Festival de la Vézère

A traveling classical music festival in Corrèze

The Festival de la Vézère is a major cultural event in Corrèze, created in 1981 by Guy du Saillant. Every summer, from early July to mid-August, the festival transforms the most remarkable heritage sites in the department into exceptional musical stages. Abbeys, castles, Romanesque churches, and historic gardens host classical music concerts, recitals, and opera performances, offering the public a unique artistic experience, combining musical excellence and architectural beauty.

Exceptional venues for a prestigious program

The festival unfolds in about ten emblematic sites in Corrèze: the Abbaye d'Aubazine, the Château de Turenne, the Jardins de Sothys, the Jardins de Colette, the Église d'Uzerche, and many other historic places. This traveling nature allows the festival to reach across the entire territory and offer residents of small rural communities access to a high-level program. Concerts generally take place in the evening, at 9:00 PM, creating a magical atmosphere under the stars or in the dim light of Romanesque buildings.

An eclectic and demanding program

The Festival de la Vézère offers a program combining classical repertoire (Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin), chamber music, piano and violin recitals, symphonic concerts, and operas. The festival hosts renowned international artists (orchestras, soloists, opera singers) as well as young talents at the beginning of their careers. This diversity allows it to reach a wide audience, from seasoned music lovers to newcomers eager to discover classical music in a privileged setting.

Valuing heritage through culture

The Festival de la Vézère is part of a process of enhancing the architectural and landscape heritage of Corrèze. By investing in sometimes little-known or difficult-to-access places, the festival contributes to their highlighting and preservation. The concerts allow spectators to (re)discover these heritage gems from a new perspective, creating a fruitful dialogue between visual and sound arts, between history and contemporary creation.

A festival rooted in the territory

For over 40 years, the Festival de la Vézère has been an integral part of the summer cultural life in Corrèze. It attracts several thousand spectators each year, including tourists and locals, contributing to the tourist attractiveness of the department and the economic dynamism of rural areas. The festival is supported by local authorities, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region, and the State, demonstrating its importance in the regional cultural landscape.