Festival Bleu Trompette

A Free Jazz Festival in the Village

Nestled in the white hills of Quercy, the medieval village of Montpezat-de-Quercy hosts one of the most endearing musical events in Tarn-et-Garonne every late July. The Festival Bleu Trompette, created in the early 2010s, has established itself as a must-attend summer event for all lovers of open-air jazz and improvised music.

Its strength? Total accessibility: admission is completely free for all concerts, making this festival a true space for cultural sharing open to all generations. The name Bleu Trompette evokes both the azure color of the Quercy sky in July and the warm timbre of brass instruments resonating through the alleys and paved squares of this classified village.

Four Days of Music in a Heritage Setting

For four days, from July 23rd to 26th, artists will take over the spaces in the heart of the village — the main square, esplanades, terraces — for open-air concerts that benefit from the exceptional setting of Montpezat-de-Quercy, one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France. The open-air stages allow attendees to enjoy both the music and the panoramic views of the surrounding causses.

The festival's program covers a wide spectrum around jazz: traditional and New Orleans jazz, gypsy swing, blues and soul, contemporary jazz, and world music. Local and regional bands perform alongside invited artists from all over France, creating a festive and relaxed atmosphere that appeals to both connoisseurs and newcomers.

The Gastronomic Market, Soul of the Festival

One of the unique features of the Bleu Trompette Festival is its gastronomic dimension. Alongside the concerts, a gastronomic market brings together local producers, artisans, and restaurateurs from Quercy to offer the public a true feast of flavors. Foie gras, Cahors wines, local cheeses, confits, Quercy truffles, and regional specialties are available alongside street food stalls and local restaurant offerings.

This marriage of live music and regional gastronomy has become the festival's signature. Festival-goers can relax on a terrace with a glass of Malbec in hand, feet under the table, while a trumpet improvises just a few meters away. An image of simple happiness that sums up the spirit of Bleu Trompette.

A Festival Rooted in its Territory

The Festival Bleu Trompette is driven by a dynamic local association supported by the municipality of Montpezat-de-Quercy, the Quercy Blanc Community of Communes, and the Department of Tarn-et-Garonne. Its free admission is based on a solidarity-based economic model combining public subsidies, local patronage, and revenue from the gastronomic market.

With over 2,000 visitors per edition, the festival significantly contributes to the summer vibrancy of the village and the tourist appeal of Quercy Blanc. It is part of a tradition of rural jazz festivals that enrich the cultural landscape of the Southwest, alongside events like the Cahors Blues Festival or the jazz festivals in the neighboring Lot region.

Montpezat-de-Quercy, a Village of Art and History

The festival's setting is a major attraction in itself. Montpezat-de-Quercy is classified among the Most Beautiful Villages in France. Its characteristic grid layout of medieval bastides, its arcades, its 14th-century collegiate church of Saint-Martin housing remarkable 16th-century Flemish tapestries, and its pebble-paved alleys form a unique and historic backdrop.

The festival invites visitors to explore the village between concerts, to step inside the collegiate church, to stroll along the shaded promenades with views of the Quercy countryside, and to visit artisan workshops and wine cellars. Jazz, heritage, and gastronomy combine to create a complete experience in one of Tarn-et-Garonne's most beautiful settings.