Korça hosts special edition of French Cultural Week, blending art, music, and culinary traditions

The city of Korça comes alive with a dedicated edition of French Cultural Week, taking place from June 14 to 24. Organized as part of the fourth season of Albania’s International Cultural Weeks, this year’s celebration brings a unique French flair to the city, transforming it into a vibrant artistic and cultural destination. The festival features a wide array of events, including music performances, ballet, digital art, cinema, and French cuisine, all curated to highlight France’s cultural legacy and creative innovation.

Why is this important: According to Blendi Gonxhja, Albania’s Minister of Economy, Culture, and Innovation, the program aims to merge tradition and modernity, offering residents and visitors a comprehensive cultural experience.

The festivities began on June 14 with a performance by the folkloric group Groupe d’Art et Traditions Populaires La Savoie at the “Spirit of the Balkans” festival in Pazari Square. The group brought the rhythms, costumes, and cultural traditions of the Savoie region to Korça, creating a vibrant atmosphere where French and Balkan cultures met through music and dance.

On June 17, the French animated film Les Triplettes de Belleville was screened for children, an event organized by the Alliance Française. The film captivated young audiences with its unique visual style, whimsical humor, and enchanting music. The following day, on June 18, the pedestrian street in Korça transformed into a colorful playground with face painting, creative workshops, and games designed to entertain and inspire the youngest festival-goers.

On June 19, attendees have the opportunity to explore the historical and architectural footprint of France in Korça through the “French Traces in Korça” tour, led by the Alliance Française. The journey through the city reveals longstanding cultural connections between France and Albania.

On June 20, the day begins with a relaxing guided walk through the picturesque hills surrounding the city. The tour invites participants to enjoy the greenery, fresh air, and panoramic views of Korça’s natural surroundings. Later, the classic French animated film Le Roi et L’Oiseau is shown at the Children’s Village, appealing to all age groups with its poetic storytelling, imaginative visuals, and subtle social commentary.

That same day, the exhibition Loustal at 120 km/h opens in front of the Korça Municipality building and remains on view through July 20. Presented in collaboration with the Musée des Beaux-Arts of Chambéry, the exhibition explores the visual language of Alpine highway signs through artistic illustrations. It connects contemporary design with centuries of landscape art from the Savoie region.

From June 20 to 23, the Digital Art Gallery hosts two interactive installations by French multimedia artist Damien Traversaz. In Koro, two visitors at a time embark on an intimate sensory journey exploring the energies that define human experience. Reflets, a second work, is an immersive audiovisual installation that pays tribute to composer Claude Debussy, merging sound, light, and imagination.

From June 20 to 24, French cuisine takes the spotlight at the “Le Paris” restaurant in Korça. Chef Jean-Pierre Chavanon from Savoie presents a refined menu of regional specialties, offering guests a taste of authentic French gastronomy. Reservations are required to attend this exclusive dining experience.

On June 21 and 22, Pazari Square pulses with contemporary energy as DJ Captain XXI performs live, blending a range of electronic styles into one eclectic set. Alongside him, visual artists from Pil’z studio deliver real-time video projections that create an immersive, multisensory experience of rhythm, color, and motion. Simultaneously, the square becomes a stage for the contemporary ballet Time Out, directed by choreographer Lyli Gauthier. The performance fuses contemporary dance, hip-hop, circus elements, and audiovisuals to explore the body and image in constant transformation. Those same days, Gauthier leads a creative dance workshop at the Art Center with five amateur dancers from the City Ensemble. The workshop emphasizes self-expression and collaborative movement and culminates in a performance that reflects the spirit of shared artistic growth.

On June 23, the French Cultural Week culminates in a European dialogue session at the Center for Openness and Dialogue (COD) in Tirana. Thierry Repentin, Mayor of Chambéry, joins Albania’s Minister of State for Local Governance, Arbjan Mazniku, in a public discussion moderated by Odeta Barbullushi and attended by the Mayor of Korça. The event focuses on territorial development and EU integration. Attendance is by reservation via [email protected].