Festival des Abbayes des Landes

Festival des Abbayes: Classical Music at the Heart of Landes Heritage

The Festival des Abbayes des Landes was born in 1969 from a bold initiative by prefect Yves-Bernard Burgalat, who wanted to fill what was then called the "Landes musical desert." Initially associating the abbeys of Arthous and Saint-Sever, the festival gradually extended its programming to more than ten towns in the department.

A Traveling Festival in Exceptional Venues

The unique nature of the Festival des Abbayes lies in its choice of concert venues:

• Arthous Abbey in Hastingues — a jewel of Romanesque art
• Saint-Sever Abbey — a UNESCO World Heritage site
• Notre-Dame de Dax Cathedral — a majestic setting for symphony concerts
• Churches of Amou, Brassempouy, Sort-en-Chalosse and many other remarkable buildings

An Eclectic and Demanding Program

Each year, the festival offers a selection of high-level concerts covering a wide repertoire:

• Chamber Music: string quartets, duos, trios
• Symphony Orchestra: major works from the classical and romantic repertoire
• Solo Piano: recitals by internationally renowned pianists
• Baroque Music: ensembles specializing in performance on period instruments
• Jazz and Classical Guitar: opening up to other musical aesthetics

Over Fifty Years of Musical Excellence

In over half a century of existence, the Festival des Abbayes has established itself as a must-attend event in the cultural life of the Landes. The association that runs it aims to bring the rich architecture of the region's abbeys and churches to life by presenting quality concerts to the public, thus contributing to the enhancement of heritage and the cultural influence of the Landes department.