International Festival of Baroque Music and Organ
Created in 1962, the Festival Bach de Saint-Donat is the first festival dedicated to Jean-Sébastien Bach in France. Every summer, the collegiate church of Saint-Donat-sur-l'Herbasse hosts a week of exceptional concerts featuring Bach's work and European baroque music. Supported by the Centre Musical International J.S. Bach, the festival highlights the magnificent baroque organ of the collegiate church and offers recitals, chamber music concerts, and new creations, in a remarkable heritage setting in the heart of the Drôme des Collines.
Founded in 1962 by Doctor Henri Lémonon, Colonel Théophile-Jean Delaye, and Canon André Parrot, the parish priest, the Festival Bach de Saint-Donat is the very first festival dedicated to the music of Jean-Sébastien Bach in France. Born from a desire for Franco-German reconciliation after the tragic events of World War II — Saint-Donat having suffered reprisals on June 15, 1944 — this festival has embodied a message of peace and shared culture for over sixty years.
The collegiate church of Saints-Pierre-et-Paul in Saint-Donat-sur-l'Herbasse houses an exceptional baroque organ, the restoration of which was initiated by Henri Lémonon at his own expense. In 1962, the renowned organist Marie-Claire Alain gave a historic inaugural recital, laying the foundation for a musical adventure that has continued ever since. The organ remains at the heart of the programming, attracting the world's greatest baroque music performers each year.
The festival takes place over a week at the end of July and the beginning of August, offering seven days of exceptional concerts. The program highlights Bach's monumental work — cantatas, concertos, sonatas, preludes, and fugues — while enriching it with discoveries of European baroque composers: Buxtehude, Vivaldi, Handel, Couperin, Rameau.
Supported by the Centre Musical International J.S. Bach (CMI), the festival is not limited to concerts. It organizes organ masterclasses, musicological conferences, and artist encounters, fostering the transmission of baroque music to younger generations. The CMI also hosts a year-round musical season in Saint-Donat.
Saint-Donat-sur-l'Herbasse, a charming town in the Drôme des Collines nestled between Valence and Tournon-sur-Rhône, offers an ideal setting for this festival. The Romanesque collegiate church, a listed historic monument, boasts remarkable acoustics that enhance musical performances. The medieval village, with its picturesque alleys and shaded terraces, invites visitors to extend their festival experience in a friendly and authentic atmosphere.
With over sixty editions to its name, the Festival Bach de Saint-Donat is an unmissable event for all lovers of baroque music in France and Europe, passionately perpetuating the universal heritage of Jean-Sébastien Bach.
The Festival Bach de Saint-Donat returns for a new edition from July 25th to August 2nd, 2026. Seven days of exceptional baroque music and organ concerts in the collegiate church of Saint-Donat-sur-l'Herbasse, in the heart of the Drôme des Collines.
The Festival Bach de Saint-Donat returns for its new edition, from July 25th to August 2nd, 2026. Seven days of exceptional concerts are scheduled in the collegiate church of Saint-Donat-sur-l'Herbasse, featuring numerous classical and baroque music artists. The full program will be announced in the spring of 2026.
By car: Saint-Donat-sur-l'Herbasse is located 30 minutes from Valence and 20 minutes from Tournon-sur-Rhône. From the A7 motorway, take the Tain-l'Hermitage or Valence Nord exit, then follow signs for Saint-Donat-sur-l'Herbasse via the D532.
By train: Tain-l'Hermitage station (TER from Valence or Lyon), then a bus or taxi connection to Saint-Donat (approximately 20 km).
Collégiale Saints-Pierre-et-Paul, Saint-Donat-sur-l'Herbasse town center.
Online booking at cmi-bach.com or by email at [email protected].
Centre Musical International J.S. Bach
Saint-Donat-sur-l'Herbasse
Email: [email protected]
Website: cmi-bach.com
No photo yet. Share yours!
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
No rating yet — be the first!
No review yet. Be the first!
Share your experience with the community
Book your train or bus to reach Festival Bach at the best price.
Sponsored link
Collégiale Saints-Pierre-et-Paul de Saint-Donat
Collégiale Saints-Pierre-et-Paul, 26260 Saint-Donat-sur-l'Herbasse