Festival des Légendes - Roches Celtiques

Festival Les Roches Celtiques

The Festival Les Roches Celtiques is a festival of Celtic music and dances created in 1998 by an association from Saint-Genest-Lerpt. After several editions in the Village of Rochetyaillée, from which it draws its name, it then moved to Les Condamines, on a Natura 2000 site in Saint-Victor-sur-Loire. Over the years, this event has hosted more than 500 concerts and has become an unmissable summer event in the Saint-Étienne region.

Three sites, three atmospheres

The festival unfolds across three emblematic sites in the Saint-Étienne area, each offering a unique atmosphere:

• Le Puit Couriot (former mine of Saint-Étienne) hosts an Irish and/or Breton Fest-Noz ball in partnership with the association 'Les Before de Couriot'.
• Saint-Victor-sur-Loire, with its castle and medieval village nestled in the gorges of the Loire, comes alive with musical strolls and demonstrations, a grand concert at the castle's open-air theater, and guided heritage tours.
• Rochetaillée, at the foot of its feudal castle, hosts the main stage with its international dance and music groups on the first Saturday of July, introductions to medieval, Breton, Scottish, and Irish dances, the lively medieval village, storytelling walks, Celtic makeup, original kraft hats, and the closing fireworks display.

A Celtic and European program

Each year, the festival invites groups from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Argentina, and Austria, offering a vibrant and eclectic panorama of traditional and contemporary Celtic music. Concerts feature formations ranging from intimate acoustic trios to Celtic rock, folk metal, pipes rock, and fest noz bands. A folk ball or an Irish dance evening at Parc Couriot completes the musical program each year, preceded by Irish dance masterclasses open to all.

Storytelling, medieval, and family entertainment

Beyond music, the Festival Les Roches Celtiques offers a true immersion in the Celtic universe. Storytelling companies offer guided walks through medieval alleys and forest paths, bringing local legends and tales from Celtic tradition back to life. The medieval village of Rochetaillée offers demonstrations of ancient crafts, introductions to archery, candle making, medieval dances, as well as creative workshops for children: elf makeup, magical hat making, board games, and treasure hunts. Guided heritage tours, literary and botanical encounters, and discoveries of local fauna and flora complete this rich and varied program.

A free, family-friendly, and accessible festival

Since its creation, the Festival Les Roches Celtiques has been entirely free and open to all audiences. Free shuttles are provided from the Zénith parking lot and Parc de l'Europe to reach Rochetaillée, which is closed to car traffic on Saturday. The festival gathers approximately 4000 spectators per evening in a friendly and family atmosphere, amidst festive music, medieval enchantment, and Ligurian heritage.