Romantic Festival of the Loir
Chamber music in the heart of the Loir Valley
About Romantic Festival of the Loir
Romantic Festival of the Loir: musical excellence in the Beauce region
Since 2015, the Romantic Festival of the Loir has illuminated the Loir Valley by offering a demanding program of chamber music. For ten days in September, the villages and towns of Cloyes-les-Trois-Rivières and its surroundings become the stage for a unique musical adventure, where the greatest French performers play in places steeped in history and beauty.
An exceptional program
The festival highlights the classical and romantic repertoire through various formations: trios, quartets, quintets, and chamber ensembles. Works by Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, and Schumann are featured alongside those of lesser-known composers, offering the public a rich and nuanced exploration of chamber music. Among the invited ensembles are the Trio Ingres, the Ensemble Cinq de Piques (cello quintet), the Quatuor Morphing (saxophones), and renowned piano duos.
Heritage sites enhanced by music
One of the unique features of the Romantic Festival of the Loir is the choice of its concert venues. The Prieuré de Notre-Dame d'Yron, the churches of Saint-Jean-Froidmentel, Pezou, and Saint-Firmin-des-Prés host concerts with remarkable natural acoustics. These intimate spaces foster a rare proximity between artists and spectators, creating unforgettable moments of musical sharing.
A commitment to music in rural areas
Under the artistic direction of Jean-Paul Ouvrard, the festival pursues an ambitious project: to offer everyone, in rural areas, the brilliance of demanding music, inhabited and embodied by leading artists. Musicians from the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and other prestigious ensembles come to share their passion with a curious and enthusiastic audience. Musical outreach activities are also offered, particularly to residents of EHPADs and schoolchildren, so that music can radiate beyond the concert halls.
A human and artistic adventure
Throughout its editions, the Romantic Festival of the Loir has built a loyal following of passionate audiences while attracting new music lovers. The warm atmosphere, the encounters with artists after concerts, and the discovery of lesser-known heritage sites make each edition a complete experience, where music, heritage, and conviviality combine harmoniously.
Romantic Festival of the Loir — edition 2026
The 12th edition of the Festival Romantique du Loir takes place from September 18th to 27th, 2026, featuring seven chamber music concerts held in heritage sites across Cloyes-les-Trois-Rivières and the Loir Valley (Eure-et-Loir and Loir-et-Cher). The program includes the Trio Élégiaque (Nicolas Stavy, Hélène Collerette, Marc Desmons, Virginie Constant), the Quatuor Parisii with Emmanuelle Bertrand, the Quatuor Ludwig, the Trio Ernest joined by Éléonore Billy on the nyckelharpa, the Romances Tzigane concert, as well as a children's concert (Peter and the Wolf) and a Jazz-Bach cine-concert.
12th Edition — September 18th to 27th, 2026
The 12th edition of the Festival Romantique du Loir will take place from September 18th to 27th, 2026, across various churches, the Prieuré Notre Dame d'Yron, and the churches of Cloyes-les-Trois-Rivières and the Loir Valley, spanning the Eure-et-Loir (28) and Loir-et-Cher (41) departments. Seven chamber music concerts will feature world-class performers, including several musicians from France's leading orchestras.
Program Highlights
- Trio Élégiaque — Nicolas Stavy (piano), Hélène Collerette (violin), Marc Desmons (viola), and Virginie Constant (cello) performing works by Ravel and Chausson.
- Quatuor Parisii & Emmanuelle Bertrand — Schubert's String Quintet in C major.
- Quatuor Ludwig — a renowned string ensemble — and the Romances Tzigane concert, blending vocals, violin, cello, and guitar.
- Trio Ernest & Éléonore Billy — chamber music featuring the nyckelharpa.
- A family-friendly concert, Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf, and a Jazz-Bach project exploring the dialogue between classical music and jazz.
Concerts will be held at the Église Saint-Georges and the Prieuré Notre-Dame d'Yron in Cloyes-les-Trois-Rivières, as well as the churches of Lisle, Saint-Firmin-des-Prés, and the Salle Pierre-Martinet in Pezou.
Programme Romantic Festival of the Loir 2026
Friday, September 18th, 2026 — 8:00 PM
- Trio Élégiaque — Église Saint-Georges, Cloyes-les-Trois-Rivières (28)
Nicolas Stavy (piano), Hélène Collerette (violin), Marc Desmons (viola), Virginie Constant (cello) — works by Ravel and Chausson.
Saturday, September 19th, 2026 — 2:00 PM
- Peter and the Wolf (children's concert) — Prieuré Notre-Dame d'Yron, Cloyes-les-Trois-Rivières (28)
Amandine Ley & Florent Brannens (violins), Emmanuel Benech (melodica & narrator) — Prokofiev.
Saturday, September 19th, 2026 — 8:00 PM
- Quatuor Parisii & Emmanuelle Bertrand — Église Saint-Georges, Cloyes-les-Trois-Rivières (28)
Quatuor Parisii and Emmanuelle Bertrand (cello) — Schubert's String Quintet.
Sunday, September 20th, 2026 — 4:00 PM
- Jazz-Bach — Prieuré Notre-Dame d'Yron, Cloyes-les-Trois-Rivières (28)
Violaine Despeyroux (viola), Matthieu Delage (baritone saxophone), Baptiste Dolt (drums), Benjamin Garson (guitar) — a dialogue between classical music and jazz.
Friday, September 25th, 2026 — 8:00 PM
- Romances Tzigane
Zhanna Mikhailyuk (vocals), Slava Mikhailyuk (guitar and vocals), Gauthier Hermann (cello), Mathilde Borsarello Herrmann (violin).
Saturday, September 26th, 2026 — 8:00 PM
- Quatuor Ludwig — Salle Pierre-Martinet, Pezou (41)
Sébastien Surel, Manuel Doutrelant (violins), Violaine Despeyroux (viola), Anne Copery (cello) — program to be finalized.
Sunday, September 27th, 2026 — 4:00 PM
- Trio Ernest & Éléonore Billy — Église Saint-Firmin-des-Prés (41)
Stanislas Gosset (violin), Clément Dami (cello), Natasha Roque Alsina (piano), Éléonore Billy (nyckelharpa) — chamber music & nyckelharpa.
Prices Romantic Festival of the Loir 2026
Practical information — Romantic Festival of the Loir
Practical Information
Getting There
By car: Cloyes-les-Trois-Rivières is easily reached via the N10 road between Chartres and Vendôme, approximately 45 minutes from Chartres and 30 minutes from Vendôme. Free parking is available near the concert venues.
By train: Cloyes-sur-le-Loir station is served by the Centre-Val de Loire TER regional trains on the Paris-Tours line.
Tickets
Prices vary depending on the concert. Some performances are free of charge. A festival pass is available for the full programme.
STANDARD RATE / 20€ REDUCED RATE* / 18€ Under 14s / FREE
3-concert pass: 50€ All-access Privilege pass: 90€
* Applies from the 2nd concert onwards (only upon presentation of the ticket from the 1st or 2nd concert)
- Members (upon presentation of membership card)
- Students (upon presentation of student ID)
- Groups of 8 or more people per concert.
Venues
- Prieuré de Notre-Dame d'Yron, Cloyes-sur-le-Loir
- Churches in Lisle, Pezou, and Saint-Firmin-des-Prés
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Where does it take place — Romantic Festival of the Loir
Prieuré de Notre-Dame d'Yron et églises de la vallée du Loir