FESTIVALS 2016 THE GUIDE


Classical music in Dinard, photography in Arles, Chopin in Paris… and guitars everywhere


and a children’s party. Perfect for peasants, wenches and nobility alike. www.chateau-fort-sedan.fr


Les Saintes-Marie-de-la-Mer Horse Festival Feria du Cheval Around July 14, 2016


This annual festival at Saintes- Maries-de-la-Mer in the heart of the Camargue region focuses on the local equestrian culture but also celebrates the famous Camargue bull and gypsy culture. There are horse races, shows and parades, flamenco dancers, and equestrian book and film salons. Given its location, it won’t surprise you that most of the four-legged beasts involved are those lovely white Camargue ponies. www.saintesmaries.com/le-festival- du-cheval.html


GARDEN FESTIVALS International Garden Festival Festival International des Jardins April 21-November 2, 2016 This festival in the Loir-et-Cher town of Chaumont-sur-Loire is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year with special focus on gardens of the future. Some 400,000 visitors are expected to come and admire the various gardens on display. Themes range from vertical farming, hydroponics and permaculture to transgenesis, multi-grafted fruit trees, and something called chlorophyllous fluorescence – and if you know what that is you have more than green fingers. www.domaine-chaumont.fr


MUSIC FESTIVALS Festival Chopin June 18-July 14, 2016


Organised by the Paris-based


Société Chopin, this summer festival features a lot of Chopin (as you’d expect), but also work by the likes of Mozart, Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Liszt, Debussy, Prokofiev, Ravel, Rachmaninov, Brahms, Beethoven and Stravinsky. There are 13


funk and electronica – is the focus of this festival that takes place over two evenings in Megève. The event is now in its seventh year, and is free to attend. A highlight this year will be a musical contest between the different groups performing.


“HORSE RACES, SHOWS AND PARADES, FLAMENCO DANCERS, EQUESTRIAN BOOK AND FILM SALONS”


concerts over the course of the event, all staged at the orangery in the Parc de Bagatelle, a botanical garden in the Bois de Boulogne, to the west of Paris. www.frederic-chopin.com


Megève Electro Jazz Festival August 14-15, 2016


Electro jazz – a blend of jazz,


“An amazing and explosive weekend,” say the organisers. “An opportunity to honour this eclectic and quirky music.” www.facebook.com/electrojazz .festival/


Fête de la Musique World Music Day June 21, 2016 ❯❯


June/July 2016 FRANCE TODAY ❘ 141


IMAGES © CHORÉGIES D’ORANGE, MARION BALDI, FRANCIS VERNHET, AMÉLIE DUPONT


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