Loire en Couleur
Outdoor painting and street performances in the heart of a character village
About Loire en Couleur
Created in 2004 in partnership between the association Les Amis de Saint-Jean-Saint-Maurice-sur-Loire and Roannais Agglomération, the Loire en Couleur festival is an artistic and festive event held annually on Pentecost weekend in the medieval village of Saint-Jean-Saint-Maurice-sur-Loire, on the banks of the Loire. For two days, about fifty painters set up outdoors in the village's alleyways, gardens, and squares to create works before the eyes of visitors, using various techniques ranging from watercolor to oil painting, including acrylic and pastel. The event is punctuated by street performances, music, dance, circus acts, and open-air film screenings, in a spirit of conviviality and sharing open to all. The weekend traditionally concludes with an auction of the canvases created during the festival, in the garden of La Cure. Supported by La Cure, a cultural, tourist, and craft hub of Roannais Agglomération, Loire en Couleur attracts around 3,000 visitors each year and is a highlight of the Roannais cultural season.
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Loire en Couleur: Open-air art on the banks of the Loire
Since 2004, the Loire en Couleur festival has transformed the medieval village of Saint-Jean-Saint-Maurice-sur-Loire into a vast open-air workshop each year, during Pentecost weekend. Nestled on the heights overlooking the Loire gorges, this character village offers an exceptional setting for painters who come to set up their easels.
A plein air painting festival
At the heart of the event, about fifty painters set up in the medieval alleyways, gardens, squares, and along the Loire to create live, under the curious gaze of visitors. All pictorial techniques are represented: watercolor, oil painting, acrylic, pastel, ink, drawing. Four emblematic viewpoints mark the artistic route: the Port de la Caille, the Esplanade de la Tour, the Place du Guet, and the Cour du Manoir, allowing the public to discover the artists at work in historic locations.
Street performances and entertainment
Loire en Couleur is not limited to painting. The event is a true multidisciplinary festival that combines visual arts and performing arts. Street performance troupes take over the village with varied performances: aerial circus, street theater, concerts, guinguette atmosphere, musical shows, and original creations. Introduction workshops to crafts (felt, hat making, drawing, screen printing) are offered to children and adults. Guided tours of the frescoes in the Saint-Maurice church and sketching hikes complete the program.
The auction, a highlight of the festival
The weekend concludes with a traditional auction in the garden of La Cure, where visitors can purchase the works created during the festival. Between 24 and 30 canvases are sold each year, making this moment a highly anticipated highlight for the public and artists alike.
An event rooted in its territory
Loire en Couleur is supported by La Cure, a cultural, tourist, and craft hub of Roannais Agglomération, located in the heart of the village. The event benefits from the support of the association Les Amis de Saint-Jean-Saint-Maurice-sur-Loire, which has been working since 1993 to promote the historical, monumental, and landscape heritage of the village. The festival is part of the cultural dynamic of the Roannais region and marks the beginning of the summer season each year.
Loire en Couleur — edition 2026
The 23rd edition of Loire en Couleur will take place on May 23 and 24, 2026, Pentecost weekend, in the medieval village of Saint-Jean-Saint-Maurice-sur-Loire. About fifty painters will take over the alleyways, gardens, and banks of the Loire for two days of outdoor creation, accompanied by street performances, art workshops, and the traditional auction.
23rd Edition - May 23 and 24, 2026
Loire en Couleur returns for its 23rd edition on May 23 and 24, 2026, for Pentecost weekend. The medieval village of Saint-Jean-Saint-Maurice-sur-Loire will once again host about fifty painters who will set up outdoors in the alleyways, gardens, squares, and along the Loire.
Visitors will be able to stroll among the easels, discover the artists at work, and chat with them about their painting techniques. The artistic route will pass through the four emblematic viewpoints of the village: the Port de la Caille, the Esplanade de la Tour, the Place du Guet, and the Cour du Manoir.
Street performance troupes will animate the village with circus, theater, and music performances. Introduction workshops to crafts will be offered to all ages. The weekend will conclude with the traditional auction of canvases created during the festival.
The full program will be announced in spring 2026 on the La Cure website.
Programme Loire en Couleur 2026
Provisional Program for the 23rd Edition
Saturday, May 23, 2026 (3 PM - late evening)
- Tour of painters set up outdoors in the village and along the Loire
- Guided tour of the Saint-Maurice church frescoes
- Craft workshops at La Cure
- Sketching hikes
- Street performances: circus, theater, and music troupes
- Musical evening
Sunday, May 24, 2026 (10 AM - 7 PM)
- Tour of painters and art workshops for all
- Street performances and family entertainment
- Free shuttle train between parking lots and the Loire riverbank
- Auction of canvases in the garden of La Cure
Detailed program to be confirmed in spring 2026 at www.lacure.fr
Highlights Loire en Couleur 2026
To remember for the 2026 Edition
- Dates: Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24, 2026, Pentecost weekend
- 50 painters outdoors in the medieval village
- Street performances: circus, theater, music, and entertainment
- Introduction workshops to crafts
- Auction of canvases created during the festival
- Full program coming soon on www.lacure.fr
Prices Loire en Couleur 2026
Practical information — Loire en Couleur
Practical Information
Access and transport
By car: Saint-Jean-Saint-Maurice-sur-Loire is located 15 km northwest of Roanne, accessible via the D56 then the D51. From the A89 motorway (Lyon-Clermont-Ferrand), take the Balbigny exit then follow the direction of Saint-Jean-Saint-Maurice. From Roanne, the journey takes about 20 minutes.
Parking: Free parking is available on the outskirts of the village. A free shuttle train connects the parking lots to the Loire riverbanks during the festival.
Opening hours
Saturday from 3 PM until late evening. Sunday from 10 AM to 7 PM. Times may vary depending on the edition.
Prices
Admission to the festival is free. Street performances are free to attend. The canvas auction is open to everyone.
Food and drink
Food trucks and catering stands are present on site. The village restaurants are also open during the festival. Appetizer platters are available in the evening.
Workshops
Introduction workshops to crafts (ceramics, screen printing, drawing, felt, hat making) are offered during the festival. The workshops at La Cure's business incubator for crafts and the village workshops remain open.
Contact
La Cure - Cultural, tourist, and craft hub of Roannais Agglomération. Tel: 04 77 62 96 84. Email: [email protected]. Website: www.lacure.fr
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Travel to this festival
Book your train or bus to reach Loire en Couleur at the best price.
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Where does it take place — Loire en Couleur
La Cure et village médiéval de Saint-Jean-Saint-Maurice-sur-Loire
799 rue de l'Union, 42155 Saint-Jean-Saint-Maurice-sur-Loire