Haute-Loire. La Chaise-Dieu Festival: all the practical information you need to enjoy it
From Wednesday, August 20th to Saturday, August 30th, La Chaise-Dieu hosts the 59th edition of its classical music festival. Concerts aimed at both enthusiasts and curious novices take place in several towns in Haute-Loire and Puy-de-Dôme. Here's what you need to know about the program, great deals, parking, and children's shows.
While awaiting its sixtieth anniversary, the Festival de la Chaise-Dieu continues to think big. Sacred music, symphonic music, chamber music, the nationally renowned event offers a series of concerts and conferences from August 20 to 30. It's an opportunity to (re)discover powerful works, performed live in unique venues. With 23,000 spectators at the previous edition , the festival is preparing to welcome back many enthusiasts and curious people. Vivaldi, Bach, Mozart, Monteverdi, the great compositions of yesterday will resonate thanks to today's talents.
On the bill are 33 ticketed concerts and 15 free ones, with performances in 15 towns in Haute-Loire and Puy-de-Dôme. While tickets are still available for most of the concerts, here is a small selection.
On Sunday, August 24, at 9 p.m., at the Saint-Robert Abbey in La Chaise-Dieu, Schumann's Concerto will be performed by the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra. It is conducted by the renowned violinist Renaud Capuçon.
At the Basilica of Saint-Julien in Brioude, on Friday, August 29, the La Néréïde ensemble will perform an original program, "The Heart and Reason," through the repertoire normally intended for institutions for young women. Among the artists of this ensemble is soprano Julie Roset, elected Revelation Lyric Artist at the 2025 Victoires de la Musique Classique.
At the La Chaise-Dieu festival, prices range from €9 to €95. You can purchase your tickets online (www.chaise-dieu.com). Please note that all tickets are 50% off one hour before the start of each performance, subject to availability.
For those on a tight budget or looking to discover classical music without spending too much, the festival is offering its "Génération Chaise-Dieu" program for the third year. Four ensembles of young musicians are hosted in residence. Their masterclasses, public and free, are held in various municipalities in Haute-Loire and Puy-de-Dôme, with 15 performances from August 22 to 29, at 6 p.m.
Other free activities include the "Musical Discussions" broadcasts, which will be recorded live by RCF. Each evening at 6 p.m., a guest (musicians, orchestra director, or expert) will be invited. Recordings will take place at the Camino in Le Puy-en-Velay on August 20, and then at the stables of the Cziffra Auditorium in La Chaise-Dieu for the remaining evenings.
For young audiences, on Friday, August 22 at 11 a.m., the Cziffra Auditorium hosts Croche Pattes . A playful show with actor Guillaume d'Harcourt and the Chausson Trio, which tells the story of music through its great love stories, its eternal friendships, and even its fights. Prices from €13 to €25.
La Chaise-Dieu, a small town of 500 inhabitants, is located in the north of the Haute-Loire department. By car, it is 1 hour 30 minutes from Saint-Etienne, 40 minutes from Le Puy-en-Velay, and 2 hours from Lyon. Parking is available in the town. To get there by public transport from Le Puy-en-Velay, there is the H27 regional bus, but be careful, there are only one or two trips per day, which makes a round trip in one day difficult.
A popular tourist spot in Haute-Loire thanks to its Gothic-style abbey and classical music festival , Chaise-Dieu has several restaurants in and around its streets. You can also pack a picnic to enjoy the cool waters of the Tour lake, which is a six-minute drive and a half-hour walk from the abbey.
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