Presentation

The Reims Festival of Musical Strolls was founded in 1990 at the initiative of the City of Reims. From the very beginning, its goal has been to showcase Reims’ heritage through music.

In its very first season, 100 events were held, attracting more than 13,000 spectators to free concerts. Four years later, 100,000 people flocked to the 150 events of the summer music festival, which featured both classical music and jazz.

Lord Yehudi Menuhin became the festival’s first honorary patron in 1991. He was joined in 1995 by Mstislav Rostropovich, and then in 1998 by Montserrat Caballé.

A unique and prestigious event thanks to the excellence and diversity of its programming, and universal in its commitment to reaching all audiences and bringing classical music to places where it isn’t always expected, the Reims Festival des Flâneries Musicales is the must-attend annual musical event for young and old alike, for music lovers as well as those simply curious and seeking emotion, relaxation, daydreaming, surprises, shared experiences, and new discoveries…

Every summer, Reims is transformed into one giant stage and hosts about 50 concerts at some 30 different venues: UNESCO World Heritage sites, exceptional champagne cellars, the City Hall’s banquet hall, as well as the city’s parks, gardens, and numerous cultural venues.

The “diverse” program of the Flâneries Musicales de Reims offers a broad overview of the classical music repertoire, spanning a wide variety of eras, genres, and ensembles, for everyone to discover and enjoy.

Young audiences aren’t left out, with a series of musical shows designed especially for them: “Les Petits Flâneurs.”

With a third of its concerts free of charge and a wide range of special offers, Flâneries Musicales de Reims makes music available to all.

But the Flâneries are more than just the summer festival and its unmissable picnic. Throughout the year, between festival editions, they extend the joy of discovery and connection through classical music. Lectures offer opportunities to explore the works, the artists, and the history of classical music, while the “Happy Flâneries” provide a regular gathering every first Thursday of the month. This concert series showcases young artists, who are invited to perform for the audience before extending the evening with a time of fellowship and conversation.

Les Flâneries Musicales also organizes cultural events close to the public, particularly in hospitals, medical-social facilities, and other places where classical music is less common. These initiatives create special moments for listening, connecting, and sharing, while giving those who cannot always make it to concert halls the opportunity to experience live music.

Thus, throughout the seasons, the Flâneries Musicales de Reims keep classical music alive well beyond the summer and cultivate year-round the very values that have defined their identity from the beginning: artistic excellence, education, curiosity, community, and sharing.