Le Printemps Proustien

Illiers-Combray, cradle of the Proustian universe

Illiers-Combray is no ordinary village. It was here that young Marcel Proust spent his holidays with his aunt Élisabeth Amiot, at 4 rue du Docteur Proust, and it is this village that inspired the famous Combray in In Search of Lost Time. The municipality officially added "Combray" to its name in 1971 in homage to the writer. Le Printemps Proustien celebrates this exceptional literary heritage by offering a festival that bridges Proust's work with contemporary arts.

A major literary festival

Organized by the Printemps Proustien association in partnership with the Société des Amis de Marcel Proust et des Amis de Combray (founded in 1947, recognized as a public utility since 1955), the festival offers a rich and varied program over about ten days in May. Exhibitions in Proustian locations, conferences by specialists of his work, public readings, live performances, film screenings, and concerts follow one another to offer a complete immersion into the writer's universe.

The Goncourt Centenary: a historic edition in 2019

The 2019 edition of Le Printemps Proustien was exceptional, celebrating the centenary of the Goncourt Prize awarded to Marcel Proust for The Captive (À l'ombre des jeunes filles en fleurs). For ten days, from May 11 to 19, Illiers-Combray vibrated to the rhythm of festivities centered around the themes of Proust, the Goncourt Prize, and the Belle Époque. A special Belle Époque weekend on May 11 and 12 kicked off the festivities.

About fifteen exhibitions were presented in places linked to Marcel Proust: Proust's portrait by Jacques-Émile Blanche, comic strips by Jean-Pierre Gibrat and Stéphane Heuet, exhibitions from Gallimard editions, photographs, sculptures, and old postcards of Illiers-Combray. A traveling cinema set up in the village screened numerous films related to the Proustian universe and the Belle Époque.

Iconic locations as cultural settings

Le Printemps Proustien takes over the iconic locations of Illiers-Combray: the Maison de Tante Léonie (Marcel Proust Museum), the Pré Catelan (the garden that inspired Swann's park), the Saint-Jacques church (the model for Combray's church), and the walking paths towards Méséglise and Guermantes. Each location becomes the backdrop for an exhibition, a reading, or an artistic performance, creating an immersive cultural experience that blends literature, heritage, and contemporary creation.

International reach

As Proust's work is read and studied worldwide, Le Printemps Proustien attracts French and international visitors, passionate Proust scholars, and curious people from all walks of life. The festival contributes to the cultural influence of Illiers-Combray and Eure-et-Loir, making this village a major center for living French literature, where Proust's legacy continues to inspire and move.