The Medieval Festival of the Château Fort de Sedan – May 20 and 21, 2023

“The medieval festival opens its doors on the weekend of May 20 and 21 for its 26th edition in Sedan with a theme in the spotlight this year: “The Feast of Fools”.

An exceptional weekend awaits you! This is an opportunity to go back in time and have a good time with family, alone or with friends. On the program, the medieval festival invites you to participate in activities, visits, fireworks and concerts… You are spoiled for choice ????

The key numbers ????

• 40 troupesartisans and local associations.
• 20,000 visitors are expected at the gates of the largest fortified castle in Europe ????.
• 400 actors and extras will be present during the parade on Saturday.
• 600 m2 of restaurants8 taverns and 7 refreshment areas ????.
• fifty volunteers who invest in the preparation and ticketing of the festival.

The 26th edition of the medieval festival is the unmissable event for lovers of the medieval festival which highlights a historical period as fascinating as it is captivating.

You will be immersed in a historical reconstruction thanks to the camps, the many activities, the market and the period restoration! ????

Camps ⛺️

The festival will host 8 camps this year. They will be distributed in more than thirty tents which will extend over 2500m2 all around the castle. ????️

In the program :

• The Dragon Slayers
• The Corridors of Champagne Time
• The Companions of the White Wolf
• The flayers of the simwé
• The Companions of the Owl

Three novelties are offered to you:

• The Maisnie of Augerolles
• The Wolves of Menil
• behourd

You will be invited to craft demonstrations, archery, cooking, medicine, hygiene, weaving and many more activities.

There will be something for everyone and it should be noted that some camps will offer activities for children such as mini fights, introduction to archery and crossbow, knight’s course…????

Music, shows and entertainment ???? ????

Outdoor entertainment:

Rhesus: arrived from Lorraine, it is to the sound of drums and bagpipes that Rhesus will make you discover his musical, dynamic and festive universe. Compositions and rearranged covers from distant lands will be offered to you.

remember :???? arrived from Brittany, Sonj invites us on a journey between East and West. This group of 5 musicians will make you discover their warm and dancing repertoire adorned with their shimmering costumes.

Milites flag throwers: ???? accompanied by drums, a troop of flag throwers from the Czech Republic will be present at the festival for the first time!

Barkers:???? the theme of town criers will also be among us. With high colors mixing music, juggling and theater, the 3 friends will put on a show for their first participation in the festival.

Bavar the storyteller:???? arriving from Belgium, he will walk the aisles of the festival with his spoon tree! A member of the public can choose a spoon. On each spoon, there will be a word that refers to a title that refers to a story that it will tell visitors.

Ballarom :???? Once upon a time there were four friends. Master Rom de Ballarom and his three students, disciples at the troubadour school.
Juggling, acrobatics, bank numbers, extraordinary animals, impressive scenery, nothing will be lacking to these pure juice acrobats!

The company sonjévéyés:???? present for the first time at the medieval festival, the Maroufles will present their show “The monster fairs”. Quirky, ugly, stupid and wicked, you just have to discover them! They will chain antics, juggling, address numbers and hilarious scenes, fun guaranteed!

The kavance company:???? Josy and Pep’s travel the roads in search of the so-called “charming” Prince. For nearly 900 years. During their quest, our two galliards will surely cross your path and you will not be left out! They are perched on their stilts but keep their heads on their shoulders. They do not have the language in their bag these uronnes. And they have stories sprinkled with humor. They will be accompanied by the clown of the beggars.

Activities for children ???????? ????????

Outdoor activities for children:

• The Medieval Castle Farm
• The Chateau d’Eaucourt
• La lice de Battle of Colors
• Pony rides
• Initiations (archery, crossbow shooting)
• Camp Workshops

Indoor children’s activities:

• The sketches of the Cercle Pierre Bayle
• Craftsmanship with illumination
• Chinese calligraphy and some passionate illustrators of the medieval world

Indoor shows ????

• The Cercle Pierre Bayle (gallery of antiques): the Pierre Bayle circle is back with two medieval farces: Basile and Finette and Farces et Attrapes, the last farce written by Yves Kretzmeyer
• The costume contest: our more and more visitors are wearing beautiful costumes and thus participating in the animation of the festival! To highlight them, we will offer a costume contest on Saturday afternoon. It will be open to children as well as adults.

The opportunity to elect “the King of Fools” ????

Children’s entertainment ???????? ♀️

• The Chaineau Farm ????: already come to the festival, this medieval educational farm will be back with all its animals: pigs, sheep, poultry, rabbits, goats, donkeys, geese
• The Chateau d’Eaucourt ???? (from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.): it will offer two workshops to the public: the little builders (demonstrations and initiations to stone cutting, assembly of vaults) and heraldic animation
• Battle of Colors???? : Enter the battle of colors arena and come and try out medieval weapons and shields. Entertainment for the whole family!

???? ???? The big procession on Saturday evening ???? ????

An exceptional evening awaits you on SATURDAY !

The procession will leave from the courtyard of the castle at 20h30.⌚️
All the actors and extras participating in the festival will take part and parade. Enough to ensure a colorful procession and entertainment where musicians, singers, dancers and stilt-walkers will be part of the party. ????

An evening not to be missed!

At nightfall, on Saturday at 10 p.m., the musicians of Rhesus will invite the spectators to continue the evening in a festive atmosphere… an explosive concert which will be followed by the fire show of Ballarom “torchestras and lights ».????????

A fireworks display will illuminate the walls of the fortified castle to end this first day!

Finally, fireworks will illuminate the fortress ????

Local associations ????

Every year, the associations have the opportunity to take part in the festival and express their talents thanks to the medieval festival. Among these associations are:

• The Chenaie Farm ????: This year, it offers budding knights a knight’s course on pony or on horseback.
• The Handball Club ????‍♂️: he will handle the apple press and let passers-by taste real apple juice pressed on site.
• The troop of Dream Creators ????: come admire and encourage this young company of stilt-walkers from the West Avenue de Sedan social center.
• The Fantastic Parade????: the young stilt-walkers from the Le Lac social center will be back with their gargoyles and fantastic creatures inspired by the world of Jerome Bosch.
• The washerwomen of Frénois and their peasants ????‍????: the washerwomen, armed with their tubs and their beaters, will invite passers-by to attend the cleaning of the Prince of Sedan’s underwear!
• medieval weddings ???? : Mr and Mrs Jouniaux will officiate all weekend and invite visitors to marry (or remarry) according to the customs of the Middle Ages!

Guaranteed fun in the company of our cardinal????

The craftsmen????‍????

The craftsmen will come to share the secrets of the trades of yesteryear.

Festival-goers will thus be able to meet many artisans:

• on the encampments installed all around the castle: forge, tin casting, calligraphy, embroidery, sewing, mesh…
• in the castle treasure room: illumination and calligraphy, joined this year by passionate illustrators of the medieval world: Jim Colorex, Matthieu Coudray, Kéin Brémieux and Pascal Boillet.

Practical info ℹ️

Rates ????:

Tickets of the pre-sale of the medieval festival ????️

⚠️Pre-sale festival until May 19 included:⚠️
You can buy your pre-sale tickets at:

• The reception of the fortified castle 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily
• The tourist office : Charleville, Place Ducale or Sedan, Place d’Armes
• THE UCIA Sedan, Republic Street
• Savanitatobacco shop, 2 Place Goulden in Sedan
• On the castle’s website : online ticketing

Adult : 8,50€ the day and 11€ the weekend
Enfant : 4.50€ the day and 6.50€ the weekend
Free for children under 8 years old

Ticket office prices on the spot May 20 and 21 ????️

Adult : 10€ the day and 15€ the weekend
Enfant : 6€ the day and 8€ the weekend

Prices for visiting the castle ????

Rates festival special: 6€
Free for children under 8 years old

Tour prices nocturne from the torchlight castle ????

Departures at 9 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. ✨????

Adult : 14€
Enfant : 11€
Free for children 6 and under

Opening hours ????️
Saturday from 10 a.m. to midnight and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Concerning parkingyou can park at many locations

????️ Place Turenne,

????️ Place Alsace Lorraine,

????️ Boulevard Fabert,

????️ Capuchin ramp,

????️ Place d’Armes,

????️ Canal du Moulin car park,

????️ Place Saint Vincent de Paul,

????️ Rampe d’Asfeld,

????️ Coal Harbor

????️ Louis Dugauguez Stadium car park

You need to use the bathroom ? ????

Toilets are available within the perimeter of the medieval festival and outside the perimeter:

• Hue Tanton Street
• Promenade of the Priests

You need one accommodation?

We invite you to the website ????‍???? www.ardennes.com to check availability because many hotels have to be booked in Sedan and its surroundings…

you want manger on the spot ?

All around the castle will extend the great medieval market. ????️
The restaurants will be installed there. They will offer typical dishes and food from the past.????‍????

• The White Horse Tavern
• The Auberge du Saint-Cochon from the workshop Aux Saveurs d’Ardenne
• Cafe La Marck,
• The Basket Club of Sedan
• The Green Papilla
• La Taverne Bugler
• The Black Griffin
• He was a fool

The opportunity will arise for visitors to taste the dishes of yesteryear prepared for the occasion: pork on the spit, ham on the bone, pies and filled in a friendly atmosphere. ????
In addition, if you have a little peck, the merchants will be there to offer you cakes, beers, jams, charcuterie, cheeses and artisanal wines…????????????
If you have a little thirst, we offer beers, artisanal wines, and apple juice pressed on site.????????