Festival Music and History
Festival of ancient and classical music at the Abbaye de Fontfroide directed by Jordi Savall
About Music and History
Intercultural dialogue through music at Fontfroide
The Festival Music and History for Intercultural Dialogue was born in 2006 from a shared vision between the Abbaye de Fontfroide and maestro Jordi Savall, one of the world's greatest performers of early music. A virtuoso viol player, conductor, and tireless defender of European and Mediterranean musical heritage, Jordi Savall has made this festival a unique place for cultural encounters, where music becomes a vehicle for dialogue and mutual understanding between East and West.
The Abbaye de Fontfroide, an exceptional setting
The Abbaye de Fontfroide, founded in 1093, is one of the most beautiful Cistercian abbeys in France. Nestled in a wooded valley 15 km from Narbonne, it offers an exceptional acoustic and architectural setting for concerts. Open-air concerts take place in the main courtyard and cloister, while indoor performances are held in the abbey church and the former monks' refectory. This thousand-year-old heritage resonates perfectly with the ancient and classical repertoires performed during the festival.
World-renowned ensembles
The festival regularly hosts the ensembles founded and directed by Jordi Savall: Hespèrion XXI, specializing in medieval and Renaissance music; La Capella Reial de Catalunya, a vocal ensemble dedicated to Iberian and European choral heritage; and Le Concert des Nations, a baroque orchestra. The Orpheus 21 project, which brings together refugee musicians from around the world, perfectly embodies the festival's intercultural vocation. Many international guest artists complete the program each year.
An ambitious thematic program
Each edition of the festival is organized around a historical and cultural theme that gives meaning to the musical program. The 2025 edition (XIXth) was dedicated to a "Homage to Diversity," with concerts exploring music from medieval Europe to the New World. Concerts take place at 6 PM and 9:30 PM, allowing spectators to fully enjoy the enchanting setting of the abbey at sunset.
Music and History — edition 2026
The 20th edition of the Music and History Festival for Intercultural Dialogue will be held from July 13 to 16, 2026, at Fontfroide Abbey, near Narbonne, under the artistic direction of Jordi Savall. For this anniversary edition, themed « Universal Harmony », the festival offers four days of concerts bringing together Hespèrion XXI, La Capella Reial de Catalunya, Le Concert des Nations, the musicians of Orpheus 21, and numerous guest artists.
Music and History Festival 2026 — 20th edition « Universal Harmony »
For its 20th anniversary edition, the Music and History Festival returns to Fontfroide Abbey from July 13 to 16, 2026, still under the artistic direction of Jordi Savall. After two decades of intercultural dialogue through music, the 2026 edition unfolds around the theme « Universal Harmony », exploring the correspondences between ancient, baroque, and world music repertoires.
Each day combines a concert or a conference in the late afternoon (6 PM) and a major evening concert (9:30 PM) within the exceptional setting of the Cistercian abbey. Hespèrion XXI, La Capella Reial de Catalunya, Le Concert des Nations, the musicians of Orpheus 21, and guest artists — Tcha Limberger, Christophe Coin, Pierre and Marc Hantaï — compose a program that journeys from the Baroque revolution to the Ottoman East, from sacred music to Gypsy jazz.
Programme Music and History 2026
Monday, July 13, 2026
- 6:00 PM — Conference by Jordi Savall: « A Living History of Humanity » (free admission with reservation)
- 9:30 PM — « Women of the Orient » by the Musicians of Orpheus 21
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
- 6:00 PM — Tcha Limberger (Gypsy jazz)
- 9:30 PM — « Le Nuove Musiche » — the Baroque revolution (1600-1700), Hespèrion XXI & Jordi Savall
Wednesday, July 15, 2026
- 6:00 PM — « J.S. Bach & others » by Christophe Coin
- 9:30 PM — « Istanbul 1700 » after Dimitrie Cantemir, Hespèrion XXI & Jordi Savall
Thursday, July 16, 2026
- 6:00 PM — Bach Sonatas for Flutes and Harpsichord, Pierre and Marc Hantaï
- 9:30 PM — « Musical Implorations » (from Allegri to Mozart), La Capella Reial de Catalunya & Le Concert des Nations, dir. Jordi Savall
Highlights Music and History 2026
- 20th anniversary edition on the theme « Universal Harmony »
- Four evenings directed by Jordi Savall with his ensembles Hespèrion XXI, La Capella Reial de Catalunya, and Le Concert des Nations
- Afternoon concerts (6 PM) and evening concerts (9:30 PM) within the Cistercian abbey setting
- Guest artists: Tcha Limberger, Christophe Coin, Pierre and Marc Hantaï, the musicians of Orpheus 21
Prices Music and History 2026
Practical information — Music and History
Practical Information
Access
By car: Fontfroide Abbey is located 15 km south-west of Narbonne, on departmental road D613. Free parking on site.
From Narbonne: take the D613 towards Lézignan-Corbières, then follow the "Abbaye de Fontfroide" signs.
Prices and Ticketing
Paid concerts (prices vary depending on the evening, generally between 36 and 55 €; Jordi Savall's opening lecture is free upon reservation). Reservations on the Fontfroide Abbey website and via the Billetweb online ticketing service (Savall festival).
Usual Dates
Four days in mid-July. Concerts in the afternoon (6 PM) and in the evening (9:30 PM).
Contact
Fontfroide Abbey
Festival reservations: 04 68 45 50 47 (Tuesday and Thursday, 9 AM-11 AM)
General information: 04 68 45 11 08
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.fontfroide.com
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Where does it take place — Music and History
Abbaye de Fontfroide
Route Départementale 613, Abbaye de Fontfroide, 11100 Narbonne