Bardou
Bardou lies in the Parc Naturel du Haut Languedoc in the mountains near Montpellier in Southern France and is our special destination for those who appreciate the essentials of life. The accommodation is rustic but you will be rewarded with a unique setting of stunning scenery and tranquility. Consisting of twenty ancient stone houses, Bardou is an authentic example of the architecture and layout of a tiny medieval mountain hamlet.
Bardou is the perfect place for enjoying nature. Several marked trails offer short- or long-distance walks for all levels. You might also enjoy swimming in the refreshing waters of mountain streams with waterfalls and secluded deep rock pools.
A magical place. Learn more about Bardou, its history, about acommodation, the climate, what to discover around. Continue ...
Coming next in Bardou:
Symphonic Holiday
29th May - 9th June 2024
Symphonic Holiday
10th - 21st July 2024

Symphonic Holiday
29th May - 9th June 2024
Conductor: Cayenna Ponchione
FANNY HENSEL, Overture in C
EMILIE MAYER, Symphony No. 1
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN, Symphony No. 1
Vacancies
We still have places for all strings, horn, trumpet, timpani
This Symphonic Holiday in Bardou lasts two days longer than the other courses, giving plenty of room also for chamber music. As in previous years, an informal chamber concert will be arranged in Bardou if the participants would like to present what they have studied the days before.
29th MAY 2024
Arrival of the participants in Bardou
ON THE FOLLOWING DAYS,
We will have two rehearsals per day, the first one in the morning, the second rehearsal in the evening after an early dinner.
The coaches will be in Bardou on the three days with sectionals.
In the afternoons you can explore the surrounding of Bardou with your hiking boots, dare a refreshing swim in the rock pools of the mountain streams or just enjoy the peace and quiet of Bardou.
3rd JUNE
A day without rehearsals, allowing longer excursions that might include: An outing to the beautiful historical town of Pézenas; visiting and wine tasting at local vineyards in the Faugère and St Chinian area; an exciting canoeing excursion on the river Orb or a hiking tour through the wonderful Caroux-plateau with its great variety of flora and fauna and stunning scenery including view of the Pyrenees.
7th JUNE
In the evening we will have our firstl concert in in the church Saint-Majan of Villemagne l’Argentière.
8th JUNE
In the afternoon we will have our final concert in the city of Saint-Chinian in the church Notre Dame de la Barthe. Fare well dinner in Bardou
9th JUNE
Departure
ORCHESTRA
2 2 2 2 — 2 2 0 0 — tmp — str
The minimum instrumentation in the strings will be 4-4-3-3-1, maximum (due to the limited space in the rehearsal hall) 5-5-4-4-1.
TEAM
Conductor: Cayenna Ponchione
Coach violin : Alexandre Pascal
Coach viola: Louis Merlet
Coach cello / double bass: Adriano Ancarani
Wind sectionals with Cayenna Ponchione
GENERAL INFORMATION / FAQ
Please do also read our general information with frequently asked questions on Symphonic Holidays.
ACCOMMODATION
The participants will be accommodated in various houses of the hamlet in double rooms. A limited number of single rooms is available. The standard of the houses reflect the humble nature of the place in general. Please pay attention to the fact that toilettes and showers are located in central facilities of the village. We have one house (with two beds) available with private bath / toilette.
MEALS
We will take our meals together which are based on Mediterranean cooking with fresh regional products.
TRAVEL
The nearest airports and long distance train stations are Montpellier, Béziers and Toulouse. From here you have connecting trains or busses to Mons la Trivalle and Bédarieux. Pick up service to Bardou is provided (Bardou is not connected to public transport). Click here for detailed information. We are happy to help you with organizing your trip!
A magic place. Learn more about Bardou, its history, the infrastructure, about the climate, what to discover around. Continue ...
PRICE
1.060,- € (students: 690,- €) including accommodation and meals. Not included are travel expenses and expenses on excursions.
270,- € single room supplement
Supplement for house with private bath / toilette (with two beds): 250,- € each person
We can provide bedding (duvet/blanket, pillow, bed linen) and towels for 15,- €.
BOOKING
If you wish to book this Symphonic Holiday kindly use the booking form or send us an e.mail (mail@dacapo-travel.eu, writing in English, German, French or Italian). Your booking is binding as soon as we have confirmed it.
The reduced fee for students is limited to the number of five places on this Symphonic Holiday. Please send us an e.mail with a copy of your student id.
A non-refundable deposit of 150,- € is payable on confirmation that a booking has been accepted. The balance of the price is to be paid by 28th February 2024.
Minimum group size 30 participants. We might decide to cancel a programme if at any time up to three month before there were insufficient bookings. We would refund everything you had paid to us. We do not refund your travel expenses if you had booked your trip (for example flights or trains) prior to our confirmation of the programme.

Symphonic Holiday
10th - 21st July 2024
Conductor: David Curtis
FRANZ SCHUBERT, Symphony No. 5
THEA MUSGRAVE, Night Music
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART, Symphony No. 40
Vacancies
We still have places for all strings, oboe, bassoon
This Symphonic Holiday in Bardou lasts two days longer than the other courses, giving plenty of room also for chamber music. As in previous years, an informal chamber concert will be arranged in Bardou if the participants would like to present what they have studied the days before.
10th JULY 2024
Arrival of the participants in Bardou
ON THE FOLLOWING DAYS,
We will have two rehearsals per day, the first one in the morning, the second rehearsal in the evening after an early dinner.
The coaches will be in Bardou on the three days with sectionals (14th, 15th and 16th July).
In the afternoons you can explore the surrounding of Bardou with your hiking boots, dare a refreshing swim in the rock pools of the mountain streams or just enjoy the peace and quiet of Bardou.
15th JULY
A day without rehearsals, allowing longer excursions that might include: An outing to the beautiful historical town of Pézenas; visiting and wine tasting at local vineyards in the Faugère and St Chinian area; an exciting canoeing excursion on the river Orb or a hiking tour through the wonderful Caroux-plateau with its great variety of flora and fauna and stunning scenery including view of the Pyrenees.
19th JULY
In the evening we will have our firstl concert in in the church Saint-Majan of Villemagne l’Argentière.
20th JULY
In the afternoon we will have our final concert in the city of Saint-Chinian in the church Notre Dame de la Barthe. Fare well dinner in Bardou
21st JULY
Departure
ORCHESTRA
Schubert: 1 2 0 2 — 2 0 0 0 — str
Musgrave: 1(pic)201 — 2000 — str
Mozart: 1 2 2 2 — 2 0 0 0 — str
TEAM
Conductor: David Curtis
Coach violin : Rodrigo Bauzá
Coach viola: Louis Merlet
Coach cello / double bass: Constance Ricard
Wind sectionals with David Curtis
GENERAL INFORMATION / FAQ
Please do also read our general information with frequently asked questions on Symphonic Holidays.
ACCOMMODATION
The participants will be accommodated in various houses of the hamlet in double rooms. A limited number of single rooms is available. The standard of the houses reflect the humble nature of the place in general. Please pay attention to the fact that toilettes and showers are located in central facilities of the village. We have one house (with two beds) available with private bath / toilette.
MEALS
We will take our meals together which are based on Mediterranean cooking with fresh regional products.
TRAVEL
The nearest airports and long distance train stations are Montpellier, Béziers and Toulouse. From here you have connecting trains or busses to Mons la Trivalle and Bédarieux. Pick up service to Bardou is provided (Bardou is not connected to public transport). Click here for detailed information. We are happy to help you with organizing your trip!
A magic place. Learn more about Bardou, its history, the infrastructure, about the climate, what to discover around. Continue ...
PRICE
1.060,- € (students: 690,- €) including accommodation and meals. Not included are travel expenses and expenses on excursions.
270,- € single room supplement
Supplement for house with private bath / toilette (with two beds): 250,- € each person
We can provide bedding (duvet/blanket, pillow, bed linen) and towels for 15,- €.
BOOKING
If you wish to book this Symphonic Holiday kindly use the booking form or send us an e.mail (mail@dacapo-travel.eu, writing in English, German, French or Italian). Your booking is binding as soon as we have confirmed it.
The reduced fee for students is limited to the number of five places on this Symphonic Holiday. Please send us an e.mail with a copy of your student id.
A non-refundable deposit of 150,- € is payable on confirmation that a booking has been accepted. The balance of the price is to be paid by 10th April 2024.
Minimum group size 30 participants. We might decide to cancel a programme if at any time up to three month before there were insufficient bookings. We would refund everything you had paid to us. We do not refund your travel expenses if you had booked your trip (for example flights or trains) prior to our confirmation of the programme.
