You may enjoy visiting France for the culture, weather, scenery or food and wine, or perhaps to improve your French language skills. Whatever your reason for visiting France, it is worth timing your trip to coincide with one of the many festivals held in various parts of the country during the summer months. They are a great way to experience the French culture and do something really different with your holiday.

iDBUS offers coach trips to Paris Bercy, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Lille and Lyon – and it is easy to get from any of those destinations to the nearest festival. Coach trips are a great way to get to your festival because you are not too restricted in terms of what luggage you can take with you and you can relax and enjoy the passing scenery or make use of the free on board Wi-Fi offered by iDBUS to while away the hours until your arrival.

Here are some of the festivals celebrated each summer.

  1. Avignon festival –Another festival that runs throughout most of July, this one features numerous theatrical performances, usually exploring a different theme each year.
  2. Aix Festival — Held in Aix-en-Provence (accessible by iDBUS if you change in Lyon and then Milan or Genoa) this is the International Festival of Lyrical Art which has been running each summer throughout July since 1948. Open air performances of operas and classical music make for some wonderful summer evenings.
  3. Quartier d’Eté (Paris Summer Arts Festival) –Held in various neighbourhoods throughout the city during late July and early August, this series of open air concerts in the balmy heat of summer evenings are not to be missed. With lectures, circus performances, music, films and dance there is something for everyone to enjoy.
  4. Bastille Day (14th July) –A national day of celebration to remember the Revolution, there are events held throughout the country, usually featuring fireworks, parades, music and dance. A parade along the Champs Elysées and an overhead air display make Paris a great place to join in the fun.
  5. Nice Jazz Festival –Usually held in mid-July this festival has previously featured legendary performers such as Dizzy Gillespie and Louis ‘Satchmo’ Armstrong. Modern day jazz stars perform throughout the festival to create a very chilled atmosphere.

    photo credit: jenny downing via photopin cc

    photo credit: jenny downing via photopin cc

  6. Braderie de Lille –This festival is one enormous market, held since medieval times and selling everything you could think of. A competition between local restaurateurs sees them pile up mussel shells to try to create the biggest pile. Slightly strange but lots of fun!

All of these festivals can be reached by travelling with iDBUS for very reasonable prices. Festivals are a cheap and cheerful way to enjoy yourself on holiday, and travelling by coach keeps the costs down. Check out the dates for any of the festivals that appeal to you and then look at the bus services available to get you there. You can travel direct to Paris, Lille and Lyon but can take connecting journeys from any of those to reach your favourite festival – and make some great memories.