Events and festivals in Normandy on October 3-4, 2026: Via Aeterna closes a season of sacred concerts at Mont-Saint-Michel, between a pilgrimage in Lisieux and scallops in Granville.
A whole season of sacred music ends. Via Aeterna closes its season this Sunday, at Mont-Saint-Michel. Events and festivals in Normandy on October 3-4, 2026: Via Aeterna closes a season of sacred concerts at Mont-Saint-Michel, between a pilgrimage in Lisieux and scallops in Granville.
A season of sacred concerts across the Mont-Saint-Michel bay
Founded in 2017 on the initiative of the Bayard group and René Martin's CREA, the Via Aeterna festival takes shape across the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel. The Centre des Monuments Nationaux joins the organisation. So does the Département de la Manche.
René Martin leads its artistic direction. He also created La Folle Journée.
Each autumn, this festival of classical and sacred music puts on around thirty concerts, spread across roughly ten heritage sites around the bay. The abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel hosts part of them.
Churches and halls in Avranches, Granville, Pontorson, Cancale and Saint-Pair-sur-Mer complete the route, alongside the abbey of la Lucerne.
Opened on September 13, the programme closes this Sunday, October 4 (04/10).
The rest of the weekend
In Lisieux, in Calvados, the Feast of Saint Thérèse closes nine days of pilgrimage at the Sanctuary this Sunday. The Sanctuary stands at 31 rue du Carmel. Processions of relics, solemn masses, talks and prayer vigils fill these nine days, drawn by pilgrims from around the world. The Lisieux Grands Ouverts festival animates the town centre at the same time, with circus, street theatre, dance and music. Daytime entry stays free, evening shows are paid.
In Mortagne-au-Perche, birthplace of philosopher Alain, born in 1868, the Journées Alain gather philosophers and historians for a conference at the Salle des fêtes. Live performances inspired by his work join in.
In Granville, since 2003, the Toute la Mer sur un Plateau festival marks the opening of the scallop fishing season, at France's leading scallop port. More than 50,000 seafood lovers walk the quays to taste, buy and discover the flavours of Granville-Chausey bay. Since 2015, the Fêtes Normandes d'Évreux celebrate traditions, heritage and Norman food every first weekend of October, on Place du Général de Gaulle. The producers' market stays free. Craft demonstrations, live shows and an animal exhibition join it.
Organised since 2019 by the Sabordage association, the Ancre Noire Tattoo Festival brings around ten tattoo artists and a piercer to Granville, between the Jardin du Roc and the Bazeilles hall. Exhibitions, stalls and concerts join an organic, local bar. In La Ferté-Macé, in the Orne, the Street Art FMR festival has invited artists to paint new murals since 2013. The ArtBeauRésens and Roadbook'arts associations turn the town into an open-air gallery.