From the street circus of Festival Furies in Châlons to the 80 bygone trades of Azannes, eleven Grand Est picks for a weekend of heritage, vineyards and big images.
What's on in the Grand Est this weekend of June 6 and 7? The month opens on a delightful contrast: contemporary circus bows out in Châlons while Champagne lights up and Lorraine turns back the clock. Our pick of the week goes to Festival Furies, a national street-arts gathering reaching its final day on Saturday, and to Les Vieux Métiers d'Azannes, a 19th-century village rebuilt a stone's throw from Verdun. Between Reims's immersive shows, land art in the Épernay vineyards and Argentine tango in Mulhouse, the lineup ranges wide. Here are eleven handpicked outings.
Festival Furies in Châlons-en-Champagne (51): street circus takes its final bow
Saturday June 6 is the last day for the Festival Furies, which since June 2 has turned the centre of Châlons-en-Champagne into a playground for street arts and contemporary circus. Founded in 1990, it has become one of the field's benchmark events in France, known for the rigour and daring of its programme. Street theatre, acrobatics, installations and hybrid forms take over squares and urban spaces, often free of charge, in a spirit of direct encounter between artists and audience. The closing day traditionally gathers the most anticipated shows. An excellent springboard for a weekend in the Marne, to combine with a stroll through a town listed for its Art Deco heritage.
Les Vieux Métiers d'Azannes (55): a 19th-century Lorraine village brought back to life
Twenty minutes from Verdun, Les Vieux Métiers d'Azannes revives a village of the past all summer across seventeen hectares of plain and forest. Around 400 volunteers from the GEVO association breathe life into more than 80 traditional trades: blacksmith, clog-maker, lacemaker, baker, oil-presser, tile-maker, washerwoman. Founded in 1985, it remains one of the most complete events of its kind in the Grand Est, with farm animals, horse teams and demonstrations in period costume. Sunday is the liveliest day to see the whole site. A wholehearted recommendation for families: it's immersive, alive, and the learning comes through the gesture rather than through explanatory panels.
Luminescence at the Saint-Remi Basilica in Reims (51): a thousand years of history in light and sound
On view through August, Luminescence is a 360-degree immersive show staged inside the Saint-Remi Basilica, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Video mapping, 3D spatialised music and a live choir combine to retrace a thousand years of the monument's history in 45 minutes, from Clovis to today. Produced by LOTCHI under the direction of Romain Sarfati, the show plays on the building's Romanesque and Gothic architecture, which becomes the set itself. This weekend the sessions continue in a basilica often overlooked in favour of the neighbouring cathedral. That makes it the perfect occasion to rediscover this Reims gem from a spectacular angle, after dark.
Vign'Art in the Champagne vineyards (51): land art among the vines
From May to September, Vign'Art scatters ephemeral artworks across some twenty villages between Épernay, Reims and the Marne Valley. The idea: to set contemporary art and land art in dialogue with the Champagne hillsides listed as UNESCO World Heritage. Free and open around the clock, the trail turns the vineyard into an open-air gallery, to be explored on foot, by bike or by car from village to village. This weekend the installations are in place and catch the early-summer light on the rows of vines. It's a gem for anyone keen to pair a walk through Champagne terroir with an artist's eye, well off the usual tourist track. Bring a trail map to make the most of the stops.
Reims Interplanetary Comics Festival (51): the ninth art in the City of Coronations
Through Sunday June 7, the Reims Interplanetary Comics Festival brings together authors, illustrators and comics fans. Since 2013 the FIBDR has lined up exhibitions, signings, talks, workshops and conferences in a spirit that fully owns its name: exploration, imagination and science fiction take pride of place. The weekend is the festival's high point, with artists on hand and signing queues forming. Recommended for comics lovers and families alike: the children's programme is well crafted and the entry policy welcoming. A fine gateway into the regional comics scene, in a town already rich in outings this weekend.
Rendez-vous aux Jardins in Reims (51): gardens throw their gates wide open
From June 5 to 7, the Rendez-vous aux Jardins bring the French Culture Ministry's national event to Reims and the Marne. For three days, public and private gardens open exceptionally with guided tours, botanical workshops, exhibitions and activities. The Saint-Remi Museum and the Fort de la Pompelle are among the participating sites. The theme changes each year and shapes the mediations on offer. It's the ideal chance to push open gates usually kept shut and chat with passionate gardeners. Mostly free, family-friendly and educational, this event pairs easily with the weekend's other Reims outings. Do check the opening hours of private gardens, which are often limited.
Langres Gastronomique (52): AOP cheese at the heart of the terroir
From June 5 to 7, on Place des États-Unis, Langres Gastronomique brings together nearly 100 exhibitors, producers and artisans around the AOP Langres cheese and local specialities. Created in 2019, this first-weekend-of-June food fair has settled into the Haute-Marne landscape, at the crossroads of Champagne and Burgundy. Cooking demonstrations, tastings and direct sales fill the three days, in a hilltop fortified town that is worth the trip on its own. A good plan for food lovers keen to take home cheese, honey or local charcuterie, and to enjoy the ramparts of Langres along the way, among the best preserved in France.
Counts of Champagne Medieval Festival in Chaumont (52): back to the Middle Ages
On June 6 and 7, the Counts of Champagne Medieval Festival plunges Chaumont into the heart of the Middle Ages. Held every two years by the Médiévalys association at Square Philippe Lebon, facing the castle of the Counts of Champagne, this free festival gathers historical re-enactment troupes, béhourd combat, medieval craftspeople, musicians and fire-breathers. Created in 2013, it relies on the authenticity of its encampments and demonstrations. A period tavern and workshops round out the immersion. As this is a biennial edition, this weekend is one to seize: the next won't come for two years. Ideal for families wanting a costumed, lively Sunday in the Haute-Marne.
Le Printemps du Tango in Mulhouse (68): the Argentine bandoneon takes over the city
Through Sunday June 7, Le Printemps du Tango sets Mulhouse pulsing to the rhythm of Argentine tango. Since 2013, this festival offers a full immersion in Argentine culture: milongas, free introductory classes, masterclasses, concerts, shows, food, screenings and exhibitions take over the city centre. The closing weekend concentrates the big milongas and concerts, open to seasoned dancers and the merely curious alike. The free introductory sessions let you try your first steps without gear or a partner. It's a rare proposition in the region, where dance, music and travel meet. A fine counterpoint to the weekend's heritage festivals, for those who would rather move than watch.
Metz for Fiction in Longeville-lès-Metz (57): science fiction in convention form
On June 6 and 7, at the Palais des Sports in Longeville-lès-Metz, Metz for Fiction celebrates science fiction in all its forms: literary, cinematic and gaming. Run by the L'Académie de la Force association, the convention gathers authors, illustrators, publishers, cosplayers and enthusiasts. Exhibitor stands, talks, meet-ups and activities fill the two days, in the gathering spirit typical of imagination conventions. It's a gem for SF and pop-culture fans, but also for the curious who want a close look at cosplay and specialist publishing. Pair it, if you like, with the Reims comics festival for a weekend devoted to the imagination from one end of the Grand Est to the other.
Pelouses Sonores in Strasbourg (67): free concerts by the Rhine
On Sunday June 7, the Pelouses Sonores, the live strand of the Contre-temps festival, take over the Jardin des Deux Rives in Strasbourg for a day of free open-air concerts. From afternoon to nightfall, emerging bands and international artists follow one another in a green setting on the banks of the Rhine, spanning experimental jazz, funk, world music and hip-hop. The day before, on Saturday, the Pelouses Électroniques run their DJ-set counterpart on the same site, from house to techno. Two free, complementary days for a laid-back musical weekend, perfect for a picnic between sets. Family-friendly and easygoing, a stone's throw from the German border.
To explore other regions this weekend, head to our full weekend agenda. Enjoy your time in the Grand Est.
