Festival des Monts de la Madeleine
Classical and chamber music festival in the Monts de la Madeleine
About Festival Monts Madeleine
Classical Music at the Heart of the Monts de la Madeleine
The Festival des Monts de la Madeleine is a major summer musical event in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, led since 2003 by the Pentatête association. For nearly a month, between mid-July and mid-August, the festival takes over the churches, chapels, priories, and heritage sites of the Monts de la Madeleine for about thirty classical and chamber music concerts.
An Excellent Musical Program
The festival stands out for the quality and diversity of its musical program, which embraces a wide repertoire:
- Baroque Music: harpsichord, early music, and repertoire from the 17th and 18th centuries
- Classical Music: concertos, sonatas, and quartets from the classical and romantic repertoire, including Mozart's famous Requiem
- Chamber Music: trios, quartets, and ensembles in the intimate setting of heritage sites
- World Music: sitar and resonances from India, jazz, and "guinguette" for moments of discovery
- Cine-concerts: film screenings accompanied by live music
The festival showcases a wide variety of instruments: from the sitar to the tuba, from the harpsichord to the accordion, from ethereal flutes to powerful brass, each concert is an invitation to sonic discovery.
Young Talents and Experienced Musicians
One of the fundamental missions of the festival is to highlight young talents by bringing them together on stage with seasoned musicians. This intergenerational encounter creates an elegant and professional blend, allowing young artists to perform on stage under optimal conditions while benefiting from the experience of their elders.
House Concerts
The "house concerts" are the original signature of the Pentatête association. These intimate concerts take place in private homes, gardens, and unusual locations, offering the public a unique musical experience in direct proximity to the artists. These privileged moments create a warm and friendly atmosphere, far from the codes of traditional classical concerts.
A Traveling Festival Through the Villages
The Festival des Monts de la Madeleine is a traveling festival that tours the villages and towns of the Monts de la Madeleine, a mountain range straddling several departments:
- Allier (03): Laprugne, Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs, Le Donjon, Saint-Germain-des-Fossés, Barrais-Bussolles, Isserpent, Arfeuilles, Châtel-Montagne
- Loire (42): Renaison, Villerest, Ambierle, Saint-Haon-le-Châtel, Le Crozet, Charlieu, Pouilly-les-Nonains
- Puy-de-Dôme (63): occasional concerts in the Riom basin and surrounding areas
Concerts are mainly held in Romanesque and Gothic churches, whose remarkable acoustics enhance the musicians' performances. Some venues, such as the Prieuré de Renaison or the church of Châtel-Montagne, are classified architectural gems.
The Pentatête Association
The Pentatête association has been behind the Festival des Monts de la Madeleine since its creation in 2003. This cultural association works to promote classical and chamber music in rural areas, with the conviction that quality music should be accessible everywhere, even in the most remote villages. Beyond the summer festival, Pentatête organizes musical events throughout the year.
Festival Monts Madeleine — edition 2026
24th edition of the Festival des Monts de la Madeleine, from July 17 to August 9, 2026. For nearly a month, about twenty classical and chamber music concerts will resonate in the churches, chapels, and heritage sites of the Monts de la Madeleine, between the Allier and the Loire (Roannais). Opening concert on July 17 in Barrais-Bussolles, grand finale on August 9 in Renaison.
About twenty concerts in the Monts de la Madeleine
For its 24th edition, the Festival des Monts de la Madeleine will take over the villages of the massif from July 17 to August 9, 2026, between Allier (03) and Loire (42), around Renaison. Chamber music, the festival orchestra, and vocal ensembles will perform in churches, chapels, and abbeys in the heart of a remarkable natural setting.
The 2026 program ranges from early music to the great orchestral repertoire: string ensembles, piano recitals, harp-violin or flute-harp duos, and several evenings with the Festival Orchestra (Russian, Mozart, “From Reverie to Ecstasy” programs with Ravel's Boléro as the closing piece). Some concerts are combined with a meal (among the vineyards or in a local terroir).
Programme Festival Monts Madeleine 2026
Friday, July 17, 2026
- 7:30 PM — DUO EN DOUCE (concert & meal) · Barrais-Bussolles, La Vigne et le Chardon
Saturday, July 18, 2026
- 5:00 PM — TREE SOULS (clarinet, violin, piano) · St-Nicolas-des-Biefs, church
Sunday, July 19, 2026
- 5:00 PM — ENSEMBLE HEMIOLIA (voice, guitar, violin, cello, harpsichord) · La Bénisson-Dieu, abbey
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
- 8:00 PM — STRING ENSEMBLE · Nicolas André (trumpet) & Willy Bouche (oboe) · Laprugne, church
Thursday, July 23, 2026
- 8:00 PM — DUO SYLANS (harp, violin) · St-Jean-St-Maurice-sur-Loire, church
Friday, July 24, 2026
- 8:00 PM — YUIKO HASEGAWA (piano recital) · St-Germain-des-Fossés, priory church
Saturday, July 25, 2026
- 8:00 PM — COGE CHOIR & TRIO CEOLÁIN · Le Mayet-de-Montagne, church
Sunday, July 26, 2026
- 9:30 AM — MUSICAL WALK & amateur concert · Renaison, Les Grands Murcins
- 8:00 PM — STRING ENSEMBLE & Lilian Harismendy (clarinet) · Ambierle, church
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
- 8:00 PM — NEI ASAKAWA & MARCEL CARA (flute, harp) · Le Donjon, socio-cultural center
- 8:00 PM — VOCI D'ALTROVE (early music ensemble) · Le Crozet, village center
Friday, July 31, 2026
- 8:00 PM — NOMAD LIB' (nomadic virtuosity) · Arfeuilles, church
Saturday, August 1st, 2026
- 7:30 PM — TRIO MAULUS (concert & meal among the vineyards) · Renaison, Domaine de la Paroisse
Sunday, August 2, 2026
- 5:00 PM — QUATUOR AKOS (violins, viola, cello) · Charlieu, church
Monday, August 3, 2026
- 8:00 PM — DUO JUSTS (violin, cello) · Cherier, church
Tuesday, August 4, 2026
- 8:00 PM — ANDRÉA LENA (songs of light) · Pouilly-les-Nonains, church
Wednesday, August 5, 2026
- 8:00 PM — GAMES & DREAMS (Festival Orchestra) · Isserpent, church
Thursday, August 6, 2026
- 8:00 PM — RUSSIAN CELEBRATION (Festival Orchestra: Borodin, Shostakovich, Prokofiev) · St-Haon-le-Châtel, church
Friday, August 7, 2026
- 8:00 PM — TRIO MESSIAEN (piano, violin, cello) · Lavoine, church
Saturday, August 8, 2026
- 8:30 PM — MOZART ON STAGE (Festival Orchestra: overture to The Magic Flute, Violin Concerto No. 3, Concerto for Flute and Harp K.299) · Châtel-Montagne, church
Sunday, August 9, 2026
- 5:00 PM — FROM REVERIE TO ECSTASY (Festival Orchestra: from impressionism to orientalism, Ravel's Boléro) · Renaison, church
Prices Festival Monts Madeleine 2026
Practical information — Festival Monts Madeleine
Access
The festival takes place in multiple towns in the Monts de la Madeleine. Riom is the reference city in the Puy-de-Dôme.
- By car: The various concert venues are accessible by departmental roads. A vehicle is essential to get to the concerts.
Venues
Churches, chapels, and heritage sites of the Monts de la Madeleine (Allier, Loire, Puy-de-Dôme).
Times
Concerts mainly take place in the evening (8 PM) and sometimes in the afternoon (5 PM). Some house concerts are held in the morning.
Prices
Paid ticketing. Online booking available on HelloAsso or at the tourist office.
Contact
Association Pentatête
Tel: 07 67 32 67 68
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.montsdelamadeleine.com
Facebook: Festival-des-Monts-de-la-Madeleine
Accessibility
Accessibility varies depending on the concert venue. Some old churches and chapels may present access difficulties for people with reduced mobility. It is recommended to contact the organizers in advance to check the accessibility of the chosen concert venue.
Accommodation nearby
The Monts de la Madeleine and the city of Riom offer a varied choice of accommodation: hotels, bed and breakfasts, rural gites, and campsites. It is advisable to book in advance during the festival period.
Dining
The villages hosting the concerts generally have restaurants and inns. Some concerts include a convivial moment with the possibility of dining on site.
Recommended Equipment
Bring warm clothing for evening concerts in churches, where temperatures can be cool even in summer. A cushion may be useful for comfort on church benches.
Photography and Social Media
Flash photography is generally tolerated. Follow the festival on Facebook for the latest news and detailed program.
Festival-goer photos
No photo yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Vous avez repéré une erreur ou une information manquante ?
Aidez-nous à garder cette fiche à jour. Toute proposition est relue par notre équipe avant publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No review yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community
Where does it take place — Festival Monts Madeleine
Églises et lieux patrimoniaux des Monts de la Madeleine
Monts de la Madeleine, 63200 Riom