Mort de Rires

Mort de Rires, the autumn side of Printemps de Pérouges

Mort de Rires is the autumn edition of Printemps de Pérouges, an Ain-based festival established in 1997. Every year at the start of autumn, the team organizes musical, theatrical, and comedy performances at the Château de Chazey-sur-Ain, in a more intimate format than the summer festival in Saint-Maurice-de-Rémens. Evenings are held under a heated marquee in the castle park, seating 300 people, with a unique show each night.

A lineup of comedy and music

The official website highlights a program ranging from music to comedy: one-man shows, stand-up, cabaret, and concerts. Artists who have graced the Château de Chazey stage for these autumn events include Jarry, Jean-Marie Bigard, Anne Roumanoff, Michaël Gregorio, Gauvain Sers, Sanseverino, and Greg Zlap.

The 2025 edition, the first under the name Mort de Rires

The first edition under this name took place from October 6 to 11, 2025, with a Halloween theme. The program featured: Sellig in Épisode 6, Yann Guillarme in Libre ! accompanied by Momar Seck, Didier Gustin in Johnny, libre dans ma tête, the BurlesK cabaret by Les Demoiselles du K-barré, and Le Concert Monstrueux by the Wassily string quartet, performed by candlelight featuring music from Halloween and horror films. On Saturday afternoon, over 200 children participated in castle workshops: pumpkin carving, face painting, and a murder mystery game for ages 8 and up. Organizers reported 1,500 attendees over the week, representing 86% capacity, with 80 guests hosted in a VIP area created for the occasion.

The Printemps de Pérouges

Printemps de Pérouges was founded in 1997 by Marie Rigaud, starting with four classical music concerts in the church of the medieval town of Pérouges. The festival celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2022 and moved in 2023 to the grounds of the Château de Saint-Maurice-de-Rémens, the childhood home of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, where it welcomes approximately 40,000 festival-goers. It is run by an association supported by over 450 volunteers, with nearly half of its funding coming from private partners.

Access and comfort

The Château de Chazey-sur-Ain is 40 minutes from Lyon and 30 minutes from Bourg-en-Bresse, with on-site parking. The site is accessible to people with reduced mobility, and a dedicated ticket office is available. The marquee is heated, and a bar and food service are available to the public before the shows.