Keep Cool this Summer

Where to keep cool this summer: swimming pools (indoor & out) plus bathing areas. Generally, all the links below have supervised swimming during the summer

Distances are measured from Confolens centre

Brillac 16500

12km @ 15 mins 

Le Recloux - Municipal outdoor pool, seasonal

Chasseneuil sur Bonnieure 16260

30km @ 30 mins 

Municipal indoor pool, open all year

Civray 86400

40km @ 40 mins 

oda Aquatic Centre, indoor pool, heated, open all year

Confolens 16500

1km @ few minutes 

La Tulette outdoor swimming pool, seasonal

Condac 16700

43km @ 40 mins

Aire de Detente, Le Rejallant, swimming in the Charente, seasonal; unsupervised

La Rochefoucauld 16110

43km @ 40 mins 

Piscine La Roche, indoor, open all year

Lacs de Haute Charente 

40km @ 35mins 

These are 2 man-made reservoirs: Lac du Mas Chaban (west) & Lac de Lavaud (east). Both lakes have a number of divisions so swimming is only permitted in a limited number of places. Specific locations include

Plage de Guerlie 16150

Plage de Chassagne 87600

Check the signs posted at the various parking spots whether bathing is permitted.

Lac de St Pardoux 87

70km @ 60 mins

Another man-made reservoir which also has limitations for swimming. Check local signage for permissions.

Plage de Fréaudour 87250

Plage de Chabanne 87140

Plage de Santrop 87640

Also includes an indoor pool which has an Aquapark on the lake

Les Gours 16140

70km @ 70 mins 

Etang les Gours, lake swimming, seasonal

L'Isle Jourdain 86150

31km @ 30 mins

Municipal pool, indoor pool, open all year

Mansle 16230

 50km @ 50 mins

Doue pool, indoor pool, heated, open all year

Montbron 16220

 50km @ 50mins

Indoor pool, open all year

Ruffec 16700

43km @ 40mins 

Aquaval indoor swimming pool, heated, open all year

Saint Claud 16450

23km @ 20 mins

Piscine de Saint-Claud, outdoor pool, seasonal

Saint Junien 87200

25km @ 30 mins

Aiga Bluia, indoor and outdoor pools, open all year

Terre de Haute Charente 16270

22 @ 30 mins 

Plan d'eau Prés de Peyras, outdoor swimming, seasonal

Villefagnan 16240

53km @ 55 mins

Plan d'eau Trois Fontaines, outdoor swimming, seasonal

 

66th International Folk Dance Festival

 

The one Don't Miss event in Confolens

There are lots of events happening each day featuring the international dance troupes and their musicians plus special concert performers.

Remember, car access to the town  is not possible during the festivities so you will need to park outside the centre and walk in. Pedestrian entrance must pass through check points where you present your ticket (you can pay as you arrive or online beforehand).

 

The regular entrance charge is €9 on the party nights

 

Contact points

• Festival & Ticket Offices: beside the Cinema, Market Hall & at the Festival Site
  
• Online: www.festivaldeconfolens.com
• Phone: 05 45 84 00 77
• Online booking
  
  

Main Concerts

See the map below for the colour-coded venues; see the festival site for details of the troupes and musicians

• Monday
• 18:30 🟦 Festival Reception
• 20:00 🟦 Concert - Benin
• 21:00 🟦 Ball - Remi Geffroy
• 23:30 🟦 DJ set - St Pere la Muthe
• Tuesday
  
• 18:00 🟦 Opening Ceremony 
• 19:30 🟦 Concert - USA
  
• 21:00 🟥 Opening Gala - all troupes
• 21:00 🟦 Concert - Jade Rowley
• 23:00 🟦 Concert - Chocolate 
• Wednesday
• 13:45 🟩 Musical Siesta - Peru
• 15:00 🟥 Horizon on the World: France, Uganda, Serbia, Tahiti, USA
• 18:30 🟦 Display - Nicaragua
• 20:00 🟦 Display - Dominican Republic
  
• 21:00 🟥 Spectacle - Heart of Brittany
• 21:00 🟦 Display - Bunda Blanca
• 22:30 🟦 Concert - Latin Spirit
• 00:30 🟦 DJ set - St Pere la Muthe
  
• Thursday
• 18:15 🟦 Concert - Colombia
• 21:00 🟥 Concert - Claudio Capéo
• 21:45 🟦 Concert - Amiliz
• 23:45 🟦 DJ set - St Pere la Muthe
  
• Friday 
• 13:45 🟩 Musical Siesta - Wilson 5
• 00:00 🟨 Fireworks (on the river)
  
• 00:15 🟦 Concert - N'Comium
  
• Saturday
  
• 13:45 🟩 Musical Siesta - Colombia
  
• 18:30 🟦 Display - Butac'Ados
  
• 20:00 🟦 Concert - Wilson 5
• 21:00 🟥 Soiree Latino: Nicaragua, Peru, Dominican Republic, Clomobia, Batuc'Ados
  
• 21:15 🟦 Concert - Talweg
• 23:15 🟦 Ball - Belle Germaine
• Sunday
  
• 19:00 🟦 Panorama of the Groups: Benin, Wilson 5, Colombia
  
• 20:00 🟦 Extinction of the Flame
• 21:00 🟥 Festival Grand Finale
  

St Maxim's Concerts

• 
  Mon 16:30 🟪 Opocad
• Tue 16:30 🟪 Concert - Colombia
• Wed 16:30 🟪 Concert - Uganda
• Thu 10:00 🟪 Mass - Tahiti
  
• Sat 14:30 🟪 Concert - Serbia
• Sat 16:30 🟪 Concert - Benin
  
• Sun 10:00 🟪 Mass - Peru
  

Street Dancing

Definitely try and get to at least one of these events, even if you book for the concerts. Friday night's street party, in particular, is spectacular! All the troupes move among several dance stages scattered about the town. Also, food and drink is available around the town square and at the festival site

• Thu 17:20 🟨 Parade & Street party
  
• Fri 16:30 🟨 Street party, 23:00 Parade & 00:00 Fireworks
  
• 
  Sun 17:20 🟨 Parade and Street party
  

You can book online or usually as you enter the town - the centre is otherwise blocked off for the duration. A programme and map should be given to you as you enter. The parade meanders through town between the new bridge and the festival centre.

Other events

• 
  Drumming Workshop 🟦
• Tue 9:30 Bunda Blanca 
• Wed 14:30 Batuc'Ados
  
• Tap dancing @ 🟨 Arena Crevalier
• Sat 10:30
• Sat 17:30
  
• Dance Workshops @ 🟩 Ribières
  
• Tue 14:30 Batchata
  
• Wed 9:30 Serbia
  
• Fri 9:30 USA
  
• Fri 14:30 Tahiti
  
• Sat 9:30 Basque country
  
• Sat 14:30 Nicaragua
  
  
• Festi'Bambins for festival-goers 6-11 5€
  
• Folk'Enfants - for families; come and meet with various troupes
• Tourist Train with the Colombian musicians Mon 10:00
• Film Pachamama (Capitol Cinema) Mon 15:00
• Concert - Benin musicians @ Roche Bleues Wed 19:00
• Color Run Sat 9:30 : 5km  for large and small, fast or slow (11+ years)

Venues

• 🟥 1 Ribiéres Theatre  - Primary Festival Stage site on the road to St Germain
• 🟩 4 Camp du Monde - beside the Ribieres Theatre
  
• 🟪 9 St Maxime's Church - in the town centre
• 🟦 10 Market Hall - stage in front of the Market Hall in the town square with food and drink stalls spilling over into the Guingette 8
  
• 🟨 various other stages in the town - see the map  14 Arena Crevalier, 18 Place de la Liberté, 12 4 Rues, 9 Eglise St Maxime, 15 Quai de Goire, 19 Place de la Fontorse