Hellfest

Hellfest is the cathedral of heavy music. Located in Clisson, a small town in western France, this four-day festival draws 180,000 metalheads for the heaviest, loudest, most uncompromising lineup in the world. Six stages cover every shade of heavy: thrash, death, black, doom, stoner, punk, hardcore, and classic rock. Despite the brutal music, Hellfest's atmosphere is famously friendly. The crowd is passionate but respectful. Families attend. The food is excellent (this is France, after all). And the site design — with its steampunk/industrial aesthetic, a massive metal church, and a fully themed "Hell City" — is extraordinary. Clisson is small, so most festivalgoers camp on-site. The camping is well-organized with showers, toilets, and a mini supermarket. Alternatively, Nantes is 30 minutes away by train. Getting there: Fly to Nantes Atlantique Airport (NTE). Shuttle buses run from Nantes to the festival. Clisson has a small train station with direct service from Nantes. Pro tip: Even if metal is not your primary genre, Hellfest is worth experiencing for the atmosphere alone. The community spirit and production quality rival any mainstream festival.