Press Release
In 2024, Destination Granville Terre et Mer will be celebrating the 150th Granville Carnival. Special events – including mapping and a fireworks display – are planned for the occasion, as well as traditional events linked to the town’s history. Because it’s not widely known, but its existence stems from cod fishing, and the big party ashore before setting sail for Newfoundland. The Festival des Voiles de Travail will be making this its main theme this year, after the centenary of the Marité, the last French Newfoundlander, in 2023. The values cherished by the Granville Carnival, which earned it UNESCO intangible heritage status in 2016, have been emulated by other events since the 19th century.
satirical character, such as the crazy summer festival A fond la Cale.
Many have been inspired by the creativity of the Carnavaliers. The first and best known is the famous couturier Christian Dior, whose childhood home is now the Christian Dior Museum. Unsurprisingly, the Destination has always been a land of artists, inspiring painters, sculptors, visual artists, graffiti artists, ceramists, musicians and many others. Most of the Destination’s events showcase these talents and bring them to the attention of the general public: the street arts with the Sorties de bain, the Grandes Marées music festival, the unusual Nuit des Soudeurs and the Second Geste festival to name but a few.
Granville Terre et Mer is also a breeding ground for another kind of artist: chefs and all those who sublimate the Destination’s products. They tour Europe, sometimes coming from the other side of the world, and these lovers of gastronomy come to settle in the area. Proof, if proof were needed, that it inspires, as well as ensuring quality of life. Producers, restaurateurs, patissiers, artists and craftspeople all share the same values, and are keen to join forces with the Tourist Office to create unusual tours: Pinceaux et Fourchette (Paintbrushes and Forks), Saveurs et Créateurs (Flavours and Creators) for new products.
All these passions must be passed on to the next generation if they are to survive. Tradition is a must, and this is certainly linked to the Granville Carnival once again: sharing history, perpetuating a skill or an art, yes, but at the same time having fun! The Granville Cultural Olympics combine sport and culture, with “real-life” experiences such as The Game immersive quest, guided storytelling tours, investigations and games, or via an application such as Time Travel. Events such as Festi Récré, the Viking and Norman Village and La Ferme en Folie are also designed to be educational and fun, to complement and pass on the DNA of Destination Granville Terre et Mer.
