Les Grandes Heures de Cluny
Classical music and dance in the setting of the Abbey
About 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.
Grandes Heures de Cluny — edition 2026
The 59th edition of Les Grandes Heures de Cluny takes place from July 19 to August 10, 2026, under the theme « Classical Music in Light ». The program includes: 9 exceptional concerts and 13 free events, held in the heritage sites of the abbey city (Saint-Marcel Church, Notre-Dame Church, Farinier des moines, Théâtre des Arts). Quartets, trios, baroque ensembles, and evenings blending music and dance set the rhythm for the Cluny summer.
59th Edition — « Classical Music in Light » (Summer 2026)
Les Grandes Heures de Cluny returns for its 59th edition, from July 19 to August 10, 2026, centered around the theme « Classical Music in Light ». The festival offers 9 exceptional concerts and 13 free events within the exceptional setting of the abbey city: Saint-Marcel Church (12th century), Notre-Dame Church, the Abbey's Farinier des moines, and Cluny's Théâtre des Arts.
The 2026 program features a dialogue between baroque and romantic repertoire and contemporary creations: the Sinfonia Lumina ensemble, the Trio Pantoum, the Quatuor Tchalik, the Le Songe de Mélété ensemble, the Prosodia ensemble, and pianists Jean-Pascal Meyer and Tristan Pfaff blend music and dance. As every year, each concert is followed by a convivial tasting in partnership with local winemakers.
Programme Grandes Heures de Cluny 2026
Friday, May 29, 2026 (Opening Concert)
- 20h00 — Fanfare pour une Diva · Brass Quintet & Orchestre Dijon Bourgogne · Théâtre des Arts
Sunday, July 19, 2026
- 18h00 — Les Souffles d'Éole · Ensemble Sinfonia Lumina, Ingrid Riollot (guitar) · Notre-Dame Church of Cluny
Sunday, August 2, 2026
- 18h00 — Folies amoureuses et métamorphoses baroques · Ensemble Le Songe de Mélété, Compagnie Nahlo · Saint-Marcel Church
Monday, August 3, 2026
- 20h30 — Trésors romantiques entre lumière et crépuscule · Trio Pantoum (Meder, Park, Jollet) · Saint-Marcel Church
Tuesday, August 4, 2026
- 20h30 — Quand les notes dansent · Jean-Pascal Meyer & Tristan Pfaff (piano) and dancers · Saint-Marcel Church
Thursday, August 6, 2026
- 20h30 — Aux seuils du mystère · Quatuor Tchalik · Saint-Marcel Church
Friday, August 7, 2026
- 20h30 — Mélancolie romantique · Ueno, Messina, Bianconi · Saint-Marcel Church
Sunday, August 9, 2026
- 18h00 — Mater Musica · Ensemble Prosodia · Saint-Marcel Church
Monday, August 10, 2026
- 20h30 — Back to Broadway ! · Saxback (wind sextet) · Saint-Marcel Church
Highlights Grandes Heures de Cluny 2026
- 59th edition on the theme « Classical Music in Light »
- 9 exceptional concerts and 13 free events
- Concerts in Saint-Marcel Church (12th c.), Notre-Dame Church, and at the Théâtre des Arts
- Tastings with local winemakers after each concert
Prices Grandes Heures de Cluny 2026
Practical information — Grandes Heures de Cluny
Access
By car: Cluny is located 25 km northwest of Mâcon, accessible via the D980. From the A6 motorway, take the Mâcon-Sud exit and follow signs for Cluny.
By train: Mâcon-Loché TGV station (Paris-Lyon TGV), then bus or taxi to Cluny (30 min).
Prices
Full price: 30 EUR per concert. Free for under 18s. Free "petites minutes" during the day.
Ticketing
Bookings on the official website grandesheuresdecluny.com or by phone at 06 12 40 06 21.
Contact
Les Grandes Heures de Cluny
6 rue Avril, 71250 Cluny
Tel: 06 12 40 06 21
Email: [email protected]
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Where does it take place — Grandes Heures de Cluny
Abbaye de Cluny - Farinier des moines
Hôtel des Monnaies, 6 rue Avril, 71250 Cluny, 71250 Cluny