Festival À la Folie!
Musical eclecticism at the Royal Monastery of Brou
About À la Folie
The À la Folie festival: when music takes over the Royal Monastery of Brou
Since 2010, the À la Folie festival (originally named "À la folie... pas du tout!") transforms every Saturday evening in summer into an open-air concert venue at the Royal Monastery of Brou. Nestled within the second cloister, known as the meditation cloister, this musical event offers an extraordinary setting: the Flamboyant Gothic arcades of the monastery, a masterpiece from the early 16th century built by Margaret of Austria, serve as a backdrop for evenings of eclecticism and conviviality.
Rich and eclectic programming
The festival stands out through its musical diversity. From jazz to French chanson, world music, soul, blues, classical music and contemporary genres, each Saturday evening offers a different musical color. Over the years, the festival has welcomed renowned artists such as Manu Katché, Jeanne Cherhal, Oldelaf, Nach and Hussam Aliwat, alongside emerging talents.
An exceptional heritage setting
The Royal Monastery of Brou, a classified Flamboyant Gothic historic monument, provides a unique setting. Concerts take place in the second cloister, whose arcaded galleries create remarkable acoustics and an intimate atmosphere. At nightfall, multicolored lights are projected onto the vaults and stone columns, creating a warm and enchanting ambiance.
The site, managed by the Centre des monuments nationaux, is one of the most visited monuments in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
Practical details and atmosphere
Doors open at 8 PM and concerts begin at 8:30 PM for approximately 1h30. A refreshment stand is set up each evening. The festival takes place rain or shine: no cancellations or postponements, as the cloister architecture provides natural shelter. The accessible price of 11 euros (free for under 26s) and the option to combine the ticket with a monument visit make it an event open to all.
À la Folie — edition 2026
The 17th edition of the À la Folie! festival takes place from July 18 to August 29, 2026, at the Monastère royal de Brou, in Bourg-en-Bresse. Every Saturday evening throughout the summer, the monastery's second cloister hosts an open-air concert blending jazz, folk, French chanson, fado, rock, and world music. This year's program includes: Birds On A Wire, Matt Elliott, Estelle Perrault Quintet, LINA_ & Marco Mezquida, Richard Galliano, Telegraph, and Zélie & DJ Alor.
17th Edition - Summer 2026
The À la Folie! festival returns for its 17th edition, from July 18 to August 29, 2026, at the Monastère royal de Brou. True to its proven formula, the festival offers an open-air concert every Saturday evening in the enchanting setting of the second cloister.
The 2026 program, marked by musical eclecticism, brings together emerging artists and confirmed names from the French and international scenes: baroque and folk music, jazz, fado, rock, pop, and electro follow one another throughout the summer to offer unique evenings combining musical discovery and architectural heritage.
Doors open at 8 PM, concerts start at 8:30 PM and last approximately 1h30. A refreshment stand is set up every concert evening in the second cloister. Prices remain affordable: 11 € per concert, free for those under 26, with the possibility of a combined ticket giving access to the concert and a visit to the monument (from 9 AM to 6 PM on the day of the concert). Tickets must be purchased in advance; there is no on-site sale.
Programme À la Folie 2026
Program 2026
Seven concerts, Saturday evenings from July 18 to August 29, 2026. Doors open at 8 PM, concerts at 8:30 PM (approximate duration 1h30), in the second cloister of the Monastère royal de Brou.
- Saturday, July 18 — Birds On A Wire (baroque & folk)
- Saturday, July 25 — Matt Elliott (folk)
- Saturday, August 1 — Estelle Perrault Quintet (jazz)
- Saturday, August 8 — LINA_ & Marco Mezquida (fado)
- Saturday, August 15 — Richard Galliano (jazz)
- Saturday, August 22 — Telegraph (rock)
- Saturday, August 29 — Zélie & DJ Alor (pop & electro)
Highlights À la Folie 2026
- 7 open-air concerts in the second cloister of the Monastère royal de Brou
- Richard Galliano, master of jazz accordion, on August 15
- An eclectic program: baroque, folk, jazz, fado, rock, pop & electro
- Single price of 11 €, free for those under 26
Prices À la Folie 2026
Practical information — À la Folie
Practical information
Getting there
By car: Bourg-en-Bresse is accessible via the A40 (from Lyon, ~1h) or the A39 (from Dijon). The monastery is at 63 boulevard de Brou, east of the center. Free parking nearby.
By train: Bourg-en-Bresse station with TGV and TER from Lyon (35 min), Paris (2h) and Geneva (1h30). The monastery is a 20-minute walk or reachable by city bus.
By bus: Rubis network, nearest stop "Monastère de Brou".
Schedule
Doors at 8 PM. Concerts at 8:30 PM. Duration: ~1h30. Every Saturday evening from mid-July to late August.
Prices
Single price: 11€ per concert. Free for under 26s. Combined ticket (concert + monument visit) available.
Tickets
Online at monastere-de-brou.fr and Centre des monuments nationaux. Box office opens mid-May.
Refreshments
A refreshment stand is set up each concert evening in the cloister.
Weather
The festival takes place rain or shine. No cancellations. The cloister provides partial shelter.
Accessibility
Accessible to visitors with reduced mobility. Contact: 04 74 22 83 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 — À la Folie
Monastère royal de Brou - Deuxième cloître
63 boulevard de Brou, 01000 Bourg-en-Bresse