-packed with spectators come to experience the festive spirit and fatten up on some delicious local specialties…

On the central stage, discover an eclectic programme of performances with bagad music, joyous violin tunes and some crazy rock by the Red Hot Chilli Pipers.

Fishing harbour night will be the culmination of the festival, an event which touches on maritime and celtic culture to give you the best of Lorient.

Wind-driven…

The famed Festival de la Voile is a major three-day event during which all types of craft are put to the test on the waters of the Morbihan gulf. The Ile aux Moines, or Monk's Island, will be surrounded by an armada of various sailing boats and the entire area will be buzzing with activity and a truly festive spirit.

With a beautiful and dangerous site (reputed for its strong currents) and over 400 participants (both amateur and professional) you can expect a fantastic event this summer along the Morbihan gulf.

A beach town in the city.

This concept has become an international movement, travelling to Japan, Berlin, Brussels and Budapest. Rennes changed the title, but the recipe is the same everywhere you go.

Grab 150 deckchairs, the ones with blue/green and white stripes which cost 2 pound on the beach in Bournemouth. Plant palm trees along the road, in Cannes style, and serve some piping hot mint tea like a true Bedouin. There you have it, Transat en Ville on the Town Hall square.

This beach-town in the city is dedicated to dozing, reading airport books and gossip in unhealthy amounts. For a whole week, enjoy lazing at the beach without the annoying sand between your toes. And by nightfall, organisers have scheduled an interesting program of activities so there is always something to do!

There's gunpowder in the air…

A great fireworks display will be taking place in your commune! This fantastic, explosive event will light up your night and leave stars in your eyes and bells in your ears... You will be in awe of what these pyrotechnic masters can achieve.

Young and old will look to the skies in wonder and amazement.

Master of the age-old angel's instrument: the harp…

Born in Finistère in Brittany, the western corner of Europe, Corbel learnt the Celtic harp at a very young age. Today she lives in Paris and gives regular performances in France and abroad.

Her concerts manage to blend Breton, Irish, Scottish and also Turkish, Israeli and Sephardic musical traditions. The songs and dances will take you to a different time and place, a land of changing seasons and love-stories. East meets West in these sensitive compositions and arrangements.

Divine music, sacred sites…

This new edition of the Lyrique en mer festival is respecting traditions by providing some of the best lyrical music to an ever-widening audience. Operas, church music and concerts will be taking place in historic sites: the Vauban citadel, the Ouvrage de Beausoleil, the Fouquet château and the Belle-Ile church…

Digging into the past

For 20 years now, archeological research has been taking place at Mez Notario, located at the center of the Isle of Ouessant. The site and the dig have been managed by Jean-Paul Le Bihan, director of the Finistère Center for Archeological Research (CRAF), which called upon 400 professional and civilian diggers to help bring to light some amazing finds about the origins 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." Numerous objects plus articles from the planning stages and several models will be on display. Visitors will be able to easily reconstruct the history of this fascinating island with the materials to be presented. A project that took 20 years to bring to the surface!

For music-lovin' folk…

The 2008 Festival Mondial Folk programme includes a number of activities and events, music performances and dance shows from around the world, a children's programme, singalong hikes with Breton, national and international bands, and a variety of performances for all ages, all budgets and all tastes…

Reservations are recommended.

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..

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.

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…"

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.

Maestro, musica!

Birthdays are all about celebrating a joyful event, at least in most cases. They are also an opportunity to reflect on the past, to reminisce about the good, the bad and the ugly with no discrimination, for these are the building blocks of life.

The Semaines musicales de Quimper have been around 30 years, so happy birthday Euterpe!

Birthdays are above all about being with others, about getting together with our loved-ones and those we would like to know better… With this in mind, the festival organisers worked hard to gather the prestigious musicians and ensembles that at one time or another filled local cathedrals, chapels and theatres with joyful song. Of course, organisers did not forget to invite young up-and-coming musicians as well, as the young are also the soul of birthday celebrations. Enjoy, and don't forget to make a wish!

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…

Rennes houses one of the most interesting rock scenes in France.

The place is Rennes, the year is 1980. The city is home to one of the most lively and innovative rock scenes in France.

New movements appear and spread like an epidemic; punk music spawns alternative and independent rock. At the same time, independent radios take off with new stations sprouting across Rennes like mushrooms on steroids.

Franck Roland, a star host for Radio Savane, launched the Rock Tympans association in 1986 to back the rising new wave scene. As a result, in 1991, the first edition of the Route du Rock Festival invaded the city's bars, association headquarters and concert halls.

Roland's association launched a parallel festival, Ici Londres, which brought the hottest UK bands across the channel (Therapy?, Neds Atomic Dustbin and Mega City Four) for a series of sell-out concerts. The festival bug was seeded, took root and now the "Road of Rock" has become a cultural institution.

The festival organisers pride themselves on a daring musical program; they are not afraid to put promising new bands in the spotlight amidst modern rock, pop and electro stars (think The Do, The Breeders, Tindersticks, The Notwist, Foals, The Ting Tings, Why?, Adam Kesher, Poni Hoax, Pivot, etc, etc.).

Don't miss out on this exceptional event, the hottest summer festival in Rennes only a stone's throw from the fine sandy beaches of the "Emerald Coast"…

Castles on a whim…

Enjoy an afternoon of art at the beach! This sand sculpture tour on Trez-Hir beach will be overseen by Laurent Dragon, a recognised and highly talented sand sculptor.

The programme includes workshops for younger artists and a sand castle competition on Friday August 8th.

The event is entirely free of charge and registration for the competitions takes place on site.

Breton inspiration…

One day, Didier Squiban decided to go into exile on Molène island in Brittany. He boarded the "Penn ar Bed" with his grand piano and from there went on to compose some of the greatest pieces of his career. His album Molène is a result of this exile and is dedicated to Brittany.

What Didier Squiban likes best about Breton music is the melodies, in particular the gwerz for they are free, without rhyme or rythm, much like himself…

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.

A top-class Celtic music festival.

Originally organized in Brest, the Celtic Festival now takes place in Lorient and remains THE major event for Celtic musicians and artists. Every year, 4 500 artists and bands from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, the Isle of Man, Cornwall, Asturias, Galicia and Brittany come to Lorient to take part in this exciting festival.

The programme includes a range of Celtic styles - traditional, classical, folk, jazz, rock... This lively event also features dancers, painters, sculptors, writers, film directors and lecturers who will be giving visitors a glimpse of their skills at various venues all over town and providing the 500 000 spectators with quality entertainment.

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.

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.

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.

Spectacles on the streets.

The Festival de Théâtre de Rue in Morlaix has over the years developed a strong reputation, and now the event stretches over an entire week!

Experience some of the most extraordinary, fascinating, impressive and entertaining art worlds for five whole evenings. Often completely innovative, these unique acts combine circus arts, theatre, live frescoes, activist performances and a range of festive music styles… The "stage" at the Cité du Viaduc will come alive with a thousand and one performing arts this summer.

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.

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).

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.

Adults only.

The Ile de Rhodes night-club is open all year round.
Open since 1964 on a tiny, winding back-street, its charming hostesses stage adult shows (ballets, sexy shows, music, dance, etc.). A legendary address for a hot night out in Rennes!

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.