Baroque en Forez Festival
Traveling festival of baroque music in the Loire
About Baroque en Forez
The Baroque en Forez Festival is a traveling and committed festival dedicated to baroque music, organized and financed by Loire Forez Agglomération. Each autumn, it takes over the remarkable churches, castles, and heritage sites of Forez to offer concerts, musical performances, guided walks, introductions to baroque dance, and film screenings. Born in 2012 from the ashes of the Festival des Musiques d'Automne (created in 1992 in Saint-Genest-Lerpt), it aims to break codes and bridge the gap between classical musicians and the public, by opening baroque music to current issues. A new theme serves as a common thread for the programming each year. Accessible and open to all, the festival also offers tailor-made formats for schools and retirement homes, mobilizing around fifteen volunteers throughout the year.
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A traveling festival in the heart of Forez heritage
Since 2012, the Baroque en Forez Festival has established itself as an unmissable event of the cultural season in the Loire. Organized and financed by Loire Forez Agglomération, this traveling festival takes over about ten municipalities in Forez each autumn to make baroque music resonate in exceptional heritage locations: Romanesque churches, castles, mills, springs, and remarkable natural sites.
A history rooted in the territory
The festival was born in 2012 from the ashes of the Festival des Musiques d'Automne, created in 1992 in Saint-Genest-Lerpt. By taking up the torch, Baroque en Forez chose to refocus on the baroque repertoire (1600-1750) while opening it up to daring crossovers with other eras and disciplines. Under the artistic direction of Florent Mayet and then Louis-Jean Perreau (violinist, conductor, and founding member of Trio L), the festival has continuously grown and affirmed its identity: that of a collective human adventure, built with volunteers and a loyal audience.
A rich and eclectic program
Each edition is structured around an annual theme serving as a common thread. The program combines "large-format" concerts with ensembles of international caliber (Concert de l'Hostel Dieu, Comet Musicke, Ensemble Céladon, The Curious Bards, Canticum Novum, Musica Nova, Les Nouveaux Caractères), more intimate "discovery" concerts, and numerous activities: introductions to baroque dance, baroque yoga, guided heritage walks, film screenings, conferences, and meetings with artists after each concert.
A commitment to transmission
The festival places great importance on amateur practice and transmission. Music conservatory students and students from Arémuz (Arts et Musique en Loire Forez) participate in the programming. Tailor-made proposals are designed for schools and residents of retirement homes, allowing all audiences to discover baroque music. The festival is supported by the Department of the Loire, the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional Massenet of Saint-Étienne, the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Lyon, and the Maîtrise de la Loire.
A committed festival
Beyond music, Baroque en Forez aims to be a committed festival, open to contemporary issues. Eco-mobility is encouraged, and each edition invites the public to explore new perspectives, combining heritage, nature, and human encounters. The festival has become a flagship event of Haut-Forez, contributing to the cultural and tourist influence of the Loire Forez Agglomération territory.
Baroque en Forez — edition 2026
14th edition of the Baroque en Forez Festival. The traveling baroque music festival returns to the municipalities of Forez from late September to early October 2026. Programming is under development.
14th Edition: See You in Autumn 2026
The Baroque en Forez Festival returns for its 14th edition in the autumn of 2026. True to its traveling spirit, the festival will once again take over the remarkable heritage sites of the Loire Forez Agglomération territory for two weeks of concerts, performances, walks, and encounters centered around baroque music.
The 2026 program is currently under development. As each year, a new theme will serve as the common thread for all artistic offerings. The public will be able to discover early music ensembles of international caliber, intimate discovery concerts, family activities, and tailor-made formats for schools and retirement homes.
The festival continues its commitment to a responsible approach, blending heritage, nature, and contemporary issues, with a particular focus on eco-mobility and accessibility for all audiences.
Highlights Baroque en Forez 2026
- 14th edition of the traveling baroque music festival
- Late September - early October 2026
- Programming under development
- Concerts in the heritage sites of Forez
- Free activities: walks, visits, introductions
- Tailor-made formats for schools and retirement homes
Prices Baroque en Forez 2026
Practical information — Baroque en Forez
Practical Information
Access
The Baroque en Forez Festival is a traveling festival that unfolds in several municipalities within the Loire Forez Agglomération territory, in the Loire department (42). Concerts and activities take place in churches, castles, and heritage sites of Forez.
- By car: Montbrison is located 40 km from Saint-Étienne via the A72, 100 km from Lyon via the A89/A72, and 170 km from Clermont-Ferrand via the A89. Concert venues are spread across the surrounding municipalities (Marcoux, Marols, Apinac, Montarcher, Saint-Bonnet-le-Château, Saint-Jean-Soleymieux, Verrières-en-Forez, Saint-Just-Saint-Rambert, Savigneux).
- By train: Montbrison station (TER line Saint-Étienne - Montbrison). Eco-mobility solutions are offered by the festival.
Ticketing
Tickets are on sale online via the festival's ticketing system (indiv.themisweb.fr) and at the Loire Forez Tourist Office. Different prices are offered depending on the events:
- Large-format concerts: 20 euros (full price), 10 euros (reduced price: job seekers, students)
- Discovery concerts: 10 euros (single price) or 5 euros depending on the events
- Pass for 3 large-format concerts: 45 euros
- Under 18s: Free
- Activities (walks, visits, screenings, yoga): Free
Contact
Loire Forez Agglomération - 17, boulevard de la Préfecture - CS 30211 - 42605 Montbrison Cedex. Phone: 04 77 96 08 69. Website: baroque-en-forez.com
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Travel to this festival
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Where does it take place — Baroque en Forez
Lieux patrimoniaux du Forez (églises, châteaux, sites naturels)
17 boulevard de la Préfecture, 42600 Montbrison