Chambord in concert and pianos in Orléans: the last June weekend in Centre-Val de Loire

What's on in Centre-Val de Loire over the weekend of June 27 and 28? The last weekend of June fires the starting gun on the cultural summer, and the region plays all its cards. Our pick goes to Chambord Live, which sets up its contemporary-music stages at the foot of the largest château in the Loire Valley. But the weekend spans every register: romantic piano at George Sand's home with the Nohant Chopin Festival, street arts in Menetou-Salon, ceramicists along the banks of the Creuse and even a fresh batch from a century-old bread oven in the Indre. Here is our considered selection, from headliners to village gems.

Chambord Live in Chambord (41): three days of contemporary music below the château

Our headliner of the weekend. From June 26 to 28, Chambord Live sets up its stages in the heart of the Domaine national de Chambord, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Created in 2022, this internationally minded festival brings together headliners of pop, rock, electro and hip-hop, in a setting few festivals can claim: the silhouette of the largest Loire château as a backdrop. With a capacity of 30,000, the event combines the power of a major line-up with the magic of a place unlike any other in the world. An experience best lived at dusk, when the Renaissance façades light up behind the stage. The must-attend date for fans of big concerts in the region.

Festival des Horizons in Saint-Avertin (37): 15,000 spectators at the Domaine de Cangé

Another weekend heavyweight, the Festival des Horizons takes over the Domaine de Cangé in Saint-Avertin on June 27 and 28. One of Touraine's largest free open-air festivals draws more than 15,000 spectators every last weekend of June. Run by the town, it offers two days of concerts with internationally renowned artists, a craft village, food stalls from around the world and activities for the whole family. The free entry and the scale of the line-up make it a hotly anticipated event on the doorstep of Tours. Worth noting for anyone keen to pair big names with a tight budget, in the green parkland of a Touraine estate.

Nohant Chopin Festival in Nohant-Vic (36): romantic piano at George Sand's home

A classical headliner of the season, the Nohant Chopin Festival is in full swing this weekend, in George Sand's estate in the heart of Berry. Founded in 1966, it ranks among the most respected classical music events in France, devoted entirely to Frédéric Chopin and the romantic piano repertoire. The festival keeps alive the memory of the Polish composer's stays with the novelist, between 1839 and 1846, in an intimate setting far removed from the big concert halls. The greatest international pianists take turns here, often just a few metres from the audience, through July 22. It's the hushed counterpoint to an otherwise very festive weekend. A must if you love pairing great music with a place of literary memory.

Grand PianO Festival in Orléans (45): every keyboard celebrated at the Campo Santo

From June 25 to 28, the Grand PianO Festival celebrates the piano in all its forms at the Campo Santo in Orléans. Created in 2023 by the city, it offers each year in late June an eclectic programme that lets classical music, jazz, chanson, blues, electro and world music speak to one another. True to its values of accessibility, it alternates free open-air concerts with more intimate gatherings. The Campo Santo, a former Renaissance cemetery with arcaded galleries, lends a singular acoustic and atmosphere. A fine urban counterpoint to Berry's classical programme, for those who love hearing the piano stray off the beaten track.

Festival à la RUE in Menetou-Salon (18): a village transformed by street arts

From June 26 to 28, the Festival à la RUE transforms Menetou-Salon, in the Cher. Run by the Le Carroi association, this festival of street arts, circus, theatre and dance brings together around fifteen professional companies for more than 35 free performances. Streets, squares and public spaces become so many stages over three days, in a festive, grassroots spirit. It's one of the finest ways to discover live performance with the family, ticket-free, as you wander. A Berry gem for anyone who loves the buzz of a village given over to its artists.

Festiv'été in Argenton-sur-Creuse (36): four days of musical discoveries

From June 25 to 28, Festiv'été animates the heart of Argenton-sur-Creuse for the last week of June. Created in 2010 and run by the town, this free festival lines up an eclectic programme: rock, folk, funk, electro-pop, jazz, poetic chanson and brass bands take over the Place de la République and the town's streets. The easy-going mood and free entry make it a warm gathering for lovers of discovery, away from the big machines. The lovely Creuse valley, with its arcaded houses along the water, adds to the charm of these evenings. Best paired on Sunday with the nearby potters' market.

National Potters' Market in Argenton-sur-Creuse (36): ceramics on the banks of the Creuse

On Sunday June 28, the National Potters' Market gathers more than forty professional ceramicists on the Promenade du Rabois, along the banks of the Creuse. Coming from across France and Berry, they offer one-of-a-kind pieces in stoneware, porcelain, earthenware and raku. It's a chance to meet the artisans, understand their craft and pick up original creations in a bucolic setting. The event appeals as much to collectors as to Sunday strollers, drawn by the quality of the stalls and the gentleness of the site. A fine craft companion to the Festiv'été animating the same town this weekend.

Festival des Kampagn'Arts in Saint-Paterne-Racan (37): the contemporary-music eco-festival

On June 26 and 27, the Festival des Kampagn'Arts raises its stages at the Saint-Paterne-Racan leisure area. Created in 2007 by the Bouge Ton Bled association, this contemporary-music eco-festival offers two evenings of concerts in a country setting fully decorated to an annual theme, with a capacity of 6,000 per night. It stands out for its eco-responsible approach and its spirit of cultural mixing. It's the volunteer-run gem of northern Touraine, carried by a team as close-knit as it is inventive. Ideal for dancing under the stars while backing a committed, human-scale project.

Brass Band Festival in Pays Bourgueillois, Bourgueil (37): brass and a wine terroir

On June 27 and 28, the Brass Band Festival in Pays Bourgueillois sets the brass ringing in Bourgueil. This annual festival is held each year in a different town of the Bourgueillois and offers a gala evening on Saturday, followed by a Sunday of free open-air concerts bringing several ensembles together. The aim: to promote brass-band music while showcasing the local heritage and wine terroir. It's an original outing, where music meets the Touraine art of living, where you can pair a concert with a tasting of the famous Bourgueil wines. A lovely idea for fans of ambitious brass bands.

Festival Musik'Air in Villemandeur (45): two nights of contemporary music in the Loiret

On June 26 and 27, the Festival Musik'Air takes over the grounds of the Château de Lisledon in Villemandeur, in the eastern Loiret. Created in 2002, this contemporary-music event lines up two evenings blending rock, punk, reggae, electro, rap, funk and dub. An eco-festival since 2014, Musik'Air cultivates a friendly, family spirit inherited from its years at the Montargis velodrome. The mixed line-up and the wooded château setting make it a pleasant summer stop for those who like switching genres. A safe bet of the Loiret's grassroots scene, to discover without breaking the bank.

Lucé en Fête in Lucé (28): three free nights and a musical fireworks display

From June 25 to 27, Lucé en Fête celebrates the start of summer at the Parc de l'Hôtel de Ville in Lucé, in the Chartres area. For six years, this free festival run by the town has offered three evenings of concerts, activities for the whole family, food stalls and a grand musical fireworks display to close. The event, popular and convivial, gathers the residents of Eure-et-Loir in a neighbourhood-fete atmosphere. It's exactly the kind of accessible, unifying gathering we like to highlight: free, family-friendly and rooted in its area. Ideal for an easy summer evening, a stone's throw from Chartres.

Anjouin Bread Festival (36): the wood-fired oven and the producers' market

On Saturday June 27, the little village of Anjouin, in the Indre, celebrates the art of traditional baking at its Bread Festival. In the heart of the village, around the Château du Bourg, young and old are invited to shape and bake breads, pastries and viennoiseries in an authentic wood-fired oven. A market of local producers, craftspeople, folk and musical entertainment round out the day. It's the weekend's tasty, convivial gem, light-years from the big stages but rich in the soulfulness peculiar to village fetes. An ideal family outing to breathe in fresh warm bread and support the rural know-how of Berry.

To explore other regions this weekend, head to our full weekend agenda. Enjoy your time in Centre-Val de Loire.