From the sea shanties of La Rochelle to the féria of Aire-sur-l'Adour, and Fête de la Musique everywhere, ten ways to celebrate the solstice in New Aquitaine.
What to do in New Aquitaine on the weekend of June 20-21? This is the solstice weekend, when the region tips firmly into summer: Landes férias, Basque patron-saint fêtes, open-air music festivals and, on Sunday, the Fête de la Musique in almost every town. Our pick of the week goes to the Festival Chants de Marins in La Rochelle, filling the Old Port amid 150 boats. The same weekend, the féria of Aire-sur-l'Adour brings out brass bands and the course landaise, while the Fêtes de la Saint-Jean dress Saint-Jean-de-Luz in red and white. A tour from the Limousin to the Basque coast.
Festival Chants de Marins in La Rochelle (17): the Old Port to the rhythm of the quays
From Saturday June 20 to Tuesday June 23, the Festival Chants de Marins settles at the Bassin des Chalutiers on La Rochelle's Old Port. It is the musical, popular side of the Maritime Festival, a great heritage gathering that brings around 150 boats together around the port: tall ships, classic yachts and heritage vessels. For four days the quays ring with sea shanties, choirs and concerts by local and international artists, in an open-air maritime atmosphere. The opening weekend sets the tone: time to walk the pontoons, listen to the crews and soak up the dockside buzz. Free access along the quays, food on site and a guaranteed family crowd.
Feria of Aire-sur-l'Adour (40): brass bands, encierros and course landaise
From Friday June 19 to Sunday June 21, Aire-sur-l'Adour lives to the rhythm of its féria, one of the oldest and most popular in the Landes. The town vibrates to the sound of brass bands, encierros in the streets of the centre, country meals and open-air balls. At the Maurice Lauche arena, built in 1932, courses landaises and bull-running shows form the identity of the fête. The whole town turns white and red, from café terraces to improvised bodegas, for three days and three nights non-stop. A plunge into Gascon festive culture, best lived inside a peña with a scarf round your neck.
Fêtes de la Saint-Jean in Saint-Jean-de-Luz (64): the town in red and white
From Thursday June 18 to Monday June 22, on Place Louis XIV, the Fêtes de la Saint-Jean (Donibaneko Bestak) unfold the most emblematic event in local life. Each year around June 24, the whole town dresses in red and white for its patron-saint celebrations. Tamborradas, concerts, Saint John's bonfires, a tortilla contest, fandango competitions, Basque dances and the Toro de Fuego punctuate these five days of revelry. The weekend of June 20-21 concentrates the highlights, between morning brass bands and night-time fireworks. An immersion in coastal Basque culture, festive and deeply rooted in tradition.
Free Music Festival in Montendre (17): two eclectic days by the lake
On Friday June 19 and Saturday June 20, the Free Music Festival sets up by the lake Baron Desqueyroux in Montendre. An emblematic event in Charente-Maritime, it offers over two days a deliberately eclectic line-up mixing reggae, dub, rock, French chanson, hard techno and contemporary music. The lakeside setting, away from the big cities, gives the festival a friendly, summery feel that builds a loyal following. Saturday concentrates the headliners: the evening to aim for to catch the line-up at its peak. Camping, food and an open-air stage to open the festival season of southern Saintonge.
Respire Jazz Festival in Montmoreau (16): jazz in an abbey in southern Charente
On Saturday June 20, the Respire Jazz Festival takes over the former abbey of Puyperoux, in Aignes-et-Puyperoux. This eco-festival of jazz, run since 2010 by the Respire Jazz association under the artistic direction of guitarist Pierre Perchaud, sets the landscapes of southern Charente vibrating to jazz and improvised music. The abbey's heritage setting, tucked into the Charente countryside, offers an intimate stage far from the big crowds. An eco-responsible approach, a sharp line-up and a relaxed atmosphere: a gem for anyone after a human-scale musical event. Best paired with a walk through the hills of the Montmorélien.
SwimRunMan Vassivière (23): swimming and trail running on a Limousin lake
On Saturday June 20 and Sunday June 21, the SwimRunMan Vassivière takes place on the lake of Vassivière, between Creuse and Haute-Vienne. Created in 2016, this swimrun event offers several formats, from the Experience to the Half (38 km, an ÖTILLÖ Merit Race), via the Sprint, the Classic and the Night, alternating sections of running and open-water swimming. The setting of the lake and the island of Vassivière, at the heart of the Millevaches plateau, makes this one of the standout sporting events of the Limousin spring. Open to seasoned athletes and lovers of nature challenges alike, and worth watching from the banks even without a race number.
Festival Natura L'Oeil in Égletons (19): nature photography in the open air
From Saturday June 20, the Festival Natura L'Oeil opens its season in the old town of Égletons, around the town hall. This international festival of wildlife and nature photography shows more than 200 large-format prints in the open air, drawn from an international competition, through to mid-September. Run by the Égletons Photo Nature association, it rounds out its themed, educational exhibitions with outings and encounters. The opening weekend is the ideal moment to discover the fresh hang while strolling freely through the streets. A contemplative, free interlude, for children and enthusiasts alike, in the heart of the Corrèze.
Landeus y Tapas in Labenne (40): the Fête de la Musique, gourmet version
On Friday June 19 and Saturday June 20, on Place de la République, Landeus y Tapas celebrates the Fête de la Musique on the southern Landes coast. For two days the square turns into a village of around twenty casetas serving tapas, pintxos and Landes and Basque specialities, while concerts, choirs and DJs liven up the evenings. At the crossroads of Landes and Basque cultures, this friendly event blends the table and the stage in a neighbourhood-féria atmosphere. Free entry, an easy-going spirit and plates to share: an ideal format to open summer with family or friends, steps from the Labenne beaches.
Festival Les Jacasseries in Lorigné (79): the village fête under the chestnut trees
On Saturday June 20 and Sunday June 21, the Festival Les Jacasseries settles at the Balade de Queue d'Ageasse in Lorigné, in the south of the Deux-Sèvres. Run by the L'As de Pie association, the event is conceived as a village fête in the shade of the chestnut trees: concerts, shows, DJ sets and a trad ball follow one another in a family, popular spirit. To stay accessible, entry is on a pay-what-you-can basis, with food on site. This rural gem, away from the big stages, bets on conviviality and the discovery of emerging artists. A lovely country alternative for anyone after a human-scale festival this weekend.
Festival Pop'Up Café in Mourenx (64): the street goes multidisciplinary
On Saturday June 20, on Place des Pyrénées, the Festival Pop'Up Café turns the heart of Mourenx into an open-air festive café. Created in 2024, this free festival blends street theatre, dance, music, hip-hop, visual arts, storytelling, magic and participatory workshops. Run by the town and the music school, it offers aperitif-concerts and strolling acts in a relaxed, cross-generational atmosphere. Still young and little-known, it shows the cultural vitality of the industrial Béarn, off the beaten track. A curious, warm format, worth discovering before word of mouth catches on, for a free evening with no booking required.
Fête de la Musique in Bordeaux (33): the whole city on stage on June 21
On Sunday June 21, Bordeaux celebrates the Fête de la Musique: hundreds of artists, DJs and amateur musicians take over the streets, squares, parks and quays of the city for free. Run by the City of Bordeaux, the day mixes every genre, from electro to rock, pop to classical, rap to reggae. From the banks of the Garonne to Place de la Bourse, stages spring up all over for the solstice, well into the night. It's the great urban event of the weekend, open to all, where you wander from one concert to the next as the mood takes you. The city centre is best lived on foot, to the sound of the party.
Worth a mention too
- Fête de la Musique in Pau (64): from Square Georges V to Place Royale, jazz, soul, brass and rock liven up the city centre for free on Sunday June 21.
- Fête de la Musique in Limoges (87): more than fifty local bands take over streets and neighbourhoods from early afternoon well into the night, on June 21.
For a wider sweep, head to our full weekend agenda. Enjoy your New Aquitaine trip.
