Chapitre Nature
Literature - Science - Nature Festival
About Chapitre Nature
A festival at the crossroads of literature and nature
Chapitre Nature is much more than a book fair: it is a true multidisciplinary festival where literature dialogues with science, ecology, and nature. Created in 2002 by the Ligue de l'enseignement de l'Indre, it was first held in Le Blanc for 20 years before settling in Argenton-sur-Creuse, thus opening a new chapter in its history.
An exceptional meeting place
Chapitre Nature is the annual event where scientists, naturalists, nature conservation professionals, environmental associations, as well as writers, poets, actors, and philosophers meet. This diversity of speakers makes the festival rich and original, addressing environmental issues from multiple angles.
A rich and varied program
The festival unfolds in the heart of the town of Argenton-sur-Creuse around several spaces: the book fair brings together dozens of authors specializing in nature and environmental literature. Conferences and round tables address topics such as popular ecology, ecological transition, the terrestrial condition, new forms of engagement, food, water, and the social consequences of the climate crisis.
Nature and discovery in the field
Guided nature outings allow participants to discover the remarkable fauna and flora of the Creuse valley and its surroundings. Practical workshops offer a concrete and participatory approach to the environment. A young public space welcomes children with adapted activities, while shows, concerts, and public readings punctuate the three days of the festival.
A literary competition and an association forum
Chapitre Nature organizes a recently relaunched literary competition, now including a comic strip category. An environmental association forum and a local producers' market complete the program. Exhibitions and documentary film screenings enrich the cultural offerings of this committed and friendly festival.
Chapitre Nature — edition 2026
21st edition of Chapitre Nature in Argenton-sur-Creuse, from June 5 to 7, 2026. Literature · Science · Ecology Festival organized by the Ligue de l'enseignement de l'Indre, in homage to George Sand for the 150th anniversary of her passing (1804-1876). Three days of literary meetings, conferences, nature outings, workshops, shows, concerts, exhibitions, and screenings, with a Creuse River Parliament on Sunday.
Chapitre Nature 2026 — a 21st edition under the sign of George Sand
From June 5 to 7, 2026, Chapitre Nature returns to Argenton-sur-Creuse for its 21st edition. Created in 2002 by the Ligue de l'enseignement de l'Indre, and established in Argenton-sur-Creuse since 2023 after twenty years in Le Blanc, the festival annually brings together authors, scientists, naturalists, philosophers, artists, and the general public around questions of life and the terrestrial condition.
The 2026 edition celebrates the 150th anniversary of the passing of George Sand (1804-1876), a Berrichonne writer and committed figure of the 19th century. Conferences, exhibitions, a talk about her historical herbarium, and a round table dedicated to « George Sand in Gargilesse » form a common thread dedicated to her work and her relationship with nature.
A multidisciplinary program
The nature and environment book fair, six major meetings and round tables, guided nature outings (bocage birds, butterflies, ladybugs, bud foraging), participatory workshops (cyanotypes, insect shelters, writing, herbal teas), young audience shows, concerts, a vélorution, film screenings, and a neighborhood meal punctuate these three days.
This year, the literary competition opens for the first time to the comic book category, with more than 50 selected works (comic books, coffee table books, essays/guides, fiction/poetry, youth).
The Creuse River Parliament
A highlight on Sunday, the Creuse River Parliament brings together citizens, elected officials, and associations mobilized around the rights of nature, conflicts of use, and desirable futures for the river. A day of testimonies, debates, and proposals inspired by international experiences of legal recognition of watercourses.
Programme Chapitre Nature 2026
Friday, June 5, 2026
- 10 AM — Literary meeting with Bérengère Cournut, focus on Le Tripode editions · Librairie L'Arbre du Voyageur
- 10 AM — School screening « Le Chant des forêts » by Vincent Munier · Cinéma Eden Palace
- 10 AM and 2 PM — Guided tours of the exhibitions « Verdures » (sculptures, Pierre Marchand) at the Musée de la Chemiserie and « Paysages » (paintings, Florence-Louise Petetin) at the Moulin du Rabois
- 10 AM - 4 PM — Floral trail « À fleur de mots » · Square Charles de Gaulle
- 11 AM — Literary meeting with Sigolène Vinson · Librairie L'Arbre du Voyageur
- 1 PM — Performance « La Parade du Vivant » with local artists and students · La Boucherie, Centre d'art performatif
- 2 PM — Young audience show « Roberta Green » by Sandra Bourbonnais, contemplative concert on the seasons · Préau de l'école Paul Bert
- 5 PM — Round table « George Sand in Gargilesse: heritage and territory » · Cinéma Eden Palace (booking recommended)
- 6:30 PM - 9:45 PM — Inaugural evening: speeches, traditional dances, and musical groups · Square Charles de Gaulle
- 8:30 PM — Screening « Objectif Chérine » on the nature reserve · Cinéma Eden Palace (free)
Saturday, June 6, 2026
- 9 AM - 12 PM — Nature outings (10 € per person, by reservation): bocage birds (3 km route), bocage exploration with Indre Nature, « Live my life as a butterfly » (complete insect cycle)
- 10 AM - 12 PM — Literary meetings, focus on Verdier editions: Laurence Potte-Bonneville (novel « Fossiles », 2026), Hélène Laurain (contemporary activism), Camille de Toledo (rights of nature) · Librairie L'Arbre du Voyageur
- 2 PM — Performance « Hybridation et Déambulation » · Bord de Creuse
- 3 PM — Talk about George Sand's historical herbarium · Bibliothèque Rollinat
- 3 PM - 5 PM — Round tables « Learning to listen to the living » (indigenous peoples, ecological defense) and « City Rats / Country Rats: inhabiting the Earth » · Avant-Scène
- All day — Workshops: sewing critters and butterflies, creating ex-votos for the river, building insect shelters, AI and living debate
- 6:30 PM — Vélorution: festive bike parade
- 7 PM - 10:45 PM — Neighborhood meal and concerts: nature quiz with RenAnimator, Indre vocal groups, Back and Forth, DJ Dgé
Sunday, June 7, 2026
- All day — Creuse River Parliament: citizen gathering around the rights and future of the river
- 10 AM - 12 PM — Nature outings (10 € per person, by reservation): « The lowdown on ladybugs » in the Brenne park, walk and bud foraging
- 10 AM - 1 PM — Literary meetings: Marin Schaffner (Wildproject house), Sébastien Marot (environmental history), Violaine Bérot (pastoral author) · Librairie L'Arbre du Voyageur
- 10 AM - 3 PM — Workshops: aquatic writing, cyanotypes, secrets of herbal teas, creating ex-votos, butterfly pop-up card
- 2 PM - 6:30 PM — Conferences and round tables: Creuse landscape transformation (5 €), testimonies on the river, rights of the Creuse and conflicts of use, new forms of ecological commitment
- 2:30 PM — Screening « Soulèvements » by Thomas Lacoste · Cinéma Eden Palace
- 3 PM — Young audience show « Roberta Green » by Sandra Bourbonnais (repeat) · Préau école Paul Bert
Exhibitions all weekend
- « Verdures » by Pierre Marchand (sculptures) — Musée de la Chemiserie
- « Paysages » by Florence-Louise Petetin (paintings) — Moulin du Rabois
- « Le Son des choses » by Cie des Objets Perdus (interactive sound machines) — Champ de foire
- « Papillons de jour de Mayotte » by Angélique Moreau (illustrations) — Promenade du Rabois
Highlights Chapitre Nature 2026
- Tribute to George Sand for the 150th anniversary of her passing (talk, herbarium, round table in Gargilesse)
- Creuse River Parliament on Sunday
- Nature and environment book fair with over 50 works in competition (comic books, essays, fiction, youth)
- Six major literary meetings with Bérengère Cournut, Sigolène Vinson, Camille de Toledo, Violaine Bérot, Marin Schaffner, Sébastien Marot…
- Guided nature outings: bocage birds, butterflies, ladybugs, bud foraging
- Vélorution and neighborhood meal on Saturday evening
- Four exhibitions spread throughout the city (Musée de la Chemiserie, Moulin du Rabois, Champ de foire)
- Free admission to the entire festival, excluding nature outings and certain conferences
Prices Chapitre Nature 2026
Practical information — Chapitre Nature
Practical Information
Access
The festival takes place at Place du Champ de Foire and in various locations in the town center of Argenton-sur-Creuse (36200).
- By car: Argenton-sur-Creuse is located on the N20, 30 km south of Châteauroux and 90 km north of Limoges.
- By train: Argenton-sur-Creuse SNCF station (Paris-Toulouse line).
Reservations
Workshops, nature outings, and conferences can be booked on HelloAsso or at the Argenton-sur-Creuse Tourist Office, 13 place de la République, 36200 Argenton-sur-Creuse (tel: 02 54 24 05 30).
Contact
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 06 84 62 02 83
Festival-goer photos
No photo yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Vous avez repéré une erreur ou une information manquante ?
Aidez-nous à garder cette fiche à jour. Toute proposition est relue par notre équipe avant publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No review yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community
Where does it take place — Chapitre Nature
Centre-ville d'Argenton-sur-Creuse
Place du Champ de Foire, 36200 Argenton-sur-Creuse