Vienne Jazz Festival: One of the most unique and largest in Europe
Just a few miles south of Lyon, France, on the banks of the Rhone River, you have the opportunity to attend one of the largest Jazz Festivals in Europe, the Vienne Jazz Festival.
Vienne, France is deeply rooted in Roman history. One of the must see destinations in Vienne is the Roman amphitheater built in 1 A.D. One great way to see this fascinating site is at the Annual Vienne Jazz Festival! The acoustics and history of the setting make this festival very unique.
When is the Vienne Jazz Festival
The Vienne Jazz Festival is held every year in late June/Early July. The dates for the 2021 festival is June 23rd-July 10th.
What’s at the Vienne Jazz Festival
The festival hosts many world-renown jazz and blues artists. Artists such as Miles Davis, Stan Gets, Claude Challe, Sonny Rollins, Bobby McFerrin and Tom Misch have performed on this iconic stage since the festival’s founding in 1981.
Ever year, over 200,000 concert goers listen to hundreds of artist spread throughout 4 stages. In addition to the main amphitheater stage, a smaller stage holds daytime concerts and a couple late night venues hold events for those wanting to listen into the wee hours. If you have young ones traveling with you, they will love the children’s concerts.
Jazz music is not all you will find at the festival. Other activities such as projections, film screenings, book readings, conferences and workshops will educate and entertain guest with everything from gospel music to yoga with jazz. You will also hear music other than jazz such as soul, funk, blues, R&B, folk, hip hop and world music.
While main stage headliner concerts will require tickets most events and activities are free.
Jazz à Vienne means jazz anytime, anywhere for anyone.
See Vienne Jazz Festival on a river cruise
A river cruise is a great way to enjoy the Vienne Jazz Festival. Vienne, France is a port stop on river cruises down the Rhone River. If you are sailing on AmaWaterways, the Colors of Provence cruise will be perfect. You have a couple of options to work the festival into your vacation.
- Attend a concert on the day you are in port in Vienne. If you sail on the Colors of Provence itinerary from Lyon, Vienne will be your port of call on Day 3 (the sailings going the opposite direction do not have as much time in Vienne). For 2021 you can choose between two sailing dates, June 24, 2021 (not as much time in Vienne) and July 1, 2021(best option). AmaWaterways Essence of Burgundy and Provence cruise is also an option but the stop is short. Other cruise lines have stops in Vienne in which you could catch a festival concert.
- Add a couple of days in Lyon, France either before or after your river cruise. AmaWaterways Colors of Provence itineraty either begins or ends in Lyon. Lyon is just a short train ride or drive from Vienne so it makes a great place to extend your river cruise. You can not only attend the festival you can also spend more time eating your way through Lyon, the Gastronomy Capital of France.
If you would like more information about river cruises that include Vienne, France and the Vienne Jazz Festival, please contact me.
Happy travels to you…until we meet again!
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