10 medieval festivals in France to see as a family
Published on updated: - 8 min read - By Théo Mercier-Balaz
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Jousting tournaments, period markets, troubadours and blazing ramparts: France’s medieval festivals draw hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, from Brittany to Provence. Provins, Dinan, Carcassonne, Sedan and Bayeux are among the most impressive. Staying at a campsite with a water park and looking for an original outing between two swims?
Here’s our top 10 most beautiful medieval festivals in the country, with dates, locations and highlights for each event!
Les Médiévales de Provins, Île-de-France’s Medieval Capital
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001, the town of Provins hosts France’s best-known medieval festival every June. Over the course of a weekend, more than 800 costumed performers transform the upper town into a gigantic lord’s court. Jousting tournaments, royal processions, falconry displays and a large craft market fill the two days. The event draws several tens of thousands of curious visitors every year, making it one of the country’s biggest historical re-enactment gatherings.
Visitors’ favourite: the grand medieval parade through the upper town on Sunday afternoon, with its riders, falconers and musicians.
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La Fête des Remparts de Dinan, Brittany’s Big Event
Every two years, the Breton town of Dinan hosts one of France’s most impressive medieval festivals, around its 13th-century ramparts. Nearly 1,500 costumed performers take over the old town for a weekend in July, with jousting tournaments on the Champ-Clos, a medieval market, troubadours and period encampments. The event brings together more than 100,000 visitors and remains one of the oldest festivals of its kind in France.
Visitors’ favourite: Sunday’s grand jousting tournament in the Champ-Clos lists, recreating the jousts as they were once practised by Breton knights of the Middle Ages.
Les Médiévales de Bayeux, in the Footballsteps of William the Conqueror
Birthplace of the famous Queen Mathilde’s Tapestry, Bayeux plunges back into the Norman era every summer. On the first weekend of July, the town sets up its medieval market around the cathedral and offers processions, jousts, falconry and activities for children. More than 130 exhibitors in period costume showcase their craft, in a very welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere. The setting, dominated by Notre-Dame Cathedral, makes it one of France’s most photogenic medieval festivals.
Visitors’ favourite: the medieval falconry display held on the cathedral square, which always delights children and parents alike.
Les Médiévales de Sedan, in Europe’s Largest Fortified Castle
Sedan Castle, with its 35,000 m² and 7 levels, is simply the largest fortified castle in Europe. Every May, its courtyards and ramparts host Les Médiévales de Sedan, which bring together nearly 250 armoured combatants from across Europe. Mounted tournaments, knights’ melees, encampments and craft markets follow one another in a unique setting. The event draws large family crowds, drawn in by the site’s immersive dimension.
Visitors’ favourite: the grand foot melee in the castle’s lower courtyard, which takes place in the midst of a costumed crowd.
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Les Grandes Médiévales d’Andilly, France’s Largest Medieval Camp
20 km from Annecy, the village of Andilly recreates a genuine medieval town across 12 hectares over 5 weekends. Nearly 600 permanent performers bring old trades, jousting tournaments, chivalry shows and a craft market back to life. With around 100,000 visitors per edition, it’s one of the largest medieval festivals in France and the longest-running.
Claire’s tip: if you’re travelling with young children, choose festivals held right in the heart of a still-medieval town (Provins, Dinan, Carcassonne, Pérouges). The existing setting does much of the work in creating a change of scenery, walking distances are short, and it’s easy to fit in a snack break or nap back at the campsite.
The Cité de Carcassonne and Its Medieval Blaze
Europe’s largest fortified town hosts several medieval events within its 13th-century ramparts every summer. The highlight remains the blaze of the Cité every 14 July, which lights up 3 kilometres of ramparts in front of tens of thousands of spectators. In addition, re-enactment groups offer processions, weapons demonstrations and costumed markets throughout the summer season. The Cité, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, remains one of the most striking settings for experiencing the medieval atmosphere.
Visitors’ favourite: the fireworks display launched from the ramparts on 14 July, which turns the Cité into a huge symbolic blaze for 25 minutes.
According to Claire, this is where the “wow” effect is strongest: “Watching the ramparts blaze from the banks of the Aude is probably the most memorable moment you can bring home from a family medieval summer.”
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The Semur-en-Auxois Medieval Festival, Jousting and a Period Market
In the heart of Burgundy, Semur-en-Auxois lines up its round ramparts and round towers above the Armançon stream. The town holds its medieval festival in spring, with a market of around fifty craftspeople, street performers, troubadours and armoured combat. The golden stone setting and the human scale of the historic centre make it a perfect stop for families discovering France’s medieval festivals without the crowds of the bigger events.
Visitors’ favourite: the medieval banquet open to the public on Saturday evening on Place Notre-Dame, with period music and dishes inspired by medieval recipes.
The Fêtes Johanniques of Reims, in the Footballsteps of Joan of Arc
Every year, Reims celebrates the coronation of Charles VII in 1429 with the Fêtes Johanniques, held in tribute to Joan of Arc. More than 1,500 performers in 15th-century costume parade through the streets of the centre, from Place Royale to Notre-Dame Cathedral. On the programme: a re-enactment of the coronation procession, a medieval market on the cathedral square and a vigil of arms. The event, which is free, draws several tens of thousands of spectators and remains one of France’s medieval festivals most steeped in history.
Visitors’ favourite: the re-enactment of the coronation procession in front of Notre-Dame Cathedral, faithful to period engravings.
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Les Médiévales de Pérouges, a Town Frozen in the Middle Ages
About thirty kilometres from Lyon, the hilltop village of Pérouges shows off its uneven cobblestones, half-timbered houses and ramparts, virtually unchanged since the 15th century. The town holds its own Médiévales in early autumn, with a craft market spread across more than 30 stalls, street skits, sword fights and falconry shows. The village is ranked among the Most Beautiful Villages in France and regularly features in historical film shoots.
Visitors’ favourite: the falconry display on Place du Tilleul, at the heart of the village, set among stonework unchanged for 500 years.
The Guérande Medieval Festivals, in the Town of the Salt Marsh Workers
In the heart of salt marsh country, the fortified town of Guérande boasts 1,434 metres of almost entirely preserved ramparts. Every two years, the town holds medieval festivals with more than 500 costumed performers, a craft market, weapons demonstrations, troubadours and street performers. The white stone setting and proximity to the Atlantic beaches make it an ideal outing for holidaymakers already settled on the coast. The event remains one of the most popular in the west of France.
Visitors’ favourite: Saturday evening’s torchlit night event, which lights up the ramparts and gives the medieval town a unique atmosphere.
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Want to take your children to experience a genuine re-enactment at the heart of a fortified town, without giving up your summer swims and slides? Book your stay on our site and choose from our 751 campsites with water parks all across France, close to the country’s finest medieval festivals!
FAQ — Medieval Festivals in France
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Sources
This selection of resources was consulted to write and verify certain points in the article.
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