Les Carillonnades
International carillon festival in Saint-Amand-les-Eaux
About Les Carillonnades
Les Carillonnades: When the Abbatial Tower Resonates for the World
Since 2013, the Les Carillonnades festival has made Saint-Amand-les-Eaux the international capital of the carillon for a weekend in August. This unique event celebrates a rare musical art, that of the carillon, these tuned bells played from a mechanical keyboard perched in the towers of belfries and churches.
The Abbatial Tower: A UNESCO Setting
The festival takes place at the foot of the Abbatial Tower of Saint-Amand-les-Eaux, a UNESCO World Heritage site as part of the belfries of Belgium and France. This majestic 17th-century tower houses a 48-bell carillon, one of the most beautiful in Northern France. It is from this summit that the carillonneurs perform their concerts, broadcast live on a giant screen installed below for the public.
A High-Level International Festival
Les Carillonnades hosts internationally renowned carillonneurs, from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, the United States, and elsewhere, alongside students from the Saint-Amand-les-Eaux carillon school. More than 50 concerts punctuate the festival, offering a varied repertoire ranging from classical music to contemporary and popular arrangements.
A Festive Program for Everyone
Beyond the carillon concerts, the festival offers numerous activities:
- Craft Market: Local artisans and creators present their productions.
- Giant Games: Play area for children and families.
- Giant Instruments: Interactive musical installations allowing everyone to discover the sound of bells.
- Exhibitions: History of the carillon, campanological heritage of the North.
- Shows: Street entertainment, brass bands, and acoustic concerts.
A Unique Campanological Heritage
Northern France and Belgium have the largest concentration of carillons in the world. Les Carillonnades are part of this age-old tradition by making it alive and accessible to the general public, contributing to the preservation and transmission of this musical art inscribed in intangible cultural heritage.
Les Carillonnades — edition 2026
The 13th edition of Les Carillonnades takes place from August 14 to 17, 2026, in Saint-Amand-les-Eaux (Nord). This international carillon festival, entirely free, brings together carillonneurs from all over the world around the Abbatial Tower, with over 50 concerts broadcast on a giant screen, a craft market, and activities for the whole family.
13th Edition — August 14 to 17, 2026
Les Carillonnades return in August 2026 for their 13th edition at the foot of the Abbatial Tower in Saint-Amand-les-Eaux. Launched in 2012 by the city to celebrate the restoration of the Abbatial Tower, this international festival honors the carillon tradition, an emblematic instrument of this spa town in the Nord region.
The 2026 edition opens on Thursday, August 14, at 7 PM at the Casino, with a concert by Boudewijn Zwart on his mobile carillon (concert canceled in case of bad weather). The festival then unfolds on Friday, August 15, Saturday, August 16, and Sunday, August 17, from 10 AM to 8 PM, in the garden of the Abbatial Tower and on the Grand'Place.
For three days, carillonneurs from all over the world offer over 50 free concerts. When the musician plays at the top of the Abbatial Tower, their performance is broadcast live on a giant screen; concerts are also streamed live on the city's YouTube channel. The public can settle in the garden or on the square, participate in a blind test, and choose the next piece to be played.
Beyond the concerts, the festival offers a craft market, giant games for children, giant instruments, shows, and an exhibition.
Programme Les Carillonnades 2026
Thursday, August 14, 2026
- 7:00 PM — Opening Concert at the Casino: Boudewijn Zwart, on his mobile carillon (concert canceled in case of bad weather)
Friday, August 15, Saturday, August 16, and Sunday, August 17, 2026
From 10 AM to 8 PM, in the garden of the Abbatial Tower and on the Grand'Place:
- Over 50 free carillon concerts, by carillonneurs from all over the world, broadcast on a giant screen and live on the city's YouTube channel
- Blind test and choice of the next piece by the public
- Craft market
- Giant games for children and giant instruments
- Shows and exhibition
The detailed concert program (with schedules) will be published on the city's website closer to the festival.
Highlights Les Carillonnades 2026
- Completely free international carillon festival
- Over 50 concerts by carillonneurs from around the world
- Opening concert at the Casino on Thursday, August 14 (Boudewijn Zwart, mobile carillon)
- Concerts broadcast on a giant screen and live on YouTube
- Craft market, giant games and instruments, shows, and exhibition
Prices Les Carillonnades 2026
Practical information — Les Carillonnades
Practical Information
Access and Transport
By car: Saint-Amand-les-Eaux is located 40 km from Lille and 20 km from Valenciennes. Access via the A23, Saint-Amand-les-Eaux exit. Free parking in the town center.
By train: Saint-Amand-les-Eaux station (TER from Lille or Valenciennes).
Location
The festival takes place on the Grand'Place and in the garden of the Abbatial Tower of Saint-Amand-les-Eaux (59230). Concerts are played from the Abbatial Tower and broadcast on a giant screen.
Opening Hours
From 10 am to 8 pm on all three days of the festival.
Prices
Festival is entirely free.
Practical Tips
- Carillon concerts are broadcast on a giant screen: make yourself comfortable in the square.
- Interactive giant instruments are freely accessible.
- Enjoy the craft market to discover local creators.
- The festival is suitable for all audiences; children particularly enjoy the giant games and instruments.
Accessibility
The Grand'Place and the garden of the Abbatial Tower are accessible to people with reduced mobility. Concert and animation areas are on the ground floor. The giant screen allows everyone to enjoy the carillon concerts without having to climb the tower.
Accommodation
Saint-Amand-les-Eaux is a spa town with several hotels and guest houses. The proximity of Valenciennes (20 km) and Lille (40 km) offers additional accommodation options. Campsites are also available in the surrounding area.
Food and Drink
The festival's craft market offers local specialties and drinks. Restaurants and brasseries in the town center of Saint-Amand-les-Eaux are open during the festival and offer quality regional cuisine.
Discover Saint-Amand-les-Eaux
Take advantage of the festival to discover the thermal and cultural heritage of Saint-Amand-les-Eaux: the thermal baths, the Abbatial Tower museum, the Raismes-Saint-Amand-Wallers state forest, and the Scarpe-Escaut Regional Natural Park.
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Where does it take place — Les Carillonnades
Tour Abbatiale et Grand'Place
Grand'Place, 59230 Saint-Amand-les-Eaux