Brittany Jazz – Every year the town of Coutances (50 Manche, Normandie) on the western side of the Cherbourg peninsula holds a Jazz festival enticingly entitled Jazz sous les Pommiers (Jazz under the Apple Trees).
4 – 11 May 2024 Jazz sous les Pommiers
The biggest Jazz Festival in Western France with over a hundred concerts featuring international artists. In addition to daily concerts there is also a daily online concert featuring on an earlier festival a personal favourite – saxophonist Andy Sheppard and his quintet.
Every day there are numerous concerts on Friday and Saturday running throughout the afternoon and into the night – with more than one opportunity to see each artiste or band. Some concerts are in the openair and the late night “Jazz Club” does not require advanced booking. Music will fill the streets, the cafes and churches of the town throughout the week.
A charming medieval town Coutances has been awarded both the Ville d’Art et d’Histoire and the Ville Fleurie labels. Occupied by the English for over 30 years during the Hundred Years War, the town developed its craft industry in the 15th and 16th centuries leading to the building of several impressive townhouses in the Old Town that can still be seen today. A network of medieval courtyards and narrow streets, the Old Town retains much of its original charm despite the destruction of 60% of the town during WW2 and at its heart sits the Gothic Coutances cathedral. Built at the start of the 13th century, the cathedral is one of Normandy’s most famous architectural monuments and is a remarkable work of Gothic architecture. Guided tours in English are available, highlighting the history and construction of the cathedral, where you can visit the lantern tower and admire the Gothic stained glass windows. The Eglise St Pierre is also a very pretty church worth taking a look around to discover a wonderful juxtaposition of Gothic and Renaissance architecture topped with a beautiful lantern tower, and the late Gothic Eglise St Nicholas offers a light and airy chancel that is perfect for contemplation. (Brittany Ferries)
