Summer Book Banquet

Thirty years of exceptional literary encounters

Founded in 1995 by the association Le Marque-Page, in close collaboration with Verdier publishing house, the Summer Book Banquet of Lagrasse has become over the decades one of the most prestigious literary and philosophical events in France. For a week, the medieval abbey of Lagrasse, an architectural gem from the 13th century nestled in the heart of the Corbières, transforms into a place of thought, debate, and creation where leading writers, philosophers, filmmakers, poets, and artists converge.

A unifying theme every summer

Each edition of the Banquet is organized around a central theme that permeates the entire program. In 2024, the theme "Thinking and Looking Elsewhere" invited participants to shift their perspectives and question certainties. In 2025, "The Choice of Bodies" explored the ethical, identity, aesthetic, and political dimensions of our relationship with the body. The themes addressed over the years—memory, justice, borders, generations, language—testify to the intellectual ambition of the Banquet and its ability to shed light on major contemporary issues.

A rich and multidisciplinary program

The daily program of the Banquet is structured around several complementary formats:

• The Grand Breakfasts: morning encounters hosted by a moderator
• Conferences and Round Tables: presentations by writers and thinkers
• Writing Workshops: led by established authors
• Cinema & Literature Workshops: screenings and cross-analyses
• Philosophy Workshops: open philosophical discussions
• Evening Readings and Performances: literary and musical performances

The speakers are major figures in contemporary literature and thought, both French and international, gathered for a week of intense exchanges and conviviality.

The Abbey of Lagrasse, a haven for thought

The setting of the Abbey of Lagrasse gives the Banquet a unique atmosphere. The encounters take place in the cloister, the chapter houses, the refectory, and the gardens of the abbey, offering participants a conducive environment for reflection and exchange. The village of Lagrasse, one of the most beautiful in France, extends the experience with its medieval streets, café terraces, and market. Since 2023, the cultural center Les Arts de Lire has been responsible for the artistic direction and organization of the Banquet, succeeding the association Le Marque-Page which led it for nearly thirty years.