Music and French song festival in Aix-en-Issart
The Festival des Illuminés is a music festival organized every summer in Aix-en-Issart, a small village in the Pas-de-Calais region near Montreuil-sur-Mer. Created in the early 1990s by the association Les Illuminés, chaired by Bernard Libersa, this friendly and popular festival celebrates French song and contemporary music over three days in July. Held on the Place des Marronniers, it offers a variety of concerts ranging from rock to electro, including chanson, as well as a free concert at the Saint-Pierre church.
Since the early 1990s, the Festival des Illuminés has transformed the small village of Aix-en-Issart into a major music venue in the Pas-de-Calais region every summer. Driven by the Les Illuminés association and its president Bernard Libersa, this human-sized festival has maintained its popular and friendly spirit over more than thirty editions.
The programming of the Festival des Illuminés gives pride of place to French chanson while opening up to the most varied contemporary music: rock, pop, electro, reggae, folk, and many other styles follow one another on the stage of the Place des Marronniers. The festival hosts both emerging artists and more established bands, with a preference for discoveries and developing talents.
Each edition offers a moment of grace with a free concert at the Saint-Pierre church in Aix-en-Issart on Sunday afternoon. In this remarkable intimate and acoustic setting, an artist performs a softer, more contemplative repertoire, offering a peaceful counterpoint to the festive evenings on the Place des Marronniers.
One of the charms of the Festival des Illuminés lies in its village roots. Aix-en-Issart, a community of a few hundred inhabitants nestled in the hills of Montreuillois, offers a bucolic and authentic setting. The Place des Marronniers, shaded by centuries-old trees, transforms for a weekend into an open-air concert hall where a warm and relaxed atmosphere reigns.
The Festival des Illuminés is entirely run by passionate volunteers. The Les Illuminés association ensures the organization, programming, logistics, and reception of festival-goers with unwavering commitment. A refreshment bar and on-site catering allow for complete evenings in a festive and family atmosphere. The festival perpetuates the spirit of village festivals while offering quality musical programming.
33rd edition of the Festival des Illuminés on the Place des Marronniers in Aix-en-Issart. Three days of open-air music with an eclectic program mixing French chanson, rock, and contemporary music.
The Festival des Illuminés takes place on the Place des Marronniers, in the heart of the village of Aix-en-Issart (62170), in a green setting shaded by centuries-old trees. The Sunday concert takes place at the Saint-Pierre church in Aix-en-Issart, whose acoustics provide a remarkable setting for intimate concerts.
The festival takes place every year on the third weekend of July, from Friday evening to Sunday. Concerts generally start in the late afternoon or evening on the Place des Marronniers. The concert at the Saint-Pierre church takes place on Sunday at 4 PM.
Online ticketing on the HelloAsso and BAM-Ticket platforms. It is advisable to book tickets in advance, as places are limited. The Sunday concert at the Saint-Pierre church is free and open access subject to availability.
A refreshment bar and on-site catering are offered throughout the festival, with simple dishes and drinks at moderate prices. The festival spirit promotes conviviality and sharing over a drink or a meal outdoors under the chestnut trees.
As Aix-en-Issart is a small village, accommodation options are limited on-site. Gîtes, bed and breakfasts, and campsites are available in the surrounding area, particularly in Montreuil-sur-Mer and the Canche valley. It is strongly recommended to book in advance.
Association Les Illuminés — Aix-en-Issart (62170)
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Instagram: @festivaldesillumines
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Place des Marronniers
Place des Marronniers, 62170 Aix-en-Issart