Let yourself be carried away by the festive atmosphere of the Francofolies de La Rochelle

Image

The Francofolies de La Rochelle occupy a special place in the hearts of the French public. Programming, ticketing, free concerts, transport, accommodation… We tell you everything about this legendary French-speaking festival!

The Francofolies, an unmissable festival in Nouvelle Aquitaine

Established in the territory for more than 35 years, the Francofolies is one of the most popular La Rochelle festivals. It takes place every year in July and offers tourists and locals 5 days of music and animations by the water, at the foot of the mythical towers of La Rochelle!

The festival was created by Jean-Louis Foulquier in 1985 in order to promote artists from the French-speaking scene. Over the years, it has remained faithful to its editorial line and has seen renowned artists and many young talents who are now among the greatest. Rock, pop, variety, reggae or world music: the program gives pride of place to all musical styles. 

Image

Different stages receive the artists and their audience during the Francos: 

• The Jean-Louis Foulquier stage is located on the esplanade Saint-Jean d’Acre. With its capacity of 12,000 people, it is the largest stage of the festival.
• The Coursive theater (national stage) hosts various shows on its sites of the Grand Théâtre, the Théâtre Verdière and in the Salle Bleue.
• The Scène La Rochelle Océan is located on the port of La Rochelle. 
• In the Pallice district, next to one of the most beautiful markets of La Rochelle, the Sirène stage welcomes many artists as well as the Collective Nights. These evenings with metal or electro programming highlight the best of extreme music made in France!

Programming and ticketing 

The festival offers a wide artistic choice, with French as the largely dominant language of interpretation. Faithful to the spirit of Jean-Louis Foulquier, artists appreciated by the public and the organizers regularly return to La Rochelle, on the occasion of the release of a new album or to “party” with one of their friends on the big stage of the Francos. 

You can buy your tickets via the Francofolies online ticketing but also by phone or directly on the site, at the Coursive theater. Please note: places are taken by storm every year, remember to book well in advance! The festival's official ticket exchange allows you to resell or buy your ticket between individuals in a secure way: practical if you want to get a ticket for a sold-out concert. If you prefer to buy your tickets in store, go to one of the stores of the France Ticket, Ticketnet or Ticketmaster networks. 

What are the free events and concerts organized during the Francos?

On the sidelines of the official festival are held the FrancOff which offer free concerts, artistic events and meetings open to all in some bars and restaurants in La Rochelle, in the parks or on the beaches of La Rochelle. On the program, festive and friendly moments for the whole family, not to be missed under any circumstances! Are you coming with your children or teenagers? They will love the Francos Juniors and the Boum des Juniors, two opportunities for young festival-goers to get in the mood to the rhythm of their favorite songs…

Image

Finally, a stone's throw from La Rochelle Aquarium and the Maritime Museum of La Rochelle, the Francocéan Village is a place dedicated to eco-citizenship. Animations, conferences, workshops and concerts follow one another on its freely accessible stage.

Are you visiting La Rochelle outside of Francofolies week? Push open the door of the «Comptoir des Francofolies», a café-restaurant-concert space located in the buildings of La Rochelle station. Open all year round 7 days a week, the place alternates between broadcasting soundtracks from previous editions and live concerts on the bar stage.

How to get to the Francofolies de La Rochelle?

Traffic and parking around the festival can be very complicated. To facilitate the movement of festival-goers, the municipality and the region are setting up low-cost public transport services with extended hours. In particular, you can travel unlimited for 48 hours throughout the network (bus, ferry, relay car park) for an attractive price. 

Your hotel in La Rochelle

Are you looking for a hotel in La Rochelle to enjoy a good night's sleep after a concert at the Francofolies? At B&B HOTELS, we offer several accommodation options in the city center and its surroundings.

Close to the main roads, the SNCF train station and La Rochelle airport, our establishments welcome you all year round for a peaceful stay. Enjoy the most beautiful natural and cultural sites in the region: visit the museums of La Rochelle, discover the historical heritage of the city and the surrounding towns, stroll on the islands of the Charente archipelago… There is always something to do in La Rochelle.

Book your hotel in Poitou-Charentes now and benefit from exceptional rates!