Festival des Tourelles

The Festival des Tourelles: Jazz, Classical, and Great Wines

Since its first edition in 2018, the Festival des Tourelles has established itself as one of the most original cultural events in the Territoire de Belfort. Founded by two professional musicians, cellist Olivia Gay and pianist-composer Thierry Maillard, this festival champions a vision of music that is both rigorous and festive, where jazz and classical music respond to each other in a passionate dialogue.

Born at the Château des Tourelles in Morvillars — a location ideally situated at the crossroads of Franche-Comté, Alsace, and Switzerland, five minutes from the Belfort-Montbéliard TGV station — the festival has evolved to find its permanent home in the heart of Belfort, utilizing the halls of the Atria Congress Center and various heritage sites in the city.

An Original Concept: Music and Oenology United

The signature of the Festival des Tourelles lies in its unique association between music and gastronomy. Each festival day offers the public two concerts — one classical, the other jazz — followed by a tasting of carefully selected regional wines and products. This holistic sensory approach distinguishes the festival in the regional cultural landscape and gives it a convivial and accessible dimension that not all musical events offer.

The festival is part of the network of Festivals Grands Crus de Bourgogne–Franche-Comté, alongside the Festival des Grandes Heures de Cluny, the Festival Bach à Bacchus de Meursault, and the Rencontres musicales de Noyers, thus consolidating its regional and national influence.

Leading Artists

Each edition features internationally renowned artists. On the classical side, established soloists, chamber musicians, and ensembles perform carefully crafted programs centered around key composers from the repertoire — from Bach to Debussy, including Ravel and Piazzolla. On the jazz side, the programming highlights iconic ensembles from bebop, contemporary jazz, and world music, always driven by a pursuit of innovation and excellence.

Strong Territorial Roots

Supported by institutional and private partners in the Territoire de Belfort, the Festival des Tourelles plays an important role in the cultural dynamism of a city already rich with the heritage of the Eurockéennes and the FIMU. It contributes to diversifying the local festival offerings to broader audiences by proposing short, accessible, and intimate formats that contrast with large open-air gatherings.