The Festival de Pentecôte is changing its name this year, offering a perfect chance to (re)discover it. For its 4th edition, the musical gathering organized by La Nouvelle Athènes at the Château de Malmaison et de Bois-Préau, in Rueil-Malmaison in Hauts-de-Seine (92), becomes the Festival of the First Romantics. From May 22 to 25, 2026, the program features seven concerts, two free strolls through the park, and a study day open to all, all centered around a question as simple as it is captivating: how did the early French and German romantics hear, feel, and translate nature into music?
From Rousseau to Novalis, Beethoven to Schumann, nature isn’t simply a backdrop here. It’s a confidante, a secret language, a mirror of the soul. The program opens with a French sensibility—subtle and luminous—before diving into a more enigmatic German aesthetic, teeming with unseen forces and nocturnal sprites. Contemporary works then bring the sounds of pollinating insects to life, while an outdoor serenade in Bois-Préau park evokes birds and the hunt. A coherent, well-crafted arc that you follow with pleasure from one concert to the next.
The full lineup is as follows:
One of the edition’s highlights: the study day on Friday, May 22, is entirely free. Five top-tier speakers will take turns offering fresh perspectives on the intimate link between nature and Romanticism. Olivier Schefer, philosopher and professor at Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne, specialist in Novalis, opens the discussion. Héloïse Metzlé explores Rousseau and romance; Annelies Andries examines musical emotions in the early Romantic lieder; Rémi Cariel, chief curator of the Malmaison museum, discusses the sense of nature in Joséphine’s collections; and Georges Starobinski closes the session with the poetry of origins in Schumann’s lieder. An afternoon that the curious and cultural-history enthusiasts will relish.
The 2026 program lands at a watershed moment for the site: the château reopens after four years of renovation, and the Roses & Peonies exhibition, running May 13 to August 3, is in full swing in the Bois-Préau gardens. Concert tickets can be bundled with entry to the exhibition, from 6.50 euros, making for a genuine day-out that blends heritage, gardens and music.
Tickets start at 25 euros for adults, with a reduced 15-euro rate for under-26s, students, and job seekers. Children under 10 and students from music schools enter free. Booking 4 concerts earns 15% off, and 20% off for 7 concerts. Tickets are available on the La Nouvelle Athènes website and at the venue. The castle is accessible by RER A, stop at Rueil-Malmaison, about twenty minutes from La Défense.
This festival offers a refreshing option for the Pentecost weekend, away from the hustle and bustle of Paris and in a truly well-kept setting. The program is dense without being overwhelming, weaving outdoor moments, indoor concerts, and a day of thoughtful, accessible study sessions. It speaks to fans of romantic chamber music, to curious enthusiasts of Napoleonic heritage, and to anyone seeking a cultural outing off the beaten path. The fact that several events are free (study day, strolls) makes the festival accessible to a broad audience. We recommend pairing your visit with the gardens and the accompanying exhibition to make the most of the estate.
Good to know: venue capacity is limited, so it’s best not to wait to book, especially for Saturday night concerts.
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Dates and Opening Time
From May 22, 2026 to May 25, 2026
Location
Château de Bois-Préau
1 B Avenue de l'Impératrice Joséphine
92500 Rueil Malmaison
Booking
lanouvelleathenes.net
