Festival Musique et Patrimoine en Vienne et Gartempe

An itinerant festival in the heart of Poitou's heritage

Created in 2014 by the association Musique et Patrimoine en Vienne et Gartempe (MPVG), this classical music festival has forged a unique identity by combining the richness of the classical repertoire with the beauty of the heritage sites of the Gartempe valley. Every summer, for a week in July, five to seven concerts transform abbeys, castles, and churches into open-air performance venues, offering spectators a unique musical and cultural experience in a rural setting.

Exceptional venues as settings

The festival unfolds in remarkable sites in the south of Vienne. The abbey of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe, a UNESCO World Heritage site for its 11th-century Romanesque frescoes, is the emblematic venue of the event. Concerts also take place in private castles opened exclusively for the occasion, such as the Château de Beaupuy in Saulgé or the Château d'Ouzilly in Lathus-Saint-Rémy, as well as in historic churches and barns in Jouhet, La Bussière, Montmorillon, and Lussac-les-Châteaux. Guided heritage tours are offered before each concert, allowing spectators to discover the history of these places steeped in memory.

An eclectic and demanding program

Under the artistic direction of Anna Mikulska and Philippe Argenty, renowned European musicians, the festival offers an ambitious program ranging from baroque to contemporary, including romanticism, flamenco, and Argentine tango. Each edition features soloists and ensembles from France, Spain, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and Lithuania. The symphonic repertoire is presented alongside chamber music, piano recitals, and original creations blending dance and music.

A commitment to rural areas

Supported by the MPVG association, chaired by Annie Brugier-Thoreau, the festival pursues a fundamental mission: to make classical music accessible to rural populations by bringing it as close as possible to their living spaces. It contributes to the valorization of the built heritage of the Gartempe valley and participates in the Résonances de Gartempe network, which has united classical music festivals in the region since 2015. Masterclasses also allow young talents to hone their skills with established artists, perpetuating musical transmission in the heart of Poitou.