Festival of Sacred Arts of Évron

Festival of Sacred Arts of Évron: Sacred Music in a Heritage Setting

Since 2004, the Festival of Sacred Arts of Évron has hosted the greatest international ensembles of classical, baroque, and traditional music each early July in the exceptional setting of the Basilica of Notre-Dame de l'Épine. Created to reintroduce the public to the remarkable heritage of this Romanesque and Gothic basilica, the festival has become, over more than twenty editions, a key musical and cultural event in Mayenne and the Pays de la Loire region.

A Program Open to All Expressions of the Sacred

The Festival of Sacred Arts is distinguished by a resolutely eclectic program, embracing all forms of sacred expression across cultures and centuries. From medieval Gregorian chant to Renaissance polyphony, from the baroque repertoire of Vivaldi, Bach, or Monteverdi to Sufi, Orthodox, or Celtic musical traditions, each edition offers a journey through nearly a thousand years of musical tradition. The most prestigious ensembles have performed on the festival stage: Le Concert Spirituel conducted by Hervé Niquet, Jordi Savall, Voces8, Tenebrae Choir, Les Arts Florissants, The Gesualdo Six, Canticum Novum, L'Alba, Il Caravaggio, and the Ensemble De Caelis.

The Basilica of Notre-Dame de l'Épine: An Exceptional Venue

The Évron basilica, a listed historic monument, offers the festival a remarkable acoustic and architectural setting. A major edifice of Mayenne's religious heritage, the basilica combines Romanesque elements from the 11th century with a Gothic nave from the 13th century, creating an atmosphere conducive to reflection and listening. The natural acoustics of the nave enhance ancient voices and instruments, transforming each concert into a unique immersive experience.

Beyond Music: Exhibitions, Conferences, and Meetings

The festival is not limited to concerts. Each edition offers a complementary program of exhibitions, conferences, and meetings with artists. In 2025, the exhibition "Arabesques" offered an unprecedented virtual reality immersion into the links between architectural ornamentation, spirituality, and music, presented at the Salle du Temple. The festival also hosts an Academy for young musicians, contributing to the transmission and renewal of sacred repertoires.

A Festival Rooted in its Territory

Supported by the City of Évron under the artistic direction of Emmanuel d'Erceville, the Festival of Sacred Arts benefits from the support of the Tourist Office of Sainte-Suzanne – Les Coëvrons and numerous local partners. Catering and accommodation options are available for festival-goers: local Mayenne cuisine at L'Atelier du Vieux Moulin, complimentary refreshments at festival partners, and discounts at the hotel-restaurant Le Relais du Gué de Selle in Mézangers. A Berber tent set up on the basilica's forecourt welcomes spectators for a convivial moment before and after concerts.