Brittany is a region of such eclectic and marvelous heritage, you can’t blame the Bretons for wanting to celebrate it in all its forms. From its history as a land of medieval fortresses, to its lingering status as a Celtic nation, to its deep religious roots and unique regional traditions, Brittany always seems to have a reason to faire la fête.
 Held every two years, the Fête des Remparts (Festival of the Ramparts) has a distinctive advantage over your other run-of-the-mill medieval fairs: It’s held in Dinan, a thousand-year-old walled city whose pride and joy are its 13th- and 14th-century ramparts. On July 19 and 20 this year, costumed merchants, actors, and participants will gather for a celebration that will make the medieval soul of the town truly come to life.
 The InterCeltic Festival in Lorient is another celebration unique to Brittany. The region celebrates its Celtic past (and present: Breton, widely spoken in the western part of the region, is a Celtic dialect) each August with 10 days of music, dancing, food, and parades in this port town on the southern edge of the region. Proud Celts come from all over the Celtic world – Wales, Scotland, Ireland, the Isle of Man, and beyond – to participate in the festival each year.
 Brittany is also famous for its pardons – religious festivals celebrating the local patron saint of each city. Starting in the 15th century, with the construction of the local churches, pilgrims would gather together to obtain pardon for their sins and indulgences. These assemblies were called “pardons” and were always quite lively. The tradition lives on in Brittany today, and the celebrations can sometimes turn into large-scale events: The Troménie, held in Locronan, is one of the oldest and largest pardons in France and is only held once every six years. Still, the size of the affair depends on the saint and the location. Characteristics of pardons include processions of locals in traditional Breton attire waving silk banners, a massive pardoning by a minister, and frequently a large feast to cap things off.
 The Festival de Cornouaille takes place for nine days each July in Quimper. More than 180 concerts, spectacles, and performances take place both day and night in the urban heart of Quimper during the festival, which was started in 1923 and is now the region’s biggest celebration of Breton culture. Today, festival-goers are treated to music, theater, dance, marionettes, Breton games and gastronomy, story telling, art and photography exhibitions, conferences, and more. A similar event also takes place in July in Rennes. Les Tombées de la Nuit (“Nightfalls”) is one of the region’s most popular yearly festivals, celebrating Breton culture with street performances, dancing, music, art, and singing.
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