The Inter-Celtic Festival
France > Brittany > Southern > Interceltic Festival
The overriding reason people come to Lorient is for the Inter-Celtic Festival, held for ten days from the first Friday to the second Sunday in August. The biggest Celtic event in Brittany, or anywhere else for that matter, attracts representatives from all seven Celtic "countries" (Asturias and Galicia in Spain, Cornwall, Wales and Scotland, Ireland and Brittany). In a popular celebration of cultural solidarity, well over a quarter of a million people attend over a hundred different shows, five languages mingle and Scotch and Guinness flow with French and Spanish wines and ciders. There is a certain competitive element, with championships in various categories, but the feeling of mutual enthusiasm and conviviality is paramount. Most of the activities – music, dance and literature – take place around the central place Jules-Ferry, and this is where most people end up sleeping, too, as accommodation is pushed to the limit.For schedules of the festival, and further details of temporary accommodation, contact the Office du Tourisme de Pays de Lorient, 2 rue Paul-Bert, 56100 Lorient (tel 02.97.21.24.29), bearing in mind that the festival programme is not finalized before May. For certain specific events, you'll need to reserve tickets well in advance.
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