The Interceltic Festival opens its ten days in Lorient while Bout du Monde wraps up in Crozon: twelve Breton festivals for the August 1-2 weekend.
The first weekend of August tips the Breton summer over. In Crozon, Bout du Monde closes its three days of world music. In Lorient, the Interceltic Festival opens ten of its own. Do you have to pick one? Both run on Saturday August 1. In between, the region digs out its costumes: bagpipe bands in Plomodiern, Aven lace headdresses in Pont-Aven, medieval craftspeople and storytellers in Jugon-les-Lacs.
Our favourite pick goes to the Noces Bretonnes d'Augan, on Sunday August 2. A between-the-wars Breton wedding has been re-enacted there in full costume for more than fifty years, procession and banquet included. Here are twelve outings, from Côtes-d'Armor to Morbihan.
Interceltic Festival of Lorient (56): ten days of Celtic nations open at the Moustoir
From July 31 to August 9, the Interceltic Festival of Lorient sets up headquarters at the Stade du Moustoir. Founded in 1971, it brings together the Celtic nations: Brittany, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man, Galicia and Asturias.
More than 300 shows mix music, dance, cinema and talks, in front of close to 950,000 visitors per edition. It is the largest gathering of Celtic cultures in the world. This opening weekend gets the machine running, and the whole town changes tempo from Saturday on.
Festival du Bout du Monde in Crozon (29): final day on the Landaoudec meadow
From July 31 to August 2, the Festival du Bout du Monde takes over the Landaoudec meadow, on the Crozon peninsula. Created in 2000, it programmes three days of world music, mixing international names with finds from every corner of the globe.
The setting does a lot of the work: a huge field, the sea a stone's throw away. Sunday August 2 marks the last day of this edition. If you are heading down towards the tip of Finistère, it is the obvious detour before the meadow turns back into a field.
Au Pont du Rock in Malestroit (56): Brittany's oldest indie rock festival closes Saturday
On July 31 and August 1, Au Pont du Rock occupies the Espace Maurice Melois, in the heart of the medieval town of Malestroit. Founded in 1989 in Le Roc-Saint-André and based here since 1995, it claims the title of oldest independent, volunteer-run rock festival in Brittany.
Two stages, on-site camping, close to 18,000 festival-goers: the format stays independent, run by the Aux Arts Etc association. Saturday August 1 closes the edition. One for those who prefer loud guitars to sprawling Celtic meadows.
Son et Lumière de Bon-Repos (22): 350 performers in front of the abbey façade
From July 29 to August 8, the Son et Lumière de Bon-Repos plays out in front of the Bon-Repos Abbey, in Bon Repos sur Blavet. For more than 35 years, this night-time historical show has mobilised over 350 performers and 30 riders on an 8,000 sq m stage.
Two hours of monumental projections, pyrotechnics and costumed scenes. The show is rated among the finest of its kind in France. Set aside a full evening: the abbey reveals a different face once night falls.
Fête des Fleurs d'Ajonc in Pont-Aven (29): Brittany's oldest folk festival
From July 31 to August 2, the Fête des Fleurs d'Ajonc fills Square Théodore Botrel and the centre of Pont-Aven. Created in 1905 by the songwriter Théodore Botrel, it returns every first weekend of August to the painters' town.
Parades in traditional Aven costume, Breton dances, fest-noz evenings and cultural activities run across three days. The crowning of the Queen of the Gorse Flowers remains the high point. More than a century on, the festival still holds its rank.
Festival du Menez-Hom in Plomodiern (29): a fortnight of Breton culture starts Saturday
From August 1 to 15, the Festival du Menez-Hom settles into the centre of Plomodiern. Created in 1959, it ranks among the oldest Breton culture festivals still running.
On the bill: parades of bagpipe bands and Celtic dance circles, fest-noz evenings, painting and sculpture exhibitions, concerts and shows. Saturday August 1 opens the fortnight. A family affair where pipers and flip-flopped holidaymakers cross paths.
Lyrique en Mer on Belle-Île-en-Mer (56): opera takes the ferry
From July 31 to August 14, Lyrique en Mer unfolds its international opera festival on Belle-Île-en-Mer. Founded in 1998, it uses the Salle Arletty and the island's churches, out from Le Palais.
Opera, sacred music concerts and recitals share two weeks of programming, under artistic director David Jackson. Crossing the water to reach an opera house: the boat is part of the experience. Check the ferry timetable before locking in your evening.
Nuit du Livre in Bécherel (35): the Book Town stays up all night
On August 1 and 2, the Nuit du Livre de Bécherel turns the medieval village into an open-air theatre. For one day and one evening, the Book Town rolls out its big market of antiquarian and second-hand books.
Readings, storytelling, concerts, art workshops, exhibitions and poetic street wanderings round out the programme. It all fits inside the village: you cover it on foot, stall by stall. One for paper hunters and lovers of granite lanes.
Sylvestria in Jugon-les-Lacs (22): medieval fantasy in a Petite Cité de Caractère
On August 1 and 2, Sylvestria brings its medieval fantasy fair to the centre of Jugon-les-Lacs, in Côtes-d'Armor.
A craft market, storytellers, games and activities on medieval and fantasy themes, concerts, shows by Atome Théâtre: the programme plays the immersive card. Entry is free and food is served on site. A solid call for families after a costumed weekend with no ticketing and no booking.
Carnac Storytelling Festival (56): tales at the foot of the megaliths
Through August 2, the Carnac Storytelling Festival, subtitled "Il Était... Une Fois", occupies La Petite Métairie, on route de Kerlescan. Professional storytellers and local associations have been taking turns since July 29.
The tales move around the whole town: beaches, library, nursery, megalithic sites. Breton tales, legends and stories from around the world make up the repertoire. Hearing a legend a few steps from the standing stones is worth the trip, children or no children.
Noces Bretonnes d'Augan (56): a pre-war wedding re-enacted on Sunday
On Sunday August 2, the Noces Bretonnes d'Augan re-enact a between-the-wars Breton wedding in the village. The reconstruction has returned every first Sunday of August for more than fifty years.
Hundreds of participants in traditional Breton dress form the wedding procession, from the town hall to the church. An open-air wedding banquet on the meadow follows, then a traditional ball under a marquee. Few Breton events show off costume detail at this level.
Tango par la Côte in Roscoff (29): last milongas facing the sea
Through August 2, the Tango par la Côte festival gets Roscoff and Saint-Thégonnec dancing. Run by the Tango à la Mer association, it offers more than 40 hours of dancing with internationally known maestros.
Intensive workshops, seaside milongas, free taster classes and evenings led by live orchestras make up the programme. Argentine tango in northern Finistère: the contrast is the whole point. The free classes let you try a couple of steps without committing.
Worth a mention too
- Festival Mondial'Folk (29), Saturday August 1 in Plozévet: traditional songs, dances and music from around the world, running since 1974.
- Festival des Garennes (56), Saturday August 1 in La Roche-Bernard: free open-air concerts in the Jardin des Garennes, near the harbour.
- Les Musicales du Golfe (56), August 1 to 13: classical music and jazz in churches and chapels around the Gulf of Morbihan.
To compare with other regions, open our full weekend agenda. Happy August, and enjoy the fest-noz.
