Les Grandes Heures de Cluny

Les Grandes Heures de Cluny: nearly sixty years of music in the abbatial city

Founded in 1967, the Les Grandes Heures de Cluny festival is one of the oldest musical events in Burgundy. Every summer, the small town of Cluny, world-renowned for its Benedictine abbey founded in 910, vibrates to the rhythm of classical music, dance, and singing. The event is part of a tradition of excellence that has seen leading artists perform on the city's historic stages.

Exceptional venues for music

The festival takes place in three strikingly beautiful heritage sites. The Farinier des moines (monks' granary), the abbey's former tithe barn with its remarkable 13th-century broken barrel vault ceiling, offers warm and intimate acoustics, ideal for chamber music. The Saint-Marcel church, with its Romanesque octagonal spire and luminous nave, hosts orchestral and choral ensembles. Finally, the Notre-Dame chapel completes this trio of exceptional venues.

A program between tradition and renewal

True to its classical heritage, the festival each year offers a program that blends major works from the repertoire—from Bach to Debussy, from Mozart to Ravel—with more daring proposals combining music, contemporary dance, and theater. The "petites minutes", free concerts offered during the day, allow as many people as possible to discover music in an informal and friendly setting.

A festival rooted in its territory

Beyond the musical program, Les Grandes Heures de Cluny actively participates in the cultural and tourist influence of southern Burgundy. The festival attracts music lovers from all over France and Europe each year, seduced by the unique blend of medieval heritage and artistic excellence. The town of Cluny, with its medieval streets, Romanesque houses, and the remains of the largest church in Western Christendom before the construction of St. Peter's in Rome, offers an incomparable setting for visitors.

A springboard for young artists

The festival is increasingly giving a platform to young ensembles and emerging artists, thus contributing to the renewal of the classical music scene. Artistic residencies and collaborations with contemporary dance companies enrich each edition with original creations designed for the venues.