Les Méridiennes

Les Méridiennes: Thirty Minutes to Change Your World

Since 2009, the Les Méridiennes festival has offered a unique concept in the Tours music scene at the start of each summer: thirty-minute concerts that allow you to discover exceptional artists and rare music in a friendly and intimate atmosphere. Located in the heart of old Tours, in the Salle Ockeghem, the Cour de l'Hôtel des Ducs de Touraine, and on the Place Châteauneuf, the festival offers a musical journey that crosses continents and eras.

Short Concerts, Intense Experience

The short thirty-minute format is the hallmark of Les Méridiennes. This original format allows spectators to have an intense and concentrated musical experience, without the length or fatigue of traditional concerts. Each concert is a window onto a different musical universe: from the world's most distant sounds to the most audacious contemporary forms, all genres are represented. This succession of short performances creates a unique rhythm, a kind of demanding musical zapping that keeps the audience's attention and curiosity alive.

Salle Ockeghem and Cour des Ducs de Touraine

The concerts take place in two emblematic venues in old Tours. The Salle Ockeghem, named after the famous Franco-Flemish composer who lived in Tours in the 15th century, offers a remarkable acoustic setting for indoor concerts. The Cour de l'Hôtel des Ducs de Touraine, an open-air space, allows you to enjoy music outdoors in a historic setting. The alternation between these two spaces sets the rhythm for the festival days and offers complementary listening experiences.

Beyond Concerts: Workshops and Nap-Cafés

Les Méridiennes is not limited to concerts. The festival offers family singing workshops, moments of collective practice open to all, allowing spectators to become active participants in the music. The nap-cafés, musical readings conducive to relaxation and dreaming, complete the program and attract a growing audience. These participatory offerings help make Les Méridiennes an open and inclusive festival.

A Festival Open to Differences

Les Méridiennes stands out for its commitment to accessibility and inclusion. The festival is enriched by partnerships with associations and institutions open to people with disabilities, making this event a model of an atypical festival open to differences. This social and human dimension is at the heart of the Les Méridiennes project, which aims to make music a vector of connection and encounter for everyone.