Summer Festivals and Events in the

French Ardennes this summer

The French Ardennes will offer the world one of the most colourful and
eye-catching festivals of 2011, when the Festival Mondial des Théâtres
de Marionnettes rolls into town from the 16th to the 25th September.

One of the highlights of the Summer calendar, the World Puppet

Festival helps to lift this region of France from one of the ‘also-rans’ to
one of the ‘must-sees’ – with Charleville-Mézières now bracing itself for
an influx of more than 150,000 spectators for the 10-day carnival.

This is the 50th Anniversary of the World Puppet Festival, and many of
the leading puppeteers from around the globe have already agreed to
attend next year’s event, including Philippe Genty, Ilka Schönbein,
Duda Paiva, Joan Baixas, Turak, le Sous-marin jaune, and les Frères
Forman. All of them are household names in the world of marionettes;
and are expected to make this one of the most spectacular festivals in
Europe in 2011.

All five continents will be represented, from at least 30 different

countries, including: Iran, Cambodia, Israel, Chile, Mexico, Belorussia,
and the United Kingdom. For more details, visit http://www.festival-
marionnette.com.

But that’s not all….

The French Ardennes is also getting ready to host several other top
class events during the course of the Summer.

Music, in particular, is one of the major features of the summer season

of spectacular events in-and-around The French Ardennes, with the
headline act being a music festival which attracts between 40-50,000
visitors every year.

The “Cabaret Vert”, held from August 26th-28th, in Charleville-Mézières

is now one of the top music events of its kind in northern France, and
requires little, or no, knowledge of French. Adding to the whole
carnival atmosphere, Cabaret Vert also brings together street artists
and comedians for visitors to enjoy. For full details, visit
www.cabaretvert.com.

Two other leading music events in the region are the annual Douzy’k
Rock Festival, which is this year scheduled to take place on 23rd/24th
July (www.myspace.com/douzyfestival), and the Aymon Folk Festival
(www.myspace.com/aymonfolkfestival) on 29th/30th July with Nolwenn
Leroy (http://www.nolwenn.org/).
Summer in the French Ardennes is a season of colour and spectacle,
and other major event of note in 2011 include the Tournaments Knights
at the castle of Sedan throughout July and August (http://www.chateau-
fort-sedan.fr/agenda-evenements.html) and a sound-and-light
spectacular at La Cassine during July and August. Shown in front of
the ruins of a castle, the show portrays the Ardennes’ industrial past,
following the tale of a wealthy and successful iron maker. For more
details, visit http://spectacle.la-cassine.com.

And kicking the whole spectacular summer season off in The French
Ardennes in spectacular style this year, the Festi Meuse (Festival of
the River Meuse) will this year be staged from 16th to 23rd July in
Fumay, Haybes, Givet and Vireux Wallerand. For a flavour of this
event, click on to www.festimeuse.com.

All of this and more is featured in the Discovery Guide to the French
Ardennes, which not only showcases all of its eco-friendly activities,
events and accommodation, but also features some new and very
unusual attractions.

Copies can be obtained by telephoning +33 (0) 3 24 56 06 08, or by e-

mailing info@ardennes.com.

For further information, and a full listing of events, visit

www.ardennes.com.

-Ends-

Images, further information, and full press packs can be obtained by

contacting:

Jörg Hartwig
TEL: +33 (0) 3 24 56 67 77
E-MAIL: hartwig@ardennes.com

Or

Ian Weightman
TEL: +44 (0)1782-680963
E-MAIL: ian.iwms@virgin.net