Festival des Abbayes en Lorraine

A festival at the heart of Lorraine's abbatial heritage

Born in 2002 on the initiative of the association Entreprise & Culture en Lorraine, the Festival des Abbayes en Lorraine has established itself as a must-see event for classical music in the Grand Est region. Under the artistic direction of Daniel Caquard, the festival resonates with the richness of the Vosges monastic heritage and the excellence of European scholarly music.

Millennial abbeys as musical settings

The festival unfolds in four major Benedictine abbeys founded as early as the 7th century, a few kilometers apart in the Rabodeau valley and the Déodatie region: the abbey of Senones, the abbey of Moyenmoutier, the abbey of Étival, and the abbey of Autrey. These historic buildings offer remarkable acoustics and a unique spiritual atmosphere that magnifies the performed works. The Saint-Dié-des-Vosges Cathedral and the church of Notre-Dame de Galilée complete this network of exceptional venues.

A demanding and thematic program

Each edition is structured around a unifying theme that guides the choice of works and performers. The festival has hosted internationally renowned ensembles such as the New College of Oxford, the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra, the Orchestre national de Lorraine, Les Cris de Paris, Stradivaria, La Fenice, and Gli Incogniti. The repertoire covers medieval, baroque, classical, and romantic music, performed by some of the most talented musicians on the international scene.

Much more than a concert festival

Beyond the musical evenings, the Festival des Abbayes offers conferences, artist encounters, creative residencies, and educational activities in schools. The festival also publishes musical and heritage editions, contributing to the valorization of Lorraine's rich cultural heritage. Supported by the Grand Est Region, the Department of Vosges, the Orange Foundation, and the Clairefontaine paper mills, it brings together a large network of partners and volunteers committed to the cultural influence of the Vosges territory.