Quel Cirque !

Contemporary circus at the heart of heritage

The festival Quel Cirque ! takes over the Cloître des Ursulines every summer, a remarkable architectural setting within the Pôle culturel of Château-Gontier-sur-Mayenne. This historic venue offers ideal acoustics and intimacy for contemporary circus performances. The centuries-old stones of the cloister create a striking contrast with the acrobatic feats of the artists, offering the audience a unique sensory experience.

Talented circus companies

Since its creation in 2012, the festival has hosted numerous companies with diverse and inventive universes:

• Juggling and acrobatics: artists push the limits of the body and skill in breathtaking acts
• Music and circus: shows combining acrobatic performances and live music, like the tradition of Creole brass bands
• Humor and satire: companies like Pol et Freddy transform the circus into a quirky sports comedy
• Unicycle and balance: precarious balancing acts that keep the audience on the edge of their seats

2025 Program: a summer of circus

The 2025 edition of Quel Cirque ! offered several events throughout the summer:

• August 1st: performance as part of the Summer Market at the Cloister, with a show combining intimate circus, dance, and live music at 9 PM
• August 26th: the show "Étranges étrangers", mixing acrobatics, unicycle, and juggling, for a 40-minute all-ages performance with free admission

Château-Gontier, city of circus

Château-Gontier-sur-Mayenne has a strong connection with circus arts. The city has hosted resident companies, training programs, and events dedicated to contemporary circus for many years. The Quel Cirque ! festival is part of this tradition and contributes to making Château-Gontier a major circus hub in western France, alongside events like the Festival du Cirque or highlights of the cultural season at Pôle Les Ursulines.

A free and accessible festival

True to its philosophy of openness, Quel Cirque ! is an entirely free festival. All shows are free to attend, allowing everyone — families, children, passing tourists — to discover circus arts without financial barriers. This free access makes the festival a truly popular event, rooted in the summer life of Château-Gontier.