Festival de l'Arpenteur
Sloping theatre and avalancheous word since 1996
About L'Arpenteur
Created in 1996 by the association Scènes obliques, the Festival de l'Arpenteur is an annual event dedicated to the performing arts, contemporary literature, and unusual encounters on the slopes of the Belledonne massif, in Isère. For a week in July, the village of Les Adrets transforms into a unique creative space, combining sloping theatre, performances, walking readings, workshops, and a famous sloping banquet. Driven by artistic excellence and a singular mountain identity, the festival attracts both established and emerging artists every summer.
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The Festival de l'Arpenteur: Live Art at the Heart of the Mountains
Since 1996, the Festival de l'Arpenteur has offered a week of exceptional encounters around performing arts and contemporary literature every summer, on the slopes of the Belledonne massif, in Les Adrets. Supported by the association Scènes obliques, founded in 1992 by writer and director Antoine Choplin, this festival was born from a strong conviction: culture can spread everywhere, even far from major urban centers, and the mountains are a territory for artistic experimentation in their own right.
A Thirty-Year History of Cultural Audacity
Subtitled “sloping theatre and avalancheous word,” L'Arpenteur was directed for nearly thirty years by Antoine Choplin, who made this event one of the most unique multidisciplinary festivals in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. In 2023, Laetitia Cuvelier took over as director, bringing her fresh perspective and mountain roots, having been a postal worker, journalist, refuge keeper, and heritage interpreter. Since its inception, the festival has continued to grow, celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2025 with an ambitious program faithful to its founding spirit.
A Multidisciplinary and Demanding Program
The Festival de l'Arpenteur offers a clever mix of theatre, storytelling, performances, exhibitions, concerts, and readings. The invited artists, whether renowned or emerging, embrace an atypical, sensitive, and human adventure, both on stage and in the festival's living and escape spaces. The artistic forms are diverse: street and indoor theatre, dance, contemporary circus, performances, visual arts, open-air cinema, scientific and philosophical conferences.
Iconic Events
L'Arpenteur is distinguished by its original formats, deeply linked to the mountain territory:
- Sloping theatre: performances staged on the slopes, taking advantage of the unique topography of Les Adrets
- Reading hikes: literary excursions while walking towards the refuges and ridges of Belledonne
- Feasts: convivial moments of conversation between artists and the public around generous tables
- Workshops: writing, philosophy in motion (randophilo), visual arts, open to all
- Sloping banquet: a festive meal on the slope, followed by a lively dance, the festival's mythical closing event
- Uncertain cabaret: an open stage mixing amateur and professional artists
The Bivouac: The Festival's Beating Heart
At the center of L'Arpenteur is the bivouac, a friendly space open daily from 5:30 PM until late at night. It offers homemade food prepared with local products, a café-bar, a pop-up bookstore, and a small stage hosting concerts, readings, and performances. The bivouac is also a camping area where festival-goers can pitch their tents to fully experience the festival, day and night.
Strong Territorial Roots
Scènes obliques also develops the CAIRNS project, cultural activities carried out throughout the year in the Belledonne territory, as well as the review Arpentages and the Cahiers de l'Oblique. The association is working on the creation of the International Mountain Cultural Center (ECIM), with the restoration of the Manoir de Vaubonnais, a historic monument located in Les Adrets, intended to become a permanent venue for artistic residencies and cultural encounters in mountain regions.
L'Arpenteur — edition 2026
The 31st edition of the Festival de l'Arpenteur will take place in early July 2026 in Les Adrets in Belledonne. The festival will offer a new week of encounters around performing arts and contemporary literature, with its emblematic events: sloping theatre, reading hikes, workshops, convivial bivouac, and closing sloping banquet.
31st Edition - July 2026
The Festival de l'Arpenteur returns for its 31st edition in July 2026 in Les Adrets, on the slopes of the Belledonne massif. After a memorable anniversary edition in 2025, the festival continues its artistic and human adventure under the direction of Laetitia Cuvelier.
For a week, the village of Les Adrets will once again transform into a unique place for creation and sharing, hosting artists from theatre, dance, music, writers, and thinkers for a demanding and accessible multidisciplinary program.
Unmissable Events
The 2026 edition will feature the emblematic formats that define L'Arpenteur's identity:
- Sloping theatre: performances created for the village slopes
- Reading hikes: literary excursions to the Belledonne refuges and ridges
- Feasts: convivial conversations between artists and the public
- Workshops: writing, philosophy in motion, visual arts
- Bivouac: homemade food, pop-up bookstore, concerts, and readings from 5:30 PM
- Sloping banquet and dance: festive closing of the festival
The full program and ticketing will be announced in spring 2026 on the official website of Scènes obliques.
Programme L'Arpenteur 2026
2026 Program
The detailed program for the 31st edition will be unveiled in spring 2026. As every year, the festival will offer:
- Theatre, dance, and circus performances indoors and outdoors
- Concerts and musical performances
- Reading hikes and randophilo
- Literary encounters and readings
- Visual arts exhibitions
- Participatory workshops open to all audiences
- Cabaret incertain and open stages
- Bivouac with catering, bookstore, and small stage
- Closing sloping banquet
Highlights L'Arpenteur 2026
To Remember for 2026
- Dates: early July 2026 (exact dates to be confirmed)
- 31st edition of the sloping theatre and mountain literature festival
- Location: Les Adrets in Belledonne, Belledonne massif, Isère
- Bivouac: convivial space with camping, catering, and entertainment
- Program and ticketing coming soon on scenes-obliques.eu
Prices L'Arpenteur 2026
Practical information — L'Arpenteur
Practical Information
Dates and Times
The Festival de l'Arpenteur takes place every year in early July, for a full week (Saturday to Saturday). The bivouac opens daily from 5:30 PM and activities continue until late at night. Shows and activities are scheduled during the day and evening.
Location
The festival is held at the Parc de la Mairie and in various locations in the village of Les Adrets (38190), on the slopes of the Belledonne massif, in the Grésivaudan valley, Isère. Some activities (reading hikes, refuge concerts) take place in the mountains, on the trails and in the Belledonne refuges.
Access
By car: Les Adrets is located about 30 minutes from Grenoble via the A41 motorway (exit Le Touvet or Goncelin), then direction Les Adrets / Le Collet d'Allevard. The village is at an altitude of 740 meters.
By public transport: From Grenoble, take the TER to Goncelin or Le Touvet, then a shuttle service or carpooling organized by the festival. Consult the festival website for transport details.
Prices
Festival prices are deliberately accessible, ranging from 6 to 16 euros depending on the shows. Some activities are free (bivouac, pop-up bookstore, some readings and encounters). A festival pass is available to access the entire program. Reduced rates for children, students, and job seekers.
Ticketing
Tickets are available online on the Festik platform: billetterie.festik.net/scenes-obliques/ and on-site at the bivouac for the duration of the festival.
Accommodation and Catering
The bivouac offers a free camping area where festival-goers can set up their tents. Homemade meals are provided every evening at the bivouac with local and seasonal products. A café-bar is open continuously. Accommodation in the resort of Le Collet d'Allevard and the surrounding area (guesthouses, B&Bs, campsites) is also available nearby.
Recommended Equipment
- Hiking shoes for mountain excursions
- Warm clothing for evenings at altitude (740 m and above)
- Sun protection and rain gear (changing mountain weather)
- Tent and sleeping bag if you wish to camp at the bivouac
- Headlamp for night returns
Accessibility
The festival strives to make its events accessible to as many people as possible. For any specific accessibility requests, please contact the team by email or phone.
Contact
Association Scènes obliques
61 rue du Cardelet
38190 Les Adrets
Phone: 04 76 71 16 48
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.scenes-obliques.eu
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Travel to this festival
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Where does it take place — L'Arpenteur
Parc de la Mairie des Adrets
Parc de la Mairie, 38190 Les Adrets