Vannes: capital

Vannes: The Capital

The city of Vannes holds a special status among the partner municipalities of Gulf of Morbihan Week: as the capital of the Gulf, it is also a founding member of the event. And ever since its inception, the harbor village of Vannes has served as the showcase for every edition of Gulf of Morbihan Week.
As befits its status as the capital, Vannes is also where delegations from guest countries are welcomed and honored, and all partners—both institutional and private—are present in this harbor village, which is, of course, dedicated to a grand celebration open to everyone from Wednesday through Sunday.

For five days at the Port of Vannes, all the activities on offer—which are numerous and of high quality—are completely free: a major program for young audiences (such as Accrovoile or the model ship basin), photo exhibitions (both outdoors and in the cultural pavilion), a pop-up “maritime” bookstore, concerts every evening, a fest-noz… Not to mention free access—always free—to several iconic boats.

The setup of the festival village and the events is the result of a true collaboration between the Morbihan Gulf Week and the city of Vannes, thanks in particular to the invaluable and unwavering logistical support from the technical and events departments.

Many organizations in Vannes are also involved in bringing the harbor’s quays to life: cultural organizations dedicated to maritime heritage, the merchants’ association (now “Carrément Vannes”), and two independent bookstores—“Au jardin des bulles” and “Lenn ha Dilenn”—which have been organizing a pop-up bookstore at the harbor since 2009.

The Festival d’Arvor team has taken over from the Festival Committee in managing the village refreshment stand and organizing a musical evening.

And, as night falls, the port of Vannes lights up thanks to a magnificent light show orchestrated by the city’s technical services. The fleet of majestic guest sailboats is also perfectly organized and showcased by the Compagnie des Ports du Morbihan, supported by some fifty maritime volunteers co-managed by City Hall.

This “event within an event” is the result of a strong commitment from both the city of Vannes and the Gulf of Morbihan Week association. They share a fierce determination to keep all activities free of charge. This dedication is rewarded by renewed success with each edition, attracting an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 visitors per day.