Festival des Lacs de la Foret d'Orient

Classical music at the heart of a natural park

The Festival des Lacs de la Foret d'Orient in Champagne was born from the desire to combine classical music with the exceptional natural landscapes of the Foret d'Orient Regional Nature Park. Every year in July, for four days, international virtuosos perform for free in heritage sites chosen for their architectural beauty and acoustics: Romanesque and Gothic churches, the Maison du Parc, the surroundings of the Dosches windmill, Chateau de Brienne-le-Chateau... Each concert is an invitation to discover a place and a repertoire in an intimate and warm atmosphere.

Free concerts in heritage sites

The festival's uniqueness lies in its itinerant nature: each concert takes place in a different site within the Regional Nature Park. Musicians perform in ancient churches with resonant vaults, at the foot of the Dosches windmill overlooking the lake, or in the halls of the Chateau de Brienne where Napoleon studied. This diversity of locations allows spectators to discover or rediscover the architectural and natural heritage of the Aube region while listening to high-quality chamber music. All concerts are free and open to all.

Initiation workshops for young people

The festival places a special emphasis on musical transmission. Violin and cello initiation workshops are offered to children and teenagers, led by the festival's professional musicians. These workshops, organized before the concerts, allow young participants to learn instrumental practice and discover the behind-the-scenes of chamber music. A special concert is also scheduled at the Maison du Parc, preceded by violin and cello initiation lessons starting at 9:30 AM.

The Foret d'Orient Regional Nature Park

The Foret d'Orient Regional Nature Park, created in 1970, covers 80,000 hectares of forests, lakes, and wetlands between Troyes and Bar-sur-Aube. Its three large artificial lakes — Lac d'Orient (2,300 ha), Lac du Temple, and Lac Amance — make it an exceptional natural site, classified as a wetland of international importance (Ramsar). This preserved setting, where ancient forests, floodplains, and half-timbered villages coexist, offers an ideal backdrop for an open-air classical music festival, combining cultural discovery with immersion in nature.