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Immersion in Breton cultureLe Printemps des Sonneurs

Le Printemps des Sonneurs in Lannion: an immersion in the soul of Brittany

Can you hear the first notes of the bombarde? No doubt about it, the Printemps des Sonneurs is just around the corner! Every May, Lannion’s heart beats to the rhythm of the biniou, the gavotte and the laughter. More than a festival, it’s an open-air celebration, an invitation to vibrate with living Brittany: its music, its traditions… and its sacred sense of celebration.

A weekend of Breton culture

For one weekend, Lannion – a Town of Art and History on the Pink Granite Coast – transforms itself into an open-air Breton stage. No fences, no giant stage: everything takes place in the streets, between the timber-framed houses, at the bend in the cobbled lanes.

Le Printemps des Sonneurs features :

Parades of bagadoù and Celtic circles
Free initiation to Breton dances (don’t panic, we’ll explain everything)
Acoustic concerts all over town
Musical lunch on the go or on the terrace

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A plunge into tradition… with a nod to legends

This festival is a bit like leafing through an old Breton grimoire… but live and with rhythm! Every melody, every costume, every dance step is a way of passing on a living memory. Far from a frozen folklore, we feel the energy of traditions that continue to evolve, carried by enthusiasts – young and old alike. And between two pieces, if you keep your ears open, you’re sure to hear talk of mischievous korrigans, the dance of the night washerwomen, or even the Ankou, that strange black figure some people claim to have seen near Trégor…

Did you know?

Fest-noz, the Breton nocturnal festival of dancing in the round until the early hours of the morning, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Le Printemps des Sonneurs is a joyous daytime version… but just as lively!

Lannion and the surrounding area: music from the past and landscapes from the present

Take advantage of this weekend to explore the wonders of Lannion and the surrounding area. Between two gavottes, treat yourself to a stroll along the coastal paths, a sunset over the chaos of pink granite, or a break in one of the Trégor’s small ports. Don’t miss

The cobbled streets of Lannion’s historic center
The customs trail from the Lézardrieux peninsula to Plestin-les-Grèves, via Tréguier, the Gouffre de Plougrescant, Trébeurden and Lannion!
Local markets where you can enjoy a hot crêpe (with salted butter, of course!)

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Why come to Printemps des Sonneurs?

Because you want to :

Experience a moment of sharing and joy under the open sky
Discover (or rediscover) a vibrant Breton culture
Learn to dance Breton in good spirits
Explore the Pink Granite Coast in a new light
Support an event that promotes local heritage

The perfect festival-goer’s glossary

Bagad: Breton musical group featuring bombards, biniou kozh and percussion instruments Cercle celtique: Group of dancers in traditional costume Fest-noz: Breton dance evening where everyone is invited to join in the round Bombarde: Powerful, high-pitched wind instrument (bring earplugs if you’re sensitive!) Biniou: Breton bagpipes, the bombarde’s best friend.

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A story that grows strong

It all began in 2019. A handful of enthusiasts – ringers, musicians, dancers, lovers of the Trégor region – decided to bring Breton music to the streets of Lannion. It was a crazy gamble, but one driven by the desire to bring our heritage to life in the present. And the public responded. In 2022, despite the drizzle, the town was jubilant. And in 2023? More than 10,000 people from all over came to dance, listen and marvel. Bagadoù, Celtic circles, tunes that will be stuck in your head three days later. All carried along by a popular and joyful energy.

A festival on a human scale (and with great warmth)

Behind the notes, there are faces. Those of the volunteers, whistling as they set up the stands. Those of the elders, whispering an anecdote between two dances. Those of the youngsters, their eyes wide open as they discover that the bombarde “packs a serious punch”. It’s this collective soul, this taste for sharing, that gives the Printemps des Sonneurs its unique charm.

Here, the essential is cultivated: music, encounters, and that little thrill when the biniou echoes through the cobbled streets.

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An experience

100% Breizh

every year

A weekend that sets the tone!

Every May, Lannion becomes an open-air stage for Breton culture. With its frenzied dancing, traditional music and festive atmosphere, the Printemps des Sonneurs promises to be a warm and decibel-filled event!

Lannion rings in the spring!

Saturday evening, May 17, on the Quai d’Aiguillon, warm up your legs with an initiation to dance, before listening to the sounds of Bagad Lann Bihoué. What’s next? Fest-noz under the stars with Eben, War-Sav, les Frères Cornic and the frenzied Henaff/Meunier duos. On Sunday, May 18, from 10:30 a.m. onwards, the city center is abuzz with activity:

Colorful, musical parade (clap your hands!)
Brass band dinner
Street theater
Introduction to dance
Celtic circles, bagadoù and fest-deiz

It’s lively, it’s vibrant, it’s open-air and open-hearted. And for the curious? An artisans’ market all weekend long. Feeling hungry? Galettes, cider and local sweets are on the menu. In short, a weekend where Brittany dances, sings and invites you to cultivate the essential: the pleasure of being together.