Jean de La Fontaine Festival
Music, theatre, and dance in the footsteps of the most illustrious fabulist
About Jean de La Fontaine
A festival dedicated to the work of Jean de La Fontaine
Created in 1991 by the Association Festival Jean de La Fontaine, formed in autumn 1990, the Jean de La Fontaine Festival is a major cultural event in Château-Thierry, in the Aisne department. For over thirty years, it has celebrated the literary and poetic heritage of the most illustrious French fabulist, born in this town in 1621. The festival holds spectacle entrepreneur licenses of the 2nd and 3rd categories.
A multidisciplinary program centered on text
The festival's signature lies in its multidisciplinarity: music, theatre, dance, and visual arts come together in a program where vocal music plays a predominant role, with text at the heart of each edition. The programs are structured around three axes: direct adaptations of La Fontaine's texts (fables, tales, operas), performances exploring the literary genres of his era, and contemporary creations inspired by his work.
Les Printanières: a month of performances in spring
Each year, the festival presents its program under the name "Les Printanières" (Springtime events), lasting over a month between May and June. Renowned artists, baroque music ensembles, theatre companies, and contemporary groups perform in emblematic locations of the region: the American Memorial Church, the Abbey Church of Essômes-sur-Marne, the Saint-Crépin Church, the Hôtel-Dieu Chapel, and the Palais des Rencontres.
Les Rencontres de Psyché
The festival also hosts the Rencontres de Psyché (Psyche Encounters), an annual symposium organized in partnership with the Society of Friends of Jean de La Fontaine. These conferences, open free of charge to the public, explore a different theme related to the fabulist's work each year. In 2025, the 10th edition focused on "La Fontaine, God and the gods.".
A festival rooted in the heritage of southern Aisne
The Jean de La Fontaine Festival does more than just program performances: it showcases the architectural and cultural heritage of southern Aisne by using historic sites. La Fontaine's birthplace, medieval churches, castles, and chapels in the region become stages where music, theatre, and dance resonate with stone and history. The festival also highlights young talent and features a significant number of original creations.
Jean de La Fontaine — edition 2026
The 35th edition of the Jean de La Fontaine Festival — Les Printanières takes place from May 16 to June 13, 2026 in Château-Thierry and the south of Aisne, on the theme « Welcome to La Fontaine's Home! ». The festival offers 9 shows combining baroque and vocal music, theatre, and contemporary creations in the heritage sites of the region: Temple-Mémorial Américain, Palais des Rencontres, Église abbatiale Saint-Ferréol d'Essômes-sur-Marne, Espace Raymond Commun in Brasles, and the courtyard of the Médiathèque.
35th Jean de La Fontaine Festival — Les Printanières 2026
The 35th edition of the Jean de La Fontaine Festival takes place from May 16 to June 13, 2026 in Château-Thierry and the south of Aisne, centered around the theme « Welcome to La Fontaine's Home! ». True to its multidisciplinary identity, the festival brings together baroque music, theatre, contemporary creation, and readings inspired by the fabulist's work.
Guest Companies and Ensembles
The 2026 edition notably welcomes the Compagnie Isabelle Starkier for two creations based on fables and the history of theatre, the Ensemble Double Face with rare instruments (cornet, cymbalum), the Ensemble Alia Mens in partnership with local schoolchildren, La Petite Compagnie focusing on Molière, and the Compagnie La Demeure with Peau d'Âne.
Performance Venues
The shows take place in several heritage sites: the courtyard of the Médiathèque and the Temple-Mémorial Américain in Château-Thierry, the Palais des Rencontres, the Église abbatiale Saint-Ferréol in Essômes-sur-Marne, and the Espace Raymond Commun in Brasles.
Bookings on HelloAsso: helloasso.com — Association Festival Jean de La Fontaine. Contact: 06 74 41 82 35 · [email protected].
Programme Jean de La Fontaine 2026
Saturday, May 16, 2026
- 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM — Les Patrouilles de Parapluies (creation) · Compagnie Isabelle Starkier — Cour de la Médiathèque, Château-Thierry · Free admission
Friday, May 22, 2026
- 2:00 PM — Muses et Chimères — Fantaisies de Timbres · Ensemble Double Face (rare instruments: cornet, cymbalum) — Temple-Mémorial Américain, Château-Thierry · School rate
Saturday, May 23, 2026
- 5:00 PM — Muses et Chimères — Fantaisies de Timbres (creation) · Ensemble Double Face — Temple-Mémorial Américain, Château-Thierry · Rate B
Thursday, May 28, 2026
- 2:15 PM — Mon Royaume pour un Théâtre (from Greek Antiquity to Feydeau) · Compagnie Isabelle Starkier — Palais des Rencontres, Château-Thierry · School rate
- 8:30 PM — Mon Royaume pour un Théâtre · Compagnie Isabelle Starkier — Palais des Rencontres, Château-Thierry · Rate C
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
- 8:00 PM — Tempus Fugit II (music from La Fontaine's time, with the participation of local schoolchildren) · Ensemble Alia Mens — Église abbatiale Saint-Ferréol, Essômes-sur-Marne · Rate C
Thursday, June 11, 2026
- 8:30 PM — L'Amour Molière (excerpts from Molière's comedies) · La Petite Compagnie — Espace Raymond Commun, Brasles · Rate C
Friday, June 12, 2026
- 2:00 PM — Peau d'Âne (creation) · Compagnie La Demeure — Espace Raymond Commun, Brasles · School rate
Saturday, June 13, 2026
- 5:00 PM — Peau d'Âne (creation) · Compagnie La Demeure — Espace Raymond Commun, Brasles · Rate B
Highlights Jean de La Fontaine 2026
- Theme of the 2026 edition: « Welcome to La Fontaine's Home! »
- 9 performances over nearly a month between Château-Thierry, Essômes-sur-Marne, and Brasles
- 3 scheduled creations: Les Patrouilles de Parapluies, Muses et Chimères, and Peau d'Âne
- Free opening on May 16 in the courtyard of the Médiathèque
- Educational project Tempus Fugit II with the participation of schoolchildren from the south of Aisne
- Multidisciplinary program: theatre, baroque music on rare instruments, fable, classical comedy
Prices Jean de La Fontaine 2026
Practical information — Jean de La Fontaine
Access
The festival takes place in Château-Thierry (02400) and its surroundings, notably Essômes-sur-Marne and Brasles, in the Aisne department (Hauts-de-France). Performances are held in various heritage sites in the area.
- By car: From Paris (95 km), A4 motorway exit Château-Thierry. From Reims (60 km), A26 then N2.
- By train: Château-Thierry SNCF station, Paris-Est – Strasbourg line (45 min from Paris-Est).
- Parking: Free parking in the town center.
Prices
- Price A: €25 (reduced €20, under 25s €7, under 12s free)
- Price B: €18 (reduced €14, under 25s €7, under 12s free)
- Price C: €12 (reduced €10, under 25s €7, under 12s free)
- 3-performance subscription: €40 (reduced €35)
- 6-performance subscription: €65 (reduced €50)
Ticketing
Online booking on HelloAsso: www.helloasso.com
Contact
- Phone: 06 74 41 82 35
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.festival-jeandelafontaine.com
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Where does it take place — Jean de La Fontaine
Sites patrimoniaux de Château-Thierry et du sud de l'Aisne
Ruelle du Verglot, 02400 Château-Thierry, 02400 Château-Thierry