Festival des Voiles de Travail

The Festival des Voiles de Travail: A Dive into Granville's Maritime History

Since 2012, the Festival des Voiles de Travail has brought together the most beautiful traditional working sailing boats from the Norman coast and beyond at the fishing port of Granville. Organized by Granville Terre et Mer, this five-day festival in August has become a major event for maritime heritage in Normandy, celebrating the legacy of the corsair city and its sailors.

Exceptional Boats to Discover

The festival hosts emblematic ships of maritime heritage: the famous bisquines La Granvillaise and La Cancalaise, the schooner Le Foudroyant, as well as numerous traditional working boats such as the Ruth, the Croix du Sud III, or the Grand Léjon. Visitors can board, discover the history of these vessels, and even embark for sea trips in the bay of Granville.

A Rich Program Centered Around Maritime Trades

Beyond the boats, the festival offers a lively festival village with exhibitions retracing Granville's maritime history, conferences on traditional navigation, demonstrations of maritime know-how, and meetings with sailors and artisans. The 13th edition in 2025 notably highlighted the 220th anniversary of the death of the corsair Pléville Le Pelley, a historical figure from Granville.

Activities for the Whole Family

Children are not forgotten with dedicated activities: "accrovoile" (sail climbing) on an 8-meter mast, a basin of model boats, screenings of short and medium-length films about the sea, creative workshops, and games related to the maritime world. The festival also includes musical performances, theater, and street entertainment, making this event a popular celebration accessible to all audiences, in a spirit of sharing and transmitting maritime knowledge.