My wife and I plan to attend FIL from August 3 to 14, 2017. We have already secured a Lorient VRBO efficiency apartment several miles from festival grounds because "centre-ville" accommodations were booked early. We have yet to book flights, ground transportation and festival tickets. We also figure we'd like to tour the rest of Brittany by rental car before and/or after the 10-day festival. I am a piper, so Breton/Celtic music may be a major focus of this trip. We are hoping someone out there could give us pointers on the following:
1) What is the best way to get to Lorient? We live in Vermont USA and have flown from Montréal QC to Paris direct. What is the best way to get from CDG Paris airport to Lorient? Are there flights from Montréal to, say, some closer city in Brittany which might reduce travel time, hassle and overall expense? How much in advance should we buy plane tickets for the best deal?
2) We know FIL is a HUGE festival occurring at the height of the French tourist season. But how CRAZY crowded will Lorient be? How burdensome is getting around downtown during FIL? We are older and can't walk much more than a half-mile or so. Will the sidewalks, busses and restaurants be packed? Is it practical to consider renting electric bicycles or a motor-scooter to navigate Lorient? How available/expensive are taxis or Uber during FIL?
3) We understand that many public performances across town are free. Any general advice on what concert tickets to buy vs. attending free street events? When/how should we buy tickets? What is the bar/pub music scene like during FIL?
4) Beyond FIL, what other areas of Brittany should we visit to experience Breton music (particularly piping), dance, art, food and culture? We have not cemented an itinerary yet, so how much time -- beyond the 10-day FIL -- should we allot to see the rest of Brittany? Where else should we go? How tourist-packed is Brittany in August? Must we secure rooms (i.e., B&B's) across Brittany in advance? Or can we surf online and flexibly find accommodations on same-day short notice? Where and when should we rent a car to tour Brittany beyond Lorient?
Any thoughts, advice, experiences or ruminations would be appreciated. Thanks.
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7034 posts
You'll have to do some flight searching but I did see a non-stop from Montreal to Nantes, from Nantes it's a 2 hr train to Lorient. Otherwise the train from Paris (if you land at CDG) is close to 5 hrs. There are flights from Montreal to Rennes, with a connection at CDG, from Rennes to Lorient is a bit less than 2 hrs by train. If you fly from Montreal to Orly (instead of CDG) you can connect with a flight directly to Lorient, avoiding the train. You'd have to do the research about timing of connections and the feasibility of air vs. train from Paris.
I was in several areas of Brittany in July a few years ago and heard Celtic music in several pubs in different towns. I can't remember exactly where they were but you'll find pubs all over Brittany where they showcase traditional (and modern) Celtic music. Check this website: http://www.brittanyholidayguide.com/breton-music.html#where