Events & Festivals in Western Loire, Loire Atlantique

A river runs through it…

The famed Rencontres de yachting & canotage is a yachting and canoeing meet as part of the Rendez-Vous de l'Erdre, a nautical/music festival on the Erdre River.

Over a hundred boats in all shapes, sizes and colours will be gathered together for three whole days, making it one of the greatest old ship gatherings in France and even Europe. Participants enjoy a gentle sailing trip between Nort-sur-Erdre and Sucé-sur-Erdre, and along the way, communes on the banks will be celebrating the festival in their own way with concerts and activities.

The flotilla will reach Nantes by Saturday for the peak of the event while the public comes to watch this ersatz armada coursing along between Ile de Versailles and the Ceineray basin. The event is an opportunity to discover Nantes's riverbanks and river networks. A number of beautiful old craft will moored for visiting (steam boats, old-style wooden ships), and you can also see impressive scale models…

Shedding light on Raymond.

The local contemporary arts centre (FRAC) organises an exhibition once a year in Clisson.

Marion Daniel, who had directed the creation of the Raymond Hains, la Boite a fiches photo-book, published for his eponymous exhibition in Saint-Brieuc in 03-04. This year, she has been invited by the FRAC to exhibit a selection of public works relating to Hains which shed a different light on the artist's work, in particular its connection to younger generations.

A festive experience for the whole family.

Discover the magical world of the "Children's City" and the Chapelle en fête festival throughout the town centre of Chapelle-sur-Erdre.

The Ville aux Enfants will be set up from 10AM to 7PM on the church square and in the Gilière park. Activities and attractions will be organised for children aged 3 to 12; these include trampolines, adventure trails, bouncy castles, merry-go-rounds, pony-rides, make-up workshops and all sorts of sweets and tasty things will be available.

The fair itself will be taking place from 2PM to midnight at the théâtre de verdure and on the lawns of the local town hall; expect some great rides, games and street performances for the whole family.

George Perec's contemporary art.

The Fine-Arts museum in Nantes is organising a contemporary art exhibition for this special occasion, namely the 30th anniversary of the publication of Georges Perec's eponymous novel Life A User's Manual.

Regarde de tous tes yeux, regarde will be presenting a total of 70 artists with works (some of which have never been exhibited) from the museum's stock as well as from public and private collections.

Pragmatic art.

Wolfgang Winter et Berthold Hörbelt have been an "artistic duet" since 1992.

They work mostly with resine, plastic and metallic materials and their sculptures are often created with industrial processes in mind. It is in this way that the Winter-Hörbelt team made a name for itself with Crate Houses, architectural projects that were inspired by the aesthetic and structural properties of plastic crates made from recycled bottles.

These artists are ever-concerned with the notion of breathing new life into public spaces. Subsequently their projects, both indoor and outdoor, represent an effort in aesthetic improvement and practicality from a social point of view. Usage and pragmatism are central to their artistic ambitions, which is why we see their works taking the shape of purely functional complexes: bus stops, newspaper kiosks or movie theatres…

The Winter-Hörbelt creations represent an invitation to experience and question the dual concept of inside/outside.

Art gone wild.

The Au pas des siècles association has been working to promote local history and culture for over two decades. This anniversary will be an opportunity to learn about local heritage, be it natural, historical, cultural or architectural…

Intimate, childish and utterly powerful.

The work of Anne-Lisa Coste, a French artist based in Zurich for the past decade, is marked by a deceptive sense of frailty. Her drawings seem childish, her lines tenuous, associated with words written in big block capitals or in a child's handwriting.

Her work opens up onto an immature, babyish universe that is nevertheless spiked with irony and contained violence - the fragile surface is only there to hide her barbed criticism of power relations and hierarchical structures.

Similarly to her graphic pieces, Coste's miniature sculptures blend architectural concepts and simplistic logic, revealing a subjective and potent perspective on concepts such as form or emotion.

What dreams may come…

"Machines on the Island" (Les Machines de l'Ile) is indeed a mysterious concept... It involves massive animals, creatures of the savana or the ocean depths, appearing suddenly in the middle of the city, as if one's daydreams had crossed over into reality…

You will not have to imagine this, because it has been imagined for you. These giant wood and metal creatures will be there, palpable, more real than ever. Evidently, a discussion will be organised to explain the process of creation and to introduce the team of artists/engineers.

This fantastic event is signed François Delarozière and Pierre Orefice working with the famed Royal de Luxe company!

Worlds apart.

Since its early days, the Consonances Festival has been one of the few to blend an immensely wide variety of works and composers from many different historic periods.

Every year, a reputed composer is commissioned to create a work in record timing so as to be played during the festival.

Everyday life in empty spaces.

Tatiana Trouvé, winner of the 2007 Marcel Duchamp award, has been working on a series of projects at the FRAC (a regional contemporary art fund). This recent work tells us a great deal about her rapid artistic evolution.

Trouvé's landmark installation is the Bureau of Implicit Activities (Bureau des Activités Implicites or BAI). Set up since 1997, this expansive piece is made up of complex architectural modules each of which is a spatial representation of different components of her everyday life ("Administrative Module", "Waiting Module"…). Over time the BAI was added to with Polders (Dutch word for artificial islands or land expansion) - these elements defy normal scale and are grafted to the BAI like so many new "compartments" or activities in one's life.

More recently, her work has been focused on a functional space with no function, a meaningless, nameless sculpture, drawing or installation that is nevertheless filled with a sense of potentiality...

Gardening on film.

A number of middle school students will be displaying their photographis work at the Est Floresca Guepin Multimedia Library in Nantes.

The students had been working in the park of the Grand Blottereau Horticulture School and have created a fresco revolving around 6 imaginary locations.

A musical playground…

Jean-Jacques Metz, trumpet professor at the Nantes Conservatory, is once again organising a Fanfare éphémère this year especially for the Rendez-Vous de l'Erdre festival (dedicated to Jazz and leisure boats).

With the help of fellow professors Julien Périer (tuba) and Laurent Crinière (percussions), this new fanfare will be made up of 60 or so music students from the area, aged 7 to 13.

Another development this year: the Fanfare des Grands or "Grownups Fanfare", for students aged 13 to 20 with more experience.

The programme includes compositions signed Metz and Périer, with some highly-festive funk, a tango or two, rumbas and waltzes, and of course some good ol' blues…

Varini: infinite variation

Since the 80's, Felice Varini has been working on painting techniques that experiment with architectural space. Using perspective as a descriptive mechanism, he settled on a particular architectural concept as his key, as a lens and vehicle through which architecture mimics common geometic designs. These forms open up and break down into fragments.

Felice Varini will be displaying his Suite de triangles ("Series of Triangles") at the Saint-Nazaire harbour.

You scared, you yellow?

Nantes:
After a difficult season caught in the purgatory known as Ligue 2, the FC Nantes team is back on track and roaring to reclaim its former glory.

Their massive fan base will be cheering to see that particular Nantes-style football and will be hoping that their club won't be obeying that terrible rule of physics: "what goes up must come down."

Underground jazz in Cabaret style.

Jazz Nights will be an exciting 2-day event gathering an exceptional group of performers in the fun, convivial atmosphere of an underground jazz club.

Under the directorship of Jean-Philippe Vidal, the 16 members of the Côte Ouest Big Band will be accompanying some of the big names of the modern jazz scene for this performance in the heart of the Cité des Congrès, converted into a Cabaret for the occasion. After the main event, spectators can enjoy an Open Jazz Club with the Billy Harper Band until 2AM.

All profits to be donated to a charity organisation.

For a green life-style, all the way.

The salon Zen et Bio is dedicated to organic products and the overall Zen frame of mind. You can discover organic food and wines, "eco-products", all manners of well-being and nature-oriented leisure activities, all in an ambiance of warmth and great fun.

A series of workshops/lectures will give producers and exhibitors more generally an opportunity to discuss their methods with the public.

Desire, rage, hatred, despair…

Set in Rome in 1800, this story is about the consequences of the Battle of Marengo and the collapse of the Roman republic. Giacomo Puccini stages a love story between a passionate, jealous singer and a dreamy, selfless painter - he avoids the soppy romantic cliché by setting the story in such a turbulent context.

Yet a nefarious figure lurks within the shadows cast by churches and palaces, in the dark tunnels of religion and politics. Scarpia is a chief of police, a corrupt individual with a taste for torture…

Rather than love Scarpia aims to possess, and the two young lovers, star-gazing into each other's hearts with an artist's sentimentality, do not inspire or move him… They only serve to become his prey.

Boxes dedicated to Life.

Living Box is a unique vision of contemporary art - it is focused on a number of artists who have begun to question the political, economic and ecological frameworks of the world today. This event is an invitation to rethink one's conceptions of architecture and fashion, furniture and everyday objects…

The exhibition is a collection of liveable spaces, "Living Boxes", small-scale architecture (a room, a cell) which brings to mind the eponymous work of Patrick Van Caeckenbergh (a space in which he lived for five years). Also, we are reminded of Absalon's cells, and the rooms of Sylvie Fleury or Dominique Donzalez-Foerster.

Experience DJs, art and more.

Scopitone: n. type of jukebox that plays music along with a roll of 16 mm film - forerunner of the modern day music video.

Today, Scopitone is a festival dedicated to electronic music, video art, plastic arts and digital arts. Though revolving around music, the event showcases new talent in all three art forms and is a strong networking hub as well as a great party-place. This festival is different, does not have bands blaring back to back with no rhyme or reason - it is a festive, popular and convivial experience. Don't miss out on the Scopitone festival in Nantes.

The best of contemporary photography.

The Quinzaine Photographique de Nantes or QPN is a festival dedicated to the promotion of contemporary photography. Established professionals as well as young talents have an opportunity to reach a wide public at the QPN.

The "Prix QPN 2008" will be awarded to the photographer with the best portfolio. Additionally, this winner will have a personal display space throughout the entire event, the best possible showcase for a budding photographer.

You scared, you yellow?

Nantes:
After a difficult season caught in the purgatory known as Ligue 2, the FC Nantes team is back on track and roaring to reclaim its former glory.

Their massive fan base will be cheering to see that particular Nantes-style football and will be hoping that their club won't be obeying that terrible rule of physics: "what goes up must come down."

Luxury, jazz and beautiful ships…

This major event of the late summer season, an unmissable festival of Nante's cultural calendar, blends jazz music with the culture of leisure sailing.

The shows will be staged on a string of barges along the Erdre, and over 150 000 spectators are expected to attend over three days. This travelling performance will be journeying from Nantes to Nort-sur-Erdre, Sucé-sur-Erdre, La Chapelle-sur-Erdre and Carquefou. All will be able to enjoy free concerts and a number of "villages" on the banks, entertainment centres brimming with activities and events.

Since 2005 the Rendez-Vous de l'Erdre has boasted a rich program that takes all jazz styles into account: traditional, electro-jazz, blues, modern jazz… To top it off, you can discover and admire a flotilla of over 100 boats from all of France and wider Europe.

Curious artwork of today…

Visitors are free to check out the La Création IN SITU documents and various works, and take part in discussions about artist in residence programs.
Saturday & Sunday from 2 to 6PM

Guided Tours What architecture for contemporary art?
Tour of building (reserves and exhibition spaces) and exterior (building and park)
"Collection and creation":
Tour of Tatiana Trouvé's works and of "Instantané 70", an exhibition of the FRAC's collections based on the theme "engagement". Saturday and Sunday at 2PM, 3:30PM and 5PM.

The Nautilus awaits you.

In tune with the transportation revolution of his time, SF pioneer Jules Verne was obsessed with vehicles and motion. In his mindscapes, sailboats, trains and steamers of the real world cohabited with imaginary vehicles.
Courtesy of Jean-Marc Deschamps, these vehicles have been brought to life through perfect scale-models based on the information in the novels. A unique experience to discover the Nautilus and other fantastic craft…

Snoop is back in da game, fo shizzle…

Ego Trippin', which came out last March, is Snoop's ninth album, one which he decided to produce for himself. The notorious rapper outdoes himself in this project, with that particularly juicy track Sensual Seduction (the censored title of Sexual Eruption) during which you can hear his all-too-well-known rapping spliced with pure, traditional, uplifting vocals - it's now a proven fact, Snoop can sing, he can sing well.

This new opus is brimming with funky songs most definitely influenced by 80's tunes (such as Prince, Morris Day & The Time, Rick James, George Clinton or The Gap Band), along with smooth R'n'B and proper gangsta rap tracks.

Gorillas in today's world.

The Museum of Natural History in Nantes, working together with the Rennes Espace des sciences and the Palais de la découverte, is organising an expo dedicated to the king of primates, the elusive, mysterious gorilla.

This animal, born out of the African forest, is an important symbol for many faiths and religious systems. The exhibition will be broken into two sections, both of which attempt to reveal the true nature of these fascinating creatures.

Five themes underpin this event: "Brute or BFG (Big Friendly Giant)?"; "Gorilla and man, a common heritage"; "Gorillas and the tropical forest"; "Watching Gorillas"; and finally "Gorillas in Danger".

This last theme will be a stepping stone onto the next section of the exhibition which aims to discuss what is affecting the life and habitat of the gorilla and what the future holds for this awe-inspiring animal.

The crossroad of paint and sculpture.

Visages innocents ("innocent faces") and Sortir du trou ("Getting out of the hole"). Paintings by Luz Severino.
Originally from Dominican Republic, Severino works on canvas and hand-made paper. Superimposing, layering, translucency and transparency characterise her work, often with warm, vibrant colours.

Le Corps Humain ("the human body"). Sculptures signed Anne Le Louarn.
From her home in Rouans, Anne Le Louarn crafts representations of the female form in various poses and from various materials. Her expert fingers break matter to extract the sensual edge within.

A passion for the picturesque.

Canadian-born Mark Lewis, now a resident of the UK, is first of all a professional photographer - he is also a contemporary artist and an artistic film-maker who enjoys working with themes such as "the urban", art and cinema, and the grey area between film and painting…

In 2003 he took part in an international contemporary art fair, and was chosen to represent Canada at the Visual arts Biennial in Venice in 2009.

The Kunsthalle moves to Nantes…

The Fine Arts museum in Nantes will be presenting its own selection of masterpieces from the Kunsthalle zu Kiel, one of Germany's finest museums which blends ancient and contemporary art expertly.

Thirty paintings and sculptures and twenty drawings were selected to be displayed before a French and German public. The Fine Arts museum has decided to complement this display with a number of contemporary works to echo the 19th century paintings.

Every single sound…

This grand record market is organised as part of the Rendez-Vous de l'Erdre festival.

Visit the Maison de l'Erdre and the gallery on the Ile de Versailles to find a goldmine of music and more. With 15 professional record shops on site and even pro record labels from the whole of France, you can find just about any style of music: jazz, blues, electro, world music, rock, classical, funk, hip-hop, reggae, and all sorts of experimental genres. Added to this, you can find accessories and equipment for LPs, CDs, DVDs…

With such a range of products to choose from, there isn't much more a music-lover can ask for.

An homage.

Raymond Hains was already displaying his work at the Pays de la Loire Contemporary Art Fund (FRAC) in 1998. His photographs and digital works were gathered under the heading "Lemot passe a travers" ("Words pass through it") which was dedicated to François-Frédéric Lemot, a major sculptor.

The FRAC is today home to an impressive collection of works signed by Hains. The Director of the FRAC, Laurence Gateau, has decided to organise this homage in 2008, a decade after the original exhibition. This latest exhibition, "Comme le Verre à travers le Soleil, Autour de Raymond Hains”, aims to shed a new light on the works of Raymond Hains.

A garden that jumps off the page.

The Chantenay library will be displaying a collection of art-photos signed Jean Renaudineau for this exceptional "Couleurs et saveurs du jardin" exhibition.

Over 30 works will be on display and all are focused on a bucolic, refreshing theme: tomatoes! The visitor will be drawn into a lush green and red world full of summertime flavours…

Healthy tourism.

Experience a whole weekend of hiking! Nature-enthusiasts and lovers of old stones, take the time to enjoy the natural and architectural riches of the Clisson valley. Sign up for a hike or three over the weekend!

On foot, canoeing, in the morning, the afternoon, and even nocturnal hikes! This hiking program is a great way to enjoy the region's heritage with the whole family.

Take no prisonners.

Sonic Youth have been around for the past 30 years. This band has always been aligned with major music movements like punk or grunge, movements that cannot accept compromise and complacency.

Sonic Youth has always defied categorisation, working to deconstruct the pop music canons to breathe new life into the world of rock music. Daydream Nation, their latest album, came out in 2007.

Anti-gravity Art.

In this installation by Lithuanian artist Zilvinas Kempinas, a series of fans enable a strip of video tape to literally levitate in the exhibition space.

Kempinas creates a magical universe where an inanimate object comes to life and becomes a fleeting form, floating against the wall in random patterns.

Caught like a fly in a network…

This 2008 edition of the Utopiales Festival will be a 9th candle on the cake, so come celebrate 9 editions of a futuristic, fantastic event!

Every aspect of SF will be covered during this special 4-day event - in particular, the programme will revolve around a theme, Networks. An entire world of economic, technological, political and social power built on networks - this is the concept that scientists, writers and creators in the genre will be discussing and exploring.

Doors open just for your eyes.

Make the most of the European Heritage Days to visit the historic monuments in the Clisson valley; many private houses and sites will be open to the public for the occasion. Guided tours and activities abound. Experience the region's unique character, where red brick and tiles blend with dark slate and concrete.

The foundations of a city…

The Thomas Dobrée Archeological Museum in Nantes will for the duration of this exhibition become a gateway allowing you to travel back in time. Discover the history of Nantes and the region, from prehistory to the year one thousand.

From the apparition of humans to the first settlement, witness the birth and evolution of a city.

Paper, the whole story…

This workshop will be taking place in the Templars' chapel - more than a museum, it is a journey into history. "For graphic arts in the Clisson valley" ("Pour les arts graphiques en Vallée de Clisson") deals with the history and tradition of printing and graphic creation on the banks of the Seine. Young and old will be able to learn about printing techniques thanks to this fascinating initiation.

This will be a learning journey into the past, full of fun, laughter, and fascinating historical facts.

Head in the clouds.

Paradise for teenagers and somewhere for adults to relax and enjoy new adventures, Pornic Aventure park is the ideal destination for a successful family outing.
Once the "foresters" have instilled the basic safety rules, you set off to explore the circuits at your own pace and discretion (but always under the watchful eye of an experienced professional).

Open your eyes and enjoy the trip!

The visit will transport you to the shores of South Africa in company with the Cape penguins, or under the seas for an imaginary journey on our ancient submarine, the "Gulf Stream", for a close-up look at the sea turtles.
Or you could take a stroll in the direction of Bora Bora to admire its multi-coloured fish. No need to take the plane to Australia to enjoy a unique experience with the sharks, either.
Why not stop by and visit all these destinations and many more?

Like a fish in water…

Embark for the shores of South Africa to meet the Cape penguins. Or, you can take our imaginary old submarine, the "Gulf Stream", to meet century-old sea turtles. Then pass through the tunnel, surrounded by a wealth of Atlantic-based fauna.

One of the Ocearium's brand new 2008 attractions is the "Lagoon", a large hall dedicated to tropical fish in which visitors are free to roam and explore.

Don't miss the 'Australian Shark pavilion' for a close-up vision of an impressive but obscure predator, the Australian grey nurse shark.

Understanding the salt marshes.

For 20 years, the rich heritage of the Pays de Guérande, shaped by the 2,000 year-old history of salt, has been on display in the Musée des Marais Salants in Batz-sur-Mer.

The museum takes the visitor on a journey of discovery, illustrating how the salt-pans were operated, the archaeology and history of salt, the salt trade and salt taxes.

The life of the marsh-dwellers in the 19th century is remembered in the collections of furniture and regional clothing.
Collections of shell figurines, faïence decorated with themes alluding to the marshes, and paintings are also on display.

A tree in all but size.

If you find bonsai fascinating or intriguing, the bonsai tropicarium is the ideal place to immerse yourself in the world of these decorative miniature trees first created by the Japanese. This specialist bonsai grower is highly reputed regionally and in the profession for the quality of his work and the care and attention he devotes to these miniature trees. The staff of the tropicarium are dedicated to their calling, and the bonsai is revered, almost worshipped, here.
What makes the tropicarium unusual is the sheer variety of the bonsais on display.

Not to be missed: from the Chinese elm to the dracaenas by way of the Japanese maple, a whole palette of colours, fragrances and styles await the visitor. You'll come away from the visit with a deeper knowledge of bonsai plants, whether for the interior or exterior. The owners lavish every care on their plants, protecting and nurturing them all year round. They will happily share with you their tips on how to care for your bonsai: watering, growth, feeding, exposure to sunlight, cleaning, parasites and diseases, repotting, warning signs, pruning, temperature and ventilation. The hothouses are home not only to bonsais of all kinds, but also to tropical plants.
A slight understatement perhaps, since 2,000 exotic species are cultivated here. Bamboos, sugar canes, water hyacinths, palm trees, succulents, lianas and other species luxuriate in the warmth of the hothouses. The exotic hothouse, through which flows a stream populated by hundreds of terrapins, offers visitors a glimpse of tropical jungle. The plants under cultivation vary according to the season.

Live Latin American music

Enjoy a great night out in the relaxed atmosphere of the Algodon with Latin American music from Wednesday to Saturday.
Every Sunday there is a live music concert.
All the biggest stars have been to the Algodon accompanied by TV cameras: Pierpoljack, Michael Jones, Yuri Buenaventura and many, many others.
An unforgettable night out.

Admire the coastline.

This 4.8km walk starts from the lake and then follows the Grande Plage along the coastline and its inlets before joining the Sentier des Douaniers footpath and continuing.
Follow the Maxence beach (near which a chalybeate spring still rises, its waters rich in iron).
Next cross the chimney carved into the cliff, known as the Trou de l'Enfer (hell hole).
Pass by the 19th century Château de la Gressière.
End your walk by returning to the Parc Thibaud.
Throughout the walk, the rugged coastline offers magnificent views which can be enjoyed from sea level since the path often runs along the beach. Be sure to set off at low tide, however, otherwise parts of the route will no longer be accessible on foot.

Will you get a good impression?

The Museum of Printing in Nantes owns a permanent collection of 2,000 original prints by national and international artists, all produced on the museum's presses.
The works are available to interested organisations in the form of "turnkey" exhibitions.
They can also be accompanied by educational displays presenting the various printing techniques, equipment and special events.

Roaring good fun!

Planète Sauvage safari park is where man meets animals in the wild. As you drive along its 10km of safari trails, you will see over 2,000 amazing and majestic animals: elephants, big cats, zebras, camels, bears, etc. Admire whole herds of animals and share the secrets of their life.
After 2 hours of thrilling game-watching, it's time to visit the Cité Marine for a fantastic sea-lion show and demonstration flights by birds of prey.
The adventure continues in the bush village. Surrounded by animals, this is a world that will fascinate children and adults alike, before embarking on an extraordinary adventure on the Jungle Trail: crossing a liana bridge to track down a tribe of macaque monkeys.