Paris1972-Versailles2003

This is a wonderful festival on the streets of Vannes every year in July. We first encounter it in 2012 and been to it ever since. Unfortunately, the last was in 2022 and not held since sadly, we really enjoyed it. I like to condense the posts and pictures into this post for the memories of always. Therefore, here is my take on the Historical Festival or Fêtes Historiques of Vannes !!!  Hope you enjoy the post as I

This was a wonderful event in Vannes, my capital city , only 26 km or about 14 miles on country roads from my house.  A huge middle ages intact city left in time and glory for all of us to enjoy it today. The event in 2023 was cancelled to create another event closer to the Heritage Days event in September so 2022 was the last Historical Festival that we will have sadly,.

Every year, for three days in July, Vannes made an appointment with its history and turns the pages of its rich past. In the Jardin des Remparts or in the streets of the old town, visit the blacksmith’s and coin minter’s shops, admire the falconry shows and artillery demonstrations, and taste medieval cuisine. The magic doesn’t stop when night falls, thanks to the fire-eating shows and the big popular ball. This great celebration is also an opportunity to visit Vannes. Because with some 272 buildings listed as Historic Monuments, this city hides behind its ramparts a past steeped in history. Built like an amphitheater at the bottom of the Gulf of Morbihan, the old medieval town has been wrapping itself for centuries around Saint-Pierre Cathedral, comfortably surrounded by its solid ramparts. Indeed a beautiful town I say !!

We enjoy it every year since living in the area and coming to it in 2012, and always wonderful. It was held ironically around the National Day of France July 14 ,,showing another aspect of French traditions each year . It has hundreds and if not thousands of folks dressed in period costumes with fire works in the ramparts gardens, and many représentations from other European countries. There is a total of 40 historical organisations here including those from 
Llanera, Asturias  ,Spain! with a great outspoken group! Group Hassel from Germany, fencers from the Czech Republic, costumes group from Venice, Italy, all wonderful choreograph and done. Some of the artists that will be here of my interest are the Centre Equestre de Plougoumelen.   And the Fundacion Bodas de Isabel of  Teruel, Aragon, Spain. This is worth seeing in Spain too on the dramatic romance of Teruel, The official Bodas de Isabel or weddings of Elizabeth : https://www.bodasdeisabel.com/

The 36th edition of the Historical Festivals in 2022 had as theme a great page in Vannes history: the meeting of Jean IV and Olivier de Clisson in Vannes in 1387.Olivier de Clisson fought Jean IV de Montfort, Count of Richemont, who was in competition with Charles de Blois, and he was nicknamed Jean the Conqueror, As this is a historical post and even if already written on it here is a bit more, The new City/Town Hall of Vannes was inaugurated with great pomp on July 11, 1886. The large stained glass window on the staircase of the town hall represents the marriage of Anne of Brittany and Charles VIII at the Château de Langeais (Indre-et-Loire 37 ), the December 6, 1491. This is the duchess’s first marriage. The proud bronze statue of the constable in front of the building dates back to the establishment of the City/Town Hall. Financed by a regionalist association , it has stood on the square since 1905. The  Constable Arthur de Richemont, son of Duke Jean IV of Brittany, was born at the castle of Suscinio in 1393. While the Hundred Years’ War raged, he accompanied Joan of Arc in her campaign against the English. In 1436, he liberated Paris. In 1457, he ascended the throne of Brittany as Arthur III of Brittany known as “the Justiciar”,and died a year later, in 1458.

This year’s event was Jean IV Le Conquérant. or John IV the Conqueror. He was the winner of the wars of  succession  of Brittany and ruled for 35 years.residing for the most part in the Chateau de l’Hermine built from 1378 that he ordered built. Duke Jean IV was friendly to the English, and married  Marguerite, daughter of Edward III of England, as well as his second wife was English too,  Jeanne Holand. Many English nobles were his advisors and on July 19 1372 signed a secret defense and protection treaty with Edward III. He welcome many heroes at the Chateau de l’Hermine (see posts) including the Constable Olivier de Clisson in 1387. The Duke Jean IV restored the ramparts and enlarged them creating a second circle of defense for the city. He was married a third time in 1386 to Jeanne de Navarre and a total of 8 children,one Jean V le Sage or the Wise that succeeded him in the duchy after his death in November 1, 1399. He was special to Vannes and the guest of honor in this year’s historical festival.

Napoléon III came twice to Vannes ,once in 1858 and again in 1865. It was on a long trip to Brittany to gather support in the region,and stop of the religious center in Sainte-Anne d’Auray (see post) as well. They came with their children and were received in the Palais de la Motte (where today lies the préfecture or regional government building see post on garden).

The animations starts in the afternoon each day, and there are walks with all personalities around town from the Church of Saint Pattern,(see post) Then proceeding to the Place Maurice Marchais, and at night time from the same square Place Maurice Marchais. Fireworks at the ramparts garden. We were early at 10h30 in the Hôtel de Ville (see post) where the foreign visitors will be presented and bal dance held as well as marching band from the period. There was a navette bus free from the right bank of the harbor area or le Port, and the Parc du Golfe, and parking Racker. And the city of Vannes had a bus from midnight departing from the Place de la République , front of the post office building. We parked in place de la Liberation bus terminal area for free and walk 10 minutes to city center!

The 40th edition of the European Heritage Days was held on Saturday September 16 and Sunday 17, 2023. Removed from the summer festivities, the Historical Festivals (parades, extras, etc.) became part of the European Heritage Days last September 2023. But not with the same intensity as those in previous years, The main registration was held at the historical Hôtel de Limur (see post) and the visitors will be initiated in history of the ramparts with plays done along the Tour du Connétable, rue des Remparts, Porte et tour Calmont, rue Alexandre-Le-Pontois ,and the Bastion Gréguennic. The Villes ou Pays d’art et d’histoire or Cities or Countries of Art and History label is awarded by the Ministry of Culture and Communication to local authorities who wish to promote their heritage and encourage architectural creation. Vannes has been since 1990,

The city of Vannes on its heritage: https://www.mairie-vannes.fr/decouvrir-le-patrimoine-vannetais

The Morbihan dept 56 tourist office on Vannes: https://morbihan.com/decouvrir/le-morbihan-et-ses-perles-bretonnes/destination-golfe-du-morbihan/vannes-entre-art-et-histoire/

The local Gulf of Morbihan tourist office on Vannes: https://www.golfedumorbihan.bzh/explorer-vannes/decouvrir-vannes/golfe-morbihan/vannes/

The Bretagne region tourist office on Vannes: https://www.brittanytourism.com/destinations/the-10-destinations/southern-brittany-morbihan-gulf/vannes/

There you go folks, here for the memories of always. This was a wonderful event sadly is no longer held. This I must have in my blog as it was a great event my family enjoy here over the years, The Fêtes Historiques de Vannes were marvelous and again sad they are cancelled, Anyway, we keep the memories and the pictures forever, Again, hope you enjoy this last post on the Fêtes Historiques of Vannes !!! as I

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!