Festival de Loire
The largest European gathering of river marine
About Festival de Loire
Created in 2003 by the City of Orléans, the Festival de Loire is the largest European gathering of river marine. Every two years at the end of September, this free event brings together over 200 traditional boats and 700 passionate boatmen on the banks of the Loire. For five days, Orléans transforms into an open-air theater combining nautical demonstrations, boat trips, street performances, Loire gastronomy, and family entertainment. The festival celebrates the river heritage of the Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and attracts over 600,000 visitors.
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The Festival de Loire: a living celebration of river heritage
Since 2003, the Festival de Loire has established itself as the unmissable event for river marine in Europe. Born from the City of Orléans' desire to promote the Loire Valley's heritage and to showcase the city on the banks of Europe's last wild river, this biennial festival has experienced spectacular growth: from a few dozen boats during its first edition to over 220 traditional vessels today.
An exceptional river heritage
The Festival de Loire continues the great traditions of navigation on the Loire, a royal river that was for centuries the major commercial artery of France. The boatmen, heirs to this millennia-old history, are the true stars of the festival. Coming from the Loire but also from the Danube, Douro, Thames, Vistula, and Dutch canals, they share their passion and expertise with an ever-growing audience.
The Loire Valley, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site as a living cultural landscape, finds an exceptional showcase in this festival. The traditional boats — gabares, toues cabanées, fûtreaux, chalands — bear witness to two millennia of interaction between man and the river.
A rich and diverse program
Along nearly 2 kilometers of quays, the Festival de Loire offers a abundant program that appeals to all audiences:
- Nautical demonstrations: traditional boat maneuvers, water jousting, gabare races
- Boat trips: embark on traditional boats to discover the Loire from the river
- Performances and street arts: parades, concerts, street theater, festive entertainment
- Night parade: on Friday evening, a magical procession of illuminated boats on the Loire
- Pyro-symphonic show: on Saturday evening, a grand musical fireworks display over the river
- Discovery Village: educational and fun workshops for children and families
- Guinguettes and gastronomy: about sixty stands offering Loire and regional specialties
An international festival
Each edition highlights a river or region of the world. In 2021, the festival celebrated all the rivers invited since its creation. In 2023, for its 20th anniversary, the Saint Lawrence River (Canada) was honored. The 2025 edition opens for the first time to lake navigation by inviting the great alpine lakes of France, Italy, and Switzerland.
A popular and committed event
Free and open to all, the Festival de Loire is a resolutely popular and intergenerational event. With over 600,000 visitors in 2023 for its 20th anniversary, it stands as one of the biggest festive events in the Centre-Val de Loire region. The festival also carries a strong commitment to the preservation of the environment and the biodiversity of the Loire Valley, with awareness-raising actions and an enhanced eco-responsible approach at each edition.
Festival de Loire — edition 2025
The 12th edition of the Festival de Loire will take place from September 24 to 28, 2025, in Orléans. For the first time, the festival opens to lake navigation by inviting the great natural alpine lakes of France, Italy, and Switzerland. Over 200 traditional boats and 700 boatmen are expected on the banks of the Loire.
12th Edition - The Alpine Lakes Honored
The Festival de Loire returns from September 24 to 28, 2025 for its 12th edition. A major novelty this year: the festival opens for the first time to lake navigation by inviting the great natural alpine lakes.
The lakes of Léman, Maggiore, and Como, between France, Italy, and Switzerland, will be honored through a rich program of activities. On the quays, Loire traditions will blend with alpine lake traditions, offering the public an unprecedented discovery of European nautical heritage.
Planned Program
- Over 200 traditional boats from the Loire and the alpine lakes
- 700 passionate boatmen from all over Europe
- Nautical demonstrations and boat trips
- Night parade on Friday evening
- Pyro-symphonic show on Saturday evening
- Discovery Village with educational workshops for families
- Discovery trail through the city of Orléans
- Enhanced eco-responsible commitment
Opening Hours
Wednesday and Thursday: 10 AM to midnight | Friday and Saturday: 10 AM to 1 AM | Sunday: 10 AM to 7 PM
Prices Festival de Loire 2025
Practical information — Festival de Loire
Practical Information
Access and transport
By tram: From Orléans or Les Aubrais stations, take tram A towards "Hôpital de la Source" and get off at the "Royale Châtelet" stop.
By bus: Lines 2, 5, 40, and 41 allow access to the festival entrance from the Aristide Briand stop, to the Quai du Roi (5 min walk). On Fridays and Saturdays, lines 1, 2, and 3 exceptionally run until 12:30 AM.
By train: 50% discount on TER-Rémi lines. Free for holders of the REMI YEPS card (15-25 years old).
By car: Orléans is accessible via the A10 motorway (Paris-Orléans, 1h15), A71 (Bourges-Orléans), and A19. Public parking open 24/7 near the festival.
Bicycle parking
Free bicycle parking is available on the festival site: Quai Cypierre, Quai du Roi, Boulevard de la Motte Sanguin, Quai de Prague, and Charpenterie parking.
Prices
Admission to the Festival de Loire is completely free and accessible to all. No ticket is required.
Opening hours
- Wednesday and Thursday: 10 AM to midnight
- Friday and Saturday: 10 AM to 1 AM
- Sunday: 10 AM to 7 PM
On-site services
- Welcome and tourist information: stand on Quai du Châtelet (tree 17)
- Lost children: meeting point at Quai du Châtelet (tree 17)
- PMR accessibility: information stand and wheelchair rental at Quai du Châtelet (tree 23)
- Catering: about sixty gastronomy stands and several guinguettes on the quays
Contact
Orléans Val de Loire Tourist Office: 23 place du Martroi, 45000 Orléans
Phone: 02 38 24 05 05
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Travel to this festival
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Where does it take place — Festival de Loire
Quais de Loire d'Orléans
Quais de Loire, 45000 Orléans