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Brittany comes to Paris – with all its Celtic fun

… fête, festival, fun … and lots of conviviality …

MARTINA NICOLLS

May 18

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Brittany and the Bretons come to Paris every year to show off their culture and their wares. The Brittany Festival (Fête de la Bretagne) is 10 days of celebration focusing on creativity and conviviality, culminating on the weekend of 17 and 18 May 2025.

Born from the region's desire to bring together all the diversity of Breton culture under one banner, the Brittany Festival (also known as Gouel Breizh) is a Breton-style St. Patrick’s Day crossed with Bastille Day in a blend of folk tradition and Celtic energy.

Since 2009, the region of Brittany has hosted this festival every May, both in Brittany and in cities across France and the world. This year marks the 17th year.

The highlights of the festival include bagadoù (Breton pipe bands), fest-noz (community dance nights with traditional circle dances where anyone and everyone is welcome to join the circle), bagpipes, bombards, and traditional Breton chants. In addition to song and dance, there is storytelling, poetry, live drama, artisan markets, and food tastings (crepes, cider, and salted butter caramels). The Brittany Festival also celebrates its linguistic and cultural diversity, showcasing the region’s multi-lingual identity (Breton, French, and Gallo).

Brittany (French: Bretagne) is a historic peninsula region located in Northwest France, jutting into the Atlantic Ocean. The region borders Normandy to the east and Pays de la Loire to the southeast. It is also bordered by the English Channel to the north and the Bay of Biscay to the south. The capital is Rennes, and other key towns include Brest, Quimper, Vannes, Lorient, and Saint-Malo. It is about 2.5 hours by TGV train to Rennes or 3–4 hours to the coast. Brittany has over 2,700 kms (1,700 miles) of coastline with fishing villages, pink granite cliffs, and islands.

I love the Breton culture because it has Celtic roots (as do I because my father was Welsh). Brittany is one of the six Celtic nations alongside Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, and the Isle of Man. The Breton language (Brezhoneg) is closely related to Cornish and Welsh, and many place names and cultural traditions reflect this heritage.

Brittany once tried to be Its own country. Brittany was an independent Duchy until it officially became part of France in 1532. To this day, some Bretons still maintain a strong regional identity and even push for more autonomy.

The iconic black-and-white Gwenn-ha-du flag with stripes and ermine symbols is often seen at festivals, protests, concerts, and football matches.

Brittany is the birthplace of crêpes and the galette made with buckwheat flour. Bretons make their own apple cider to accompany buckwheat crêpes made with salted butter (made with fleur de sel from Guérande).

When Brittany comes to Paris, “it’s free, it’s fun, and it’s for everyone” says the Brittany Festival’s slogan.