Festival en Sausses, les Arts Perchés

A festival in the heart of a perched village in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence

Born in 2011 from a discussion under the lime tree of the Place Saint-Pons, the Festival en Sausses, les Arts Perchés is the work of the Association Culturelle Saussoise. Located in the small village of Sausses, perched in the Gorges du Var in the heart of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, this human-sized festival transforms the village squares, alleys, church, and bridge into open-air stages every summer.

An eclectic and multi-generational program

The Festival en Sausses offers a resolutely eclectic program that spans genres and generations. From Argentine tango to blues, from classical to gospel and rock, including French chanson, funk, and world music, each edition invites the public to discover quality artists in an authentic rural setting. Over the years, the festival has hosted renowned artists such as Cali, Richard Kolinka (former drummer of Téléphone), Jo Dahan (former bassist of Mano Negra), Laura Cox, Patrick Coutin, Les frères Smith, Miss America, Guillaume Ledoux (Blankass), and many others.

Stages scattered throughout the village

The originality of the Festival en Sausses lies in its way of investing the entire village. Visual arts exhibitions are spread across communal halls, private spaces, and streets, creating an artistic trail from the bridge stage to the church. Classical concerts resonate in the village church, jazz and bossa nova take place on the Place Saint-Pons, while rock music ignites the Esplanade stage at the foot of the bridge. Singing contests, fashion shows in partnership with recycling associations, conferences, film screenings, and circus performances complete the program.

A pioneering eco-responsible commitment

From its very first edition, the Festival en Sausses has placed eco-responsibility at the heart of its project. Reusable glasses, recyclable plates and cutlery, dry toilets, promotion of organic and local products, short supply chains for catering: the festival is committed to environmentally friendly practices. The grandmothers' jams from Sausses accompany the crepes served to festival-goers, in the spirit of the "Pays Gourmand" concept.

A unifying event for the entire region

A major musical weekend that brings a whole village together, the Festival en Sausses attracts spectators from afar as well as loyal neighbors. The associative and volunteer-based operation allows for accessible prices, with a modest entry fee for two concerts. Since 2011, over a hundred artists have performed on the village's various stages, making this festival a must-see cultural event in the Var valley and the Alpes-Provence-Verdon region.