Festival Low-tech de Roubaix

Living better with less

The Festival Low-tech de Roubaix is a pioneering event in Hauts-de-France, entirely dedicated to sober and sustainable solutions. Organized at the Monastère des Clarisses, an emblematic place of frugal innovation in Roubaix, this festival invites the general public and professionals to explore concrete alternatives for a lifestyle more respectful of resources.

A two-day program

The festival unfolds over two days with distinct and complementary atmospheres, allowing the exploration of low-tech from all angles.

Professional and reflection day

Friday is dedicated to conferences, co-reflection workshops, round tables, and guided tours of the Monastère des Clarisses. Speakers – researchers, entrepreneurs, designers, and community actors – share their experiences and visions on the challenges of technological sobriety. It is a day of collective reflection on how to rethink our relationship with technologies and consumption.

Public day and experimentation

Saturday is dedicated to practice and experimentation. The public is invited to handle, create, and discover everyday low-tech solutions through immersive workshops and interactive demonstrations.

Themes explored

Frugal practices

The festival highlights traditional know-how and low-tech devices: solar ovens, Norwegian pots, water harvesting systems, efficient manual tools. These proven solutions demonstrate that it is possible to effectively meet daily needs with simple and accessible technologies.

Ingenious creativity

Upcycling, zero-waste creations, weaving, and sewing are on the program for creativity workshops. These activities show how creativity can transform recycled materials into useful and aesthetic objects, while reducing our environmental footprint.

Responsible consumption

Repair, second-hand, and sustainable food are the subject of practical workshops and discussions. Repair cafés, textile and electronic repair demonstrations, and local food stands complete the program.

Disconnected leisure

The festival offers disconnected but reconnecting leisure activities: traditional games, bike rides, cooperative games, acoustic music. These activities remind us that pleasure and social connection do not require complex technologies.

The Monastère des Clarisses

The Monastère des Clarisses, located at 2 rue de Wasquehal in Roubaix, is a former convent converted into a hub for low-tech innovation and experimentation. This remarkable site, with its gardens and historic buildings, offers an inspiring and coherent setting for a festival dedicated to happy sobriety.