Celtival in Pays de Senones

Celtival in Pays de Senones: The Celtic Flame of the Vosges

Created in 2006 in Senones, a small town of character nestled in the Rabodeau valley, the Celtival in Pays de Senones was born from the passion of a group of volunteers eager to make Celtic music resonate far from the Breton coasts. From its very first edition, the festival attracted over 6,000 spectators over two days, proving that Celtic culture finds a deep echo even in the Vosges mountains. The event is part of the unique history of Senones, the former capital of the Principality of Salm-Salm, whose pink sandstone buildings and Benedictine abbey offer a majestic backdrop to the festivities.

An Exceptional International Program

Celtival has established itself thanks to an ambitious program combining headliners and discoveries. The second edition in 2008 brought together leading artists: Carlos Núñez, a Galician gaita virtuoso considered one of the best bagpipe players in the world; Soldat Louis, an emblem of Breton folk-rock since the 1990s; Cécile Corbel, a harpist and singer with enchanting melodies; and the legendary Bagad de Lann-Bihoué, a musical ensemble of the French Navy. The evenings continued with fest-noz, those traditional Breton balls where collective dances ignite the crowd until the early morning.

Three Days of Celtic Celebration

The festival unfolds over three intense days of celebration. The days are marked by bagadoù parades through the streets of Senones, workshops to discover Celtic culture, introductions to Breton dances, and acoustic concerts in the city's heritage sites. The evenings build up with concerts on the main outdoor stage, followed by fest-noz until dawn. A dedicated Irish evening, organized in the neighboring town of Moyenmoutier, traditionally opens the festivities with folk music and a pub atmosphere.

Senones, A Celtic Welcome Land

Senones offers an ideal setting for a Celtic festival. The Saint-Pierre Abbey, founded in the 7th century, and the remains of the Châteaux des Princes de Salm recall a thousand-year history that echoes ancient Celtic traditions. The Rabodeau valley, surrounded by fir forests and Vosges mountains, gives the festival an intimate and warm atmosphere. Celtival contributes to the cultural influence of this Petite Cité de Caractère (Small Town of Character) and participates in the summer entertainment of the Pays de Senones, attracting festival-goers from all over Lorraine and the Grand Est region.