The City of Douarnenez is presenting an exceptional exhibition at the Port Museum (Port-musée de Douarnenez) on the Douarnenez Carnival (“Les Gras”), a popular festival deeply rooted in the local maritime culture. Although Les Gras is one of the most important carnivals in Brittany, this tradition has never before been the subject of an exhibition.

With old photographs, personal accounts, and contemporary works, the exhibition offers an approach that is at once historical, social, and artistic. It tells the story of a community celebration with its own customs and rituals, and highlights the creativity of carnival participants through costumes, masks, posters, videos, paintings, and photographs.

In addition to its appeal to tourists, Les Gras is first and foremost a celebration for the residents of Douarnenez, passed down from generation to generation. The exhibition offers visitors the chance to discover and understand this unique tradition, which helps preserve and share an essential part of the city’s soul.

All exhibition texts are available in English.