Festival de Cornouaille

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MusicQuimper
DatesDates TBA · Usually JulyCheck locally before booking
DurationSummerEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLive music, late nightsFestival de Cornouaille's origin as a 1923
Language["fr"]Currency: EUR
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

Festival de Cornouaille in Quimper

Festival de Cornouaille began in 1923 in Quimper as a beauty pageant, the Fete des Reines, before abandoning that format in 1949 to focus entirely on Breton folklore, music and dance, expanding the same year into a full week of programming. Now spanning roughly 180 shows, concerts and events across Quimper's urban center each July, it offers a dedicated showcase of traditional Breton culture distinct from Brittany's more music-festival-oriented events.

Festival de Cornouaille began in 1923 in Quimper, founded by Louis le Bourhis originally as a beauty pageant, the Fete des Reines, crowning the most beautiful young woman in the Cornouaille region as festival queen after a day that included performances by Breton bards Taldir-Jaffrenou and Botrel, folk dancers from Plozevet, a formal dinner for 300 guests and a closing ball mixing the traditional gavotte dance with the Charleston.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Festival de Cornouaille's origin as a 1923 beauty pageant, the Fete des Reines, crowning a festival queen after performances by Breton bards and folk dancers, gives the event an unusual founding story compared to most folklore festivals, which typically begin as cultural showcases rather than beauty contests

02

The mystery stays covered

Its 1949 pivot, abandoning the queen-crowning format entirely to focus on Breton folklore, music and dance while expanding from one day to a full week, marks a specific and well-documented transformation

03

The city starts moving

Now encompassing roughly 180 shows and events across Quimper, the festival gives traditional costume, dance and bagad pipe band culture a dedicated week-long showcase

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Traditional Breton costume

Water and renewal

Living ritual

bagad pipe band performances and folk dance

The sacred route

Living ritual

replacing the festival's original 1923-1949 beauty pageant format

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually July

Getting around

Use Quimper transport around the venue or route first; event-day controls can change normal timing.

What to wear

Comfortable walking shoes for exploring Quimper's historic streets across a week-long program; light layers for mild Breton July weather.

Safety

Festival de Cornouaille is easier with a small bag, charged phone and group plan that survives poor signal.

Where to stay

Stay near workable transport in Quimper, especially if the event runs late or streets close.

Tickets/cost

Ticketing varies by venue and stage. Confirm official passes before booking travel.

Language/currency

["fr"] · EUR

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map48.00 N, 4.10 WOpen in Google Maps

Quimper, Brittany, France

Nearest airportBES — Brest Bretagne airport
TransportUse Quimper transport around the venue or route first; event-day controls can change normal timing.
Stay areaStay near workable transport in Quimper, especially if the event runs late or streets close.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Quimper via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Quimper, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for July.Compare faresFestival gearComfortable walking shoes for exploring Quimper's historic streets across a week-long program; light layers for mild Breton July weather.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for France and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Festival de Cornouaille?

Festival de Cornouaille is listed for July · Summer. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Festival de Cornouaille take place?

The festival is listed in Quimper, France. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Summer is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Quimper, Brittany, France

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLfestival-cornouaille.bzh
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually July
Source statusOfficial source linked
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