Main Events in La Loire

Angers holds an annual wine and food fair in November where regional producers display their high quality produce. Lots of lovely food and drink is laid out for you to sample and it has a jovial traditional feel.

In summer evenings, the Puy du Fou theme park puts on huge spectacular events depicting the story of the Guerre de Vendée, the great uprising in the 18th century. Over 1,000 actors, 8,000 costumes and an array of incredible lights make up this two-hour performance.

This festival in June and July each year is an important regional theatrical and classical musical event and takes place in châteaux arenas in the Angers region.

Orléans hosts an annual jazz festival in June each year attracting top French and international performers. The Jardin de l'Evêché buzzes with traditional and contemporary sounds and many concerts are free.

In mid-late September, this boating festival is held by the quays of the Loire in Orléans. Five days of festivities ensue with one of the largest inland gatherings of boats in Europe. This free event has regional gastronomic produce and crafts on offer in the day and great light and firework displays in the evening.

This two-week festival in the beautiful Château de Sully, attracts some top classical performers. It is usually held at the end of May and the beginning of June.

This four-day festival in the middle of August celebrates international folklore with dancers and musicians, many in costume.One of the most important folklore festivals in France, it brings the town of Montoire alive with traditional performances.

In April/May each year, the city of Orléans celebrates the famous Joan of Arc with an all night festival. The event includes major musical line-ups, re-enactments, conferences and exhibitions.

The festival of cycling is held on the third Sunday in June each year. This is a Europe-wide event that attracts over 30,000 cyclists on the banks of the Loire and features unique contests such as the Vintage Bicycle category where cyclists must dress up in traditional retro clothing.

Running since 2003, the annual music festival in the Touraine region celebrates chamber music with a series of concerts in June. Featuring French and international performers, concerts are held at various locations in the region, including the Saint-Cosme Priory and Grane de Meslay.

Three days of classical concerts at Easter time in the Fontevraud Abbey. There is also an Easter egg hunt where over 100 kg of chocolates are hidden in the gardens. This is a traditional event dating back to the Middle Ages.

Annual heavy metal concert in Clisson held in June each year. Running in various forms since 2000, over 30,000 people attend this outdoor festival over three nights with many opting to camp for free.

The Château de Chaumont is home to the annual Garden Festival and celebrates the art of garden creation by displaying new flower arrangements, new materials, new ideas and new approaches. Themed each year, the diversity and the high quality of the projects have contributed to the festival's international reputation. Open from April until October each year, it has become the place to display the work of a new generation of landscape gardeners, architects, designers or gardeners.

The annual rose festival is held in July each year to celebrate this important flower which is grown widely across the Loire. It is focused in the town of Doué-la-Fontaine in the Anjou region and a series of troglodyte caves are decorated with a wonderful collection of beautiful roses.

The Le Mans 24 hour endurance car race has been held each year in April since 1923 and is thought to be the longest running sports car race. It is held on the Circuit of the Sarthe in Le Mans. The driving must be shared by at least three drivers and the challenge is that of keeping a machine on form for such a long period. Impressively each car covers over 5,000 kilometres over the 24 hour period.

In March each year, the Spring musical celebrates classical music with a week of concerts in the 11th century Priory of Saint-Cosme. The pretty Gothic and Romanesque priory is a rustic spot which inspired the works of poet Pierre de Ronsard.

The Scoop festival is a celebration of journalism featuring videos, photographs, meetings and debates in Angers. It attracts journalists, politicians and an enthusiastic audience to its debates.

Usually held at the beginning of September, this jazz festival and meeting of nautical heritage takes place on the banks of the river Erdre. With over 100 boats and performances of all types of jazz, this cultural event lasts four days.

This annual history festival brings together historians and the general public in an important series of conferences and discussions designed to celebrate and discover the region's fascintating history.

This distinguished horse-riding competition is held in Le Lion d'Angers each year in October. International riders come to compete in the five day event of jumps, dressage and cross country.

This annual competition celebrates the best in French and International brass band music. Held over three days at the end of May or beginning of June, it's a gala concert of performances which are formally judged, but usually extends to street performances, exhibitions and more across the town of Amboise.

This international opera festival offers its own new and fully-staged opera productions each season. Every year, a series of three operas are performed in the gardens of the Les Capucins manor house. You are encouraged to bring a picnic to enjoy in the grounds.

Every October, cyclists start this one-day race at St-Arnould-en-Yvelines on the outskirts of Paris and finish 233 kilometres later in Tours.

This popular rock festival is held over six days in April each year. It attracts some big French names in the rock world as well as international talent. The 2011 line up included Gruff Rhys, Timber Timbre and Yeke Yeke.

Over the months of May and June, Nantes, the wider Loire and some parts of the Vendée hold an annual 'Spring' festival celebrating the arts. There are concerts of baroque and classical music and musical theatre performances in various venues and churches across the region.

From June to September, the National Estate of Chambord presents nightly performances of its latest sound and light show, “Chambord, Rêve de Lumières” or Dream Lights. Projected upon the château's famous north façade, it will whisk you back in time to Renaissance days, where you will become spectators at the vast fortress-like construction site of a monument that was to become a regular stop-off in the itinerary of François I's travelling court. The hunting lodge was the scene of sumptuous receptions and balls. Chambord relives its glory days before your very eyes.

In May each year, Angers holds an annual festival celebrating regional music of all genres. From acoustic to hip hop, it is a major cultural event at various outdoor venues across the city. Spread over three nights, this free festival attracts more than 30,000 visitors.

In July, this jazz festival is held at various venues in the region including Sancerre, Gien and Saint-Brisson. Many concerts are outdoors taking advantage of the warm weather and long summer evenings.