This Saturday, we visited the Les Accroche Coeurs Festival in Angers, France and completely fell in love with it. It was fun, playful, anarchistic, and incredibly well-organized!
We initially learned about the festival from a leaflet we picked up at the tourist office and decided to give it a go. This year’s theme was “The Apocalypse,” fitting perfectly as the famous Apocalypse Tapestry is displayed in the imposing Chateau Angers, which also offered free admission.
Throughout the city, we found large programs detailing the weekend events and made our way to Place du Ralliement, the heart of Angers. There, we discovered a theater made from interwoven, white plastic threads, symbolizing both the weaving process (a nod to the tapestry) and upcycling, as the threads were made from reused plastic. By day, the threads were white, and by night, they lit up to create an artistic light installation.
The square was buzzing with life, and we followed the crowd towards Place de la Poissonnerie. On our way, we encountered the enchanting parade of FierS à Cheval, featuring horses made of light, white fabric that looked like moving manes and tails. It felt like stumbling upon unicorns in the bustling city.
Continuing our journey towards the river, we marveled at Ulik Robotik, a show where a drummer was attached to a giant robot arm with a huge drum at the end, swinging and playing the drum. We grabbed a quick bite at the Village de Saveurs, which had charming food stalls with various themes.
Everywhere we turned, there was some form of art or a highlighted part of the city. The old bridge had small sails attached, making it look like a Da Vinci creation. Colorful banners decorated the streets on the other side of the river. The river pier, Quai des Carmes, was lively with stages, food stalls, music, street performances, and people. It was clear that the expected 200,000 visitors were no exaggeration.
We watched Mario, Queen of the Circus, perform a mix of circus and karaoke with lots of charm, balance, and humor. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get into the cabaret as it was packed. After a quick bite, we headed to Place Saint Eloi for Les Amants du Ciel, a fantastic theater on the side of the church, where artists created amazing shadows on the church wall.
As night fell, Place du Ralliement was beautifully illuminated, with the interwoven threads resembling light beams that changed color, creating a stunning ambiance for the festival.
Not quite done yet, we headed back to the river to catch the anarchistic, Victorian steampunk parade known as Firebirds. The parade featured ingenious machines reminiscent of a Mad Max movie and participants dressed as pirates, rococo ladies, draculas, Pierrot, and Victorian gentlemen. They drove crazy bikes and machines or played wild jazz music, adding to the parade’s unique atmosphere.
The crowd was insatiable, almost running after the parade, and everyone, young and old, watched in awe and excitement. As the parade continued over the bridge, we walked along the riverside, away from the festival. Behind us, the wild jazz played on, people cheered, and the festival continued to amaze everyone.
If you’re visiting Angers, don’t miss out on another fantastic experience at Cointreau, where you’ll sample the orange-flavored liqueur after an informative tour.
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