L'Eure Exquise Festival

A festival born from a family story

L'Eure Exquise grew out of the musical bonds between Ariane Merceron-Vicat, a classics scholar who settled in Hardencourt-Cocherel in 2022, and her daughter Philomène Vuillard, an actress and singer trained at the Lyon Opera. Since 2010, Ariane has hosted the "Passerelles" evenings, which explore the intersections of cinema, literature, and the arts. Upon discovering this setting, a third organizer—pianist and conductor Johan Farjot, co-director of the Ensemble Contraste and artistic director of the PSL University Chamber Choir—proposed adding a music festival to the mix.

Free concerts in the valley's churches

The program takes place in the churches of Croisy-sur-Eure, Pacy-sur-Eure, Vaux-sur-Eure, and Jouy-sur-Eure—heritage buildings that are rarely open to the public. British singer Hugh Coltman, a two-time Victoires du Jazz winner, the PSL University Chamber Choir, and Johan Farjot himself are among the artists featured in this inaugural edition.

A pop-up choir and a Norman guinguette

The festival involves local music schools, social integration organizations, and valley residents in the creation of a pop-up choir that joins the performance lineup. In the evenings, Ariane Merceron-Vicat's garden in Hardencourt-Cocherel transforms into a traditional Norman guinguette, featuring festive meals, short theatrical sketches, and live-scored silent films.