"One thing leads to another," as they say. And it's true. During the wonderful Festival de l'Abbaye de Saint-Michel en Thiérache, not only is beautiful music heard, but new contacts are also made. This is how I discovered that the abbey festival has a close relationship with the Festival de Laon.
Laon is a beautiful historic town in the Aisne department, approximately 230 kilometers from Brussels, or just over two and a half hours' drive. It is about fifty kilometers northwest of Reims. Years ago I drove the so-called "royal cathedral route" from Metz to Rouen. Along the way, the cathedral of Laon was one of those surprising discoveries that make your journey unforgettable.
The town, situated on a picturesque hilltop, is literally dominated by its impressive twelfth-century cathedral. A monument that, as one might say nowadays, is somewhat underrated. The old walled town, with its paved streets, medieval buildings and panoramic views over the surrounding plains, is also more than worth a visit. And then there is the charming cable car that connects the lower town to the historic center for those who prefer to leave their car at the bottom.
You can see it already. And Mayor Éric Delhaye will undoubtedly be pleased to read and wholeheartedly agree: Laon is more than worth a detour.
Especially when you can catch the 37th Festival de Laon there. The program is a textbook example of musical diversity. Not bound to any single theme or genre, the festival truly offers something for everyone. The cathedral naturally forms the beating heart of the festival, but is also used as a source of inspiration. Various works are approached as a musical cathedral in themselves: monumental, layered and timeless.
The program includes symphonies by Mozart, Beethoven, Mussorgsky and Shostakovich. Bach's Goldberg Variations sound in a special arrangement for string trio. Besides this, there is music by Arvo Pärt and Olivier Greif's impressive A Tale of the World. Film and literature also find a place, with screenings of Locus Lucis and activities centered on Marcel Proust.
But ultimately it is perhaps the musicians who, aside from the town itself, will convince you to plan a city trip to Laon. To name just a few: Jaap van Zweden conducts the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, while Simon-Pierre Bestion with La Tempête provides a very different musical experience. You would do best to discover the rest of the impressive program online yourself.
The festival runs from 10 September to 7 October 2026. Anyone who loves music, heritage and surprising discoveries has found an excellent destination.