Every August in south-western France, the “Itinéraire Baroque” festival, founded 24 years ago by Ton Koopman, takes musicians and audiences on a unique journey filled with concerts and discoveries. Fiona Hook gives us a glimpse into her notebook for the 2025 edition. 
By Fiona Hook
Fields as far as the eye can see, punctuated by the occasional house. Some, already harvested, are pale gold, others sport maize and sunflowers. The car zips along narrow roads through villages with five houses and a church. This is the setting for the 24th edition of Itinéraire Baroque, the travelling festival founded by Ton Koopman in 2002 – and where preparations for 2026 are already under way. Unique in its kind, the Festival invites audiences each summer to roam the Périgord countryside, discovering a succession of short concerts in Romanesque churches, interspersed with convivial pauses around local food and markets. Four days of musical discoveries and encounters, bringing heritage, terroir and early music into lively conversation. A hidden gem of the festival circuit, well worth seeking out!
Itinéraire Baroque: The Beginnings
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