Orgue en Ville Festival

Orgue en Ville: The organ as you've never heard it before

Since 2009, the Orgue en Ville Festival has offered a resolutely original and accessible approach to the organ. Far from the austere image sometimes associated with this instrument, the festival demonstrates each year that the organ can dialogue with all musical genres and reach all audiences.

An eclectic and bold program

Each edition offers about fifteen concerts exploring an astonishingly rich musical palette: lyrical singing, baroque music, jazz, rock, African music, sacred and secular music, romantic and contemporary repertoire. The 17th edition (2025) was placed under the banner of "colors, boldness, and delicacy," notably welcoming mezzo-soprano Isabelle Druet accompanied on the organ by Frédéric Champion, as well as an exceptional concert by Rhoda Scott.

The organs of Besançon: exceptional heritage

Besançon boasts remarkable organ heritage, with historic instruments spread across the city's churches and chapels. The festival showcases this heritage by opening the doors of places rarely accessible to the general public: the Cathédrale Saint-Jean, the église Sainte-Madeleine, the église Saint-Pierre, and other religious buildings in Besançon, Devecey, and Saint-Vit.

Free concerts for everyone

Almost all concerts are free, with no reservation required, and a voluntary donation is appreciated. This choice reflects the association's desire to make music accessible to as many people as possible and to democratize access to an often little-known instrument. Only a few exceptional concerts, like Rhoda Scott's in 2025, are ticketed.

A festival driven by a passionate association

The Orgue en Ville Festival is supported by the eponymous association under the 1901 law, under the artistic direction of Pierre-Yves Fleury and the presidency of Pauline Chabauty. Throughout the year, the association works to raise awareness and promote the organ, helping to keep this unique musical heritage alive.

A week of music in July

Scheduled each year in early July, the festival spans a week with daily concerts, often in the late afternoon or evening, in the churches of Besançon and neighboring towns. This summer timing allows it to reach a mixed audience of residents and tourists, music lovers and the curious.