Abbaye de Reigny Festival

The Abbey of Reigny: A Cistercian Gem in the Yonne

Founded in 1128 by Étienne de Toucy under the direct authority of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, the Notre-Dame de Reigny Abbey is one of the oldest Cistercian abbeys in Burgundy. Placed under the protection of Pope Eugene III in 1147, it experienced a period of great influence in the Middle Ages before being sold as national property during the Revolution. Today, it is privately owned and preserves vestiges of exceptional architectural value, foremost among which is the 14th-century refectory, one of the three Cistercian halls of its kind still intact in France, with its double nave vaulted with ogival ribs and its original medieval polychromy.

The natural setting of the abbey, on the banks of the River Cure in the wooded valley connecting Vermenton to Lucy-sur-Cure, adds to the enchantment of the place. The wet meadows, old trees, and the abbey mill form a peaceful tableau typical of secret Burgundy, far from the usual tourist routes.

A Musical and Literary Season in Tribute to Heritage

The Abbaye de Reigny Festival, continuing the cultural season "Words and Music" initiated in 2006 by the Friends of Reigny, offers an intimate program each summer combining chamber music, vocal recitals, piano concerts, and literary readings. The formula combines the beauty of French and Francophone literary texts, recited by renowned actors and readers, with the magic of music performed by top-level artists.

The exceptional natural acoustics of the Cistercian refectory—its limestone vaults, thick walls, and balanced proportions—give each concert a rare sound quality that modern halls struggle to reproduce. Playing or listening in this space, imbued with eight centuries of history, is an experience in itself, transcending a simple concert to become a moment of communion between the place, the artists, and the audience.

Typical Programming

• Piano Recitals: From Schubert to Ravel, including Chopin, accomplished pianists explore the classical and romantic repertoire in this exceptional setting.
• Chamber Music: Violin-piano duos, trios, string quartets with leading chamber ensembles.
• Vocal Concerts: Soprano, mezzo-soprano, and baritone recitals accompanied by piano, featuring Lieder, French mélodie, and opera programs.
• Musical Readings: A combination of literary texts—Colette, Prévert, Apollinaire, Yourcenar, Pagnol—and music for piano or chamber ensemble.
• Young Talents: Concerts allowing young instrumentalists and singers to perform in this exceptional setting.

A Human-Scale Festival in the Heart of Burgundy

The Abbaye de Reigny Festival is deliberately designed on a small scale to preserve the intimate and contemplative atmosphere of the place. The limited capacity of the refectory (around 150 seats) ensures a proximity between the audience and the artists that has become a rarity today. Concerts are generally held on weekends in July and August, with occasional additional performances during the week.

This human scale is also a strength: it allows for the inclusion of artists who might not fit in larger venues, fosters daring programming, and encourages encounters between genres—literary text and music, classical and contemporary, voice and instrument. It creates a special bond among spectators, that of a community united by a shared love of beauty.

Reigny, Vermenton, and the Cure Valley: A Region to Discover

A visit to the festival is an opportunity to discover a little-known and endearing region of the Yonne. The Cure Valley, with its limestone cliffs inhabited since prehistoric times (Arcy-sur-Cure caves), its villages with pale stone houses, its trout rivers, and its oak forests, is one of the most beautiful areas of northern Burgundy. Vermenton retains its 12th-century collegiate church and its winegrower houses, testifying to a prestigious wine-growing past. A few kilometers away, the Arcy-sur-Cure caves house the oldest prehistoric art in Burgundy.