Grand Couvige de Haute-Loire 2026: Brioude celebrates 40 years of lace

Two days of international meeting

The main program will run from 10:00 AM to 18:00 PM on Saturday, March 3, and will continue on Sunday, March 4, from 10:00 AM to 17:00 PM. The organizers have announced the arrival of clubs, associations, and professionals from various regions of France, along with participants from Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, and Bulgaria. This diverse array of participants promises a wide variety of displays, ranging from crafts rooted in local traditions to contemporary designs that explore different colors, scales, and materials.

Visitors will find specialized stalls, exhibitions, workshops, and demonstrations. A couvige is precisely that: a gathering centered around lacemaking where people work, observe, and converse. You don't need to be an expert bobbin lace maker to enjoy it. Simply pause before a cushion, follow the threads, and ask how a motif is formed. Each table can become a mini-lesson on braids, backgrounds, leaves, or spirit stitches.

Forty years of the Hôtel de la Dentelle

The celebration has a very specific history. Odette Arpin founded the Hôtel de la Dentelle in 1986, after learning from some of the last traditional lacemakers of Haute-Loire and receiving the title of Meilleur Ouvrier de France en dentelle Cluny (Best Craftsman of France in Cluny Lace). The project was born with three objectives that remain relevant today: to preserve, develop, and transmit the know-how of bobbin lace.

Since then, the center has combined a creation workshop, training, exhibition, and studio. Four of its lacemakers have received the prestigious Meilleur Ouvrier de France award. It has also developed its own distinct style through the Cluny Policromo de Brioude, made with silk and color. In 1996, the workshop created a bustier for Balmain, designed by Odette Arpin under the artistic direction of Oscar de la Renta, a piece that required over a thousand hours of work.

Workshops to learn and improve

Around the main event, courses are offered before, during, and after the weekend. The Hôtel de la Dentelle is hosting a variety of participating artists and projects, including Josidentelle, Le fil en Héritage, Veva Van Der Wolf, and Bistra Pisancheva. The workshops are designed to explore new approaches as well as refine existing techniques. For details on availability, dates, and conditions, please contact the organizers directly, as each course has its own format.

Even those who don't register can learn by watching. It's fascinating to compare the way the bobbins are positioned, the type of cushion used, and how the threads are tightened. At an international gathering, different vocabularies emerge for similar gestures, along with unexpected solutions to the same problem. This exchange of ideas is one of the great strengths of the couviges: the tradition travels from table to table while remaining true to each place.

Brioude, city of lace and golden stone

This getaway also offers the chance to explore a town in the Auvergne region steeped in artisanal heritage. Brioude's historic center invites leisurely strolls and a visit to the Basilica of Saint-Julien, easily recognizable by the warmth and nuances of its stonework. The Hôtel de la Dentelle is located at 29 rue du 4 Septembre, in a historic building where the creations are displayed around the workshop, which is open to the public.

It's advisable to plan your trip in advance and confirm the venue for each activity, especially if you've booked a course. The information phone number is +33 4 71 74 80 02 and the contact email is contact@hoteldeladentelle.com. Exhibitor registration is now closed, but the event is presented as a meeting open to the public and focused on demonstrations, exhibitions, sales, and networking.

A celebration to look ahead

Turning forty doesn't mean standing still. The history of the Hôtel de la Dentelle shows that preserving a technique also requires designing, experimenting, and training new hands. In Brioude, antique pieces will share a conversation with colorful silk and artists from around the world. Bobbin lace will be presented as heritage, a creative tool, and a common language.

The Grand Couvige de Haute-Loire will be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate this continuity. For two days, the sound of wood and the movement of threads will accompany an anniversary that belongs to those who taught, learned, and continued to innovate. If you're looking for an intimate and nuanced international event, Brioude could be the perfect lacemaking destination this autumn.

Sources: Hôtel de la Dentelle, official call, Hôtel de la Dentelle, special courses, Hôtel de la Dentelle, history of the workshop y My Haute-Loire, tourist guide.