THE GUIDE FESTIVALS 2016


The Voyage to Nantes runs throughout July and August


include work by Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin, Giuseppe Verdi (Requiem and La Traviata) and Giacomo Puccini (Madama Butterfly). www.choregies.fr


Avignon Festival Festival d’Avignon July 6-24, 2016 With its medieval architecture and UNESCO World Heritage status, Avignon is the perfect backdrop to this annual arts festival. Founded in 1947, it now draws in between 20,000 and 30,000 visitors every year, who come to watch hundreds of artistic events in around 20 different venues across the town – some very grand, some more intimate. Among the arts on show are cinema, theatre, dance, music, lectures, workshops and art exhibitions. www.festival-avignon.com


The Voyage to Nantes Le Voyage à Nantes July 1-August 28, 2016 It all kicks off with a huge opening-night party on July 1. After that the city of Nantes buzzes with various artistic and cultural events ranging from fine art, sculptures, exhibitions, films and theatre to sport, fairground


148 ❘ FRANCE TODAY June/July 2016


rides, food tasting and a giant mechanical elephant. Even if you’re new in town, you can’t get lost. Simply follow the green line on the city’s pavements that leads you from one attraction to the next. www.levoyageanantes.fr


Montpellier Dance Festival Festival Montpellier Danse June 23-July 9, 2016 You’ll see just about every form of contemporary dance you can think of at this amazing annual festival in Montpellier. First set up in 1981, it stages dancing shows in the main Agora de Montpellier but also at other venues around the city. Dancing shoes required, obviously. www.montpellierdanse.com


Nice Carnival Carnaval de Nice February 10-26, 2017


Historians believe that the Nice Carnival was first held in the late 13th century. If this is true then it pre-dates the Rio de Janeiro and New Orleans carnivals by hundreds of years, and is even older than the Venice carnival. More than a million visitors attend the event each year to see the giant, colourful parades with over 1,000 musicians and


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IMAGE © M. ARGYROGLO


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