Festival of Old Rigs

Maritime Heritage Celebrated

The Fête des Vieux Gréements de Paimpol is a biennial event that transforms the port of Paimpol into a vast space for celebrating Breton maritime heritage. Dozens of old rigs—schooners, luggers, sloops, dinghies, and other restored traditional sailboats—occupy the harbor basins, offering a striking visual spectacle. The event takes place over three days in August and attracts maritime heritage enthusiasts from all over Europe.

A Festival Reinvented

For the 2026 edition, the event adopts a new identity as the Festival des Vieux Gréements de Paimpol, marking an evolution towards a more musical, cultural, and festive program. The main stage hosts renowned artists from the French and Celtic scenes, while secondary stages offer concerts of maritime, folk, and world music. Traditional activities remain: exhibitions, conferences, workshops for children, demonstrations of maritime know-how, and an artisan market.

Paimpol, A Home Port

Paimpol, famous for its Terre-Neuvas and its Islandais (cod fishermen), is the ideal setting for this festival. The port preserves the memory of generations of sailors who went cod fishing in the icy waters of the North Atlantic. The old rigs anchored in the port recall this rich maritime history, while the streets and quays of Paimpol come alive to the rhythm of concerts and activities.