Festival des Légendes - Roches Celtiques
Celtic music, storytelling and medieval entertainment between Loire and legends
About Festival des Légendes
The Festival des Légendes, heir to the Roches Celtiques created in 1998, is a free festival of Celtic music, storytelling and medieval entertainment that takes place every summer between Saint-Victor-sur-Loire, Rochetaillée and the city center of Saint-Étienne. For five days, concerts by Irish, Scottish, Breton and European bands, storytelling walks, a medieval village, introductions to Irish dancing, ancient crafts, archery and fest noz transform these Loire heritage sites into Celtic lands. Organized by the City of Saint-Étienne under the artistic direction of Djamel O'Touïl, the festival offers a free and family-friendly immersion into the world of legends and heroic fantasy, blending magic, heritage and discovery, in the heart of the Loire gorges.
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From Roches Celtiques to Festival des Légendes
The Festival des Légendes draws its roots from the Roches Celtiques, a Celtic music festival created in 1998 by an association from Saint-Genest-Lerpt. Established in 2009 at Les Condamines, on a Natura 2000 site in Saint-Victor-sur-Loire, this event has hosted over 120 concerts over the years and has become a must-attend summer event in the Saint-Étienne region. By renaming itself Festival des Légendes, the event has broadened its scope beyond just Celtic music to embrace the world of legends, heroic fantasy, and the medieval period, while keeping Celtic music as the central pillar of its programming.
Three sites, three atmospheres
The festival unfolds across three emblematic sites of the Saint-Étienne territory, each offering a unique atmosphere:
- Cathédrale Saint-Charles-Borromée (Saint-Étienne city center) hosts the opening concert in an exceptional acoustic setting, blending Celtic, classical, and sacred repertoires.
- Saint-Victor-sur-Loire, with its castle and medieval village nestled in the Loire gorges, transforms into a Viking village with wandering bagpipe music, concerts at the castle's open-air theater, and guided heritage tours.
- Rochetaillée, at the foot of its feudal castle, hosts the grand festive weekend with the main concert stage, the lively medieval village, storytelling walks to the fairy grotto, and the closing fireworks display.
A Celtic and European program
Each year, the festival invites bands from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Argentina, offering a vibrant and eclectic panorama of traditional and contemporary Celtic music. The concerts feature ensembles ranging from intimate acoustic trios to Celtic rock, folk metal, pipes rock, and fest noz formations. A folk dance or an Irish dance evening at Parc Couriot completes the musical program each year, preceded by Irish dance masterclasses open to all.
Storytelling, medieval events, and family entertainment
Beyond music, the Festival des Légendes offers a true immersion into the world of legends and the Celtic Middle Ages. Storytelling troupes offer walks through medieval alleys and forest paths, reviving local legends and tales from Celtic tradition. The medieval village of Rochetaillée features demonstrations of ancient crafts, introductions to archery, candle making, medieval and Irish dancing, as well as creative workshops for children: elf face painting, magic hat making, board games, and treasure hunts. Guided heritage tours, literary and botanical encounters, and discoveries of local flora and fauna complete this rich and varied program.
A free, family-friendly, and accessible festival
True to the spirit of Roches Celtiques, the Festival des Légendes is entirely free and open to all audiences. Free shuttle buses are available from the Zénith parking lot to reach Rochetaillée, which is closed to car traffic during the weekend. The festival brings together approximately 3,000 spectators per evening in a friendly and family atmosphere, amidst festive music, medieval magic, and Loire heritage.
Festival des Légendes — edition 2026
2026 edition of the Festival des Légendes in Saint-Étienne, Saint-Victor-sur-Loire, and Rochetaillée. Five days of Celtic music, storytelling, and medieval entertainment planned from July 1 to 5. As every year, the festival will feature an opening concert at Cathédrale Saint-Charles, an Irish folk dance at Parc Couriot, musical parades and a concert at Saint-Victor-sur-Loire castle, followed by a grand festive weekend in Rochetaillée with concerts on the main stage, a medieval village, storytelling walks, and closing fireworks. Entirely free festival.
Festival des Légendes 2026: A Date in Early July
The Festival des Légendes returns for a new edition from Tuesday, July 1 to Saturday, July 5, 2026, once again taking over the three emblematic festival sites: the Cathédrale Saint-Charles in Saint-Étienne city center, Saint-Victor-sur-Loire, and Rochetaillée.
True to its proven formula, the festival will offer five days of Celtic music with bands from across Europe and beyond, storytelling walks through medieval alleys and forest paths, a lively medieval village with crafts, archery, creative workshops, and entertainment for the whole family, as well as an Irish folk dance and a closing fireworks display.
The opening concert at Cathédrale Saint-Charles will kick off the festivities with a recital blending Celtic traditions and classical repertoire, continuing the tradition of previous editions that have hosted artists such as Zoë Conway, Lisa Lambe, The Henry Girls, and Spinning Wheel.
The full musical program, with artist names and detailed schedules, will be announced in Spring 2026 on the City of Saint-Étienne website. The festival remains entirely free and accessible to all, with free shuttle buses from the Zénith parking lot to reach Rochetaillée on weekends.
Programme Festival des Légendes 2026
2026 Program
The program for the 2026 edition is under development. As every year, the festival will feature:
- Tuesday, July 1: Opening concert at Cathédrale Saint-Charles-Borromée (8:30 PM)
- Wednesday, July 2: Irish dance masterclass and folk dance at Parc Couriot
- Thursday, July 3: Musical parades and concert at Saint-Victor-sur-Loire castle
- Friday, July 4 & Saturday, July 5: Grand weekend in Rochetaillée — main concert stage, medieval village, storytelling walks, family entertainment, and closing fireworks display
The full program will be unveiled on saint-etienne.fr in Spring 2026.
Highlights Festival des Légendes 2026
- Five days of Celtic music, storytelling, and medieval entertainment
- Opening concert at Cathédrale Saint-Charles in Saint-Étienne
- Irish folk dance at Parc Couriot with dance masterclass
- Musical parades in the medieval village of Saint-Victor-sur-Loire
- Grand festive weekend in Rochetaillée with concerts on the main stage
- Lively medieval village: crafts, archery, creative workshops
- Storytelling walks for the whole family
- Closing fireworks display
- Entirely free festival with shuttle buses
- Full program to be announced in Spring 2026
Prices Festival des Légendes 2026
Practical information — Festival des Légendes
Practical Information
Festival Venues
The Festival des Légendes takes place on three sites:
- Cathédrale Saint-Charles-Borromée, 8 rue du 4 Septembre, 42000 Saint-Étienne — Opening concert (Wednesday evening). Access by free invitation, collect at the town hall from mid-June.
- La Comète and Parc Couriot, 3 boulevard Franchet d'Espérey, 42000 Saint-Étienne — Irish dance workshop and folk dance (Thursday).
- Château de Saint-Victor-sur-Loire, Le Bourg, 42230 Saint-Victor-sur-Loire — Musical parades and concert at the open-air theater (Friday).
- Rochetaillée, Route des Écheneaux, 42100 Saint-Étienne — Main stage, medieval village, storytelling walks, concerts, and fireworks (Saturday and Sunday).
Prices
The festival is entirely free. The opening concert at the cathedral requires a free invitation to be collected at the town hall. All other events and concerts are free access.
Access and Shuttles
On Saturdays and Sundays, Rochetaillée is closed to car traffic from 3 PM to 3 AM (except for residents and people with reduced mobility). Free shuttle buses are available from the Zénith parking lot starting at 4 PM. The festival encourages travel by public transport and bicycle.
Indicative Schedule
- Wednesday: Opening concert at 8:30 PM at Cathédrale Saint-Charles.
- Thursday: Dance workshop from 6 PM, folk dance at 8:30 PM at Parc Couriot.
- Friday: Musical parades at 6:30 PM, concert at 8:30 PM in Saint-Victor-sur-Loire.
- Saturday and Sunday: Events from 3 PM, evening concerts on the main stage in Rochetaillée. Fireworks on Sunday at 10:30 PM.
Contact
- Website: www.saint-etienne.fr/festival-legendes-25
- Reservations: saint-etienne.fr (for the opening concert by invitation)
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Travel to this festival
Book your train or bus to reach Festival des Légendes at the best price.
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Where does it take place — Festival des Légendes
Rochetaillée, Saint-Victor-sur-Loire et Cathédrale Saint-Charles
Rochetaillée, Route des Écheneaux, 42100 Saint-Étienne