Bastides en Fête
A festive weekend in the heart of the bastides of Lot-et-Garonne and Dordogne
2026
About Bastides en Fête
Bastides en Fête is an autumn festival dedicated to the bastides of the Lot-et-Garonne and southern Dordogne regions—those new towns founded between the 13th and 14th centuries. Over one weekend in October, around thirty towns open up their arcaded squares for guided tours, street performances, farmers' markets, hikes, mystery games, and banquets. Created in 2024 by the Lot-et-Garonne Department and Tourisme Lot-et-Garonne, the event expanded into the Dordogne in 2025. Monflanquin, officially ranked as one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France, is one of the participating bastides.
Bastides en Fête — edition 2026
Bastides en Fête returns on Saturday, October 24th and Sunday, October 25th, 2026, for its 3rd edition, featuring 27 bastides across the Lot-et-Garonne and southern Dordogne regions. In Monflanquin, fifteen events are scheduled over the two days: an archaeological treasure hunt, self-guided and guided tours of the Musée des Bastides, the "Le 13ème jeu" escape game, the 450th anniversary celebration of Janouille, a 7.9 km hike, an autumn market, and a soup aperitif.
2026 Edition: Two Days, 27 Bastides
The 3rd edition of Bastides en Fête takes place on Saturday, October 24th and Sunday, October 25th, 2026, during the All Saints' school holidays. While the 2025 edition lasted three days, this year's event spans two days and brings together 27 bastides in the Lot-et-Garonne and southern Dordogne. Each town publishes its own specific program.
In Lot-et-Garonne, special Tèrra Aventura quests are available in 13 bastides, including Monflanquin, with five digital badges to unlock. In the Dordogne, two major medieval banquets are planned in Domme and Vergt; dates, times, and prices have yet to be announced.
Monflanquin
Activities will be held at the Place des Arcades and the Musée des Bastides, located above the tourist office. The detailed program is provided below. Paid activities can be booked by calling 05 53 36 40 19 or via the Cœur de Bastides tourist office ticketing website.
Highlights Bastides en Fête 2026
- Janouille's 450th Anniversary: procession with 450 candles and lanterns featuring actors and troubadours, Saturday, October 24th from 5:45 PM to 7:00 PM, departing from Place des Arcades (free)
- Autumn market with producers and artisans, Sunday, October 25th from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Place des Arcades
- "Le 13ème jeu" escape game at the Musée des Bastides, two sessions daily
- Hikers' soup aperitif offered by the municipality, Sunday at 12:00 PM at Place des Arcades
- Tèrra Aventura quest created for the event in Monflanquin, "Red" territory badge
Programme Bastides en Fête 2026
Saturday, October 24, 2026
- 9:30 AM-12:00 PM and 2:00 PM-4:00 PM · On the Trail of Professor Verneuil · in the bastide and at the Musée des Bastides — family treasure hunt: decipher Professor Verneuil's excavation notebook to solve the archaeological mysteries of Monflanquin. Duration 1h to 1h15, ages 8+, by reservation. Kit to be picked up at the tourist office; minors must be accompanied by an adult. 4 € per player.
- 9:30 AM-12:30 PM · Self-guided tours of the Musée des Bastides · above the tourist office — heritage interpretation center dedicated to the new towns of the Middle Ages that appeared in the Southwest between the 13th and 14th centuries. Duration 1h, free admission.
- 11:00 AM · Guided tour of the Musée des Bastides · above the tourist office — 5 € for adults, 2 € for ages 12-18, students, and job seekers; free for children under 12. By reservation.
- 2:30 PM-3:30 PM and 4:30 PM-5:30 PM · "Le 13ème jeu" Escape Game · Musée des Bastides — an hour of immersion in the Middle Ages to solve the mystery of Monflanquin's founding. Groups of 3 to 10 people, 12 € per player, free for children under 7. By reservation.
- 5:45 PM-7:00 PM · Janouille's 450th Anniversary · start and finish at Place des Arcades — a procession from Place du Cap Del Pech to the washhouse, led by actors and troubadours. 450 candles and lanterns light the way back to Place des Arcades, ending with a fire show. Duration 1h15, free, by reservation.
- 7:00 PM · Tasting of the Amis de Janouille soup · Place des Arcades — accompanied by music from the Les Verts à Pieds band. Free.
Sunday, October 25, 2026
- 9:00 AM · Hike with Les Marcheurs des Bastides · departure from Place des Arcades — 7.9 km walking circuit. Free.
- 9:30 AM-12:00 PM and 2:00 PM-4:00 PM · On the Trail of Professor Verneuil · in the bastide and at the museum — same treasure hunt as the previous day. Duration 1h to 1h15, ages 8+, by reservation. 4 € per player.
- 9:30 AM-12:30 PM and 2:00 PM-5:00 PM · Self-guided tours of the Musée des Bastides · above the tourist office — duration 1h, free admission.
- 10:00 AM-4:00 PM · Autumn Market · Place des Arcades — local producers (wine, honey, chocolate, hazelnuts, prunes, cheeses, black pork) and local artisans (jewelry, basketry, soaps). Free access.
- 10:00 AM-4:00 PM · Éditions Sous les Arcades Stand · Place des Arcades — the 60-year-old association presents its archives and special editions on agricultural traditions, the history of the bastide, and local personalities. Free, contact [email protected].
- 11:00 AM · Guided tour of the Musée des Bastides · above the tourist office — 5 € for adults, 2 € for ages 12-18, students, and job seekers; free for children under 12. By reservation.
- 12:00 PM-1:00 PM · Soup Aperitif · Place des Arcades — tasting of the hikers' soup and aperitif offered by the municipality. Free.
- 1:00 PM-4:00 PM · Public presentation of the special issue "Les recettes de nos coteaux" · Place des Arcades — a 60-page special edition featuring 17 producers and 34 recipes, with a double index by recipe and product, plus a list of local producers. Some producers will be present at the autumn market. Sold for 10 €. Volunteers will offer tastings of several recipes. Free, contact [email protected].
- 2:30 PM-3:30 PM and 4:30 PM-5:30 PM · "Le 13ème jeu" Escape Game · Musée des Bastides — groups of 3 to 10 people, 12 € per player, free for children under 7. By reservation.
Both days
- Special Bastides en Fête quest on the free Tèrra Aventura app, the treasure hunt of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Monflanquin is one of the 13 bastides in Lot-et-Garonne involved and part of the "Red" territory, along with Monsempron-Libos, Tournon-d'Agenais, Villeneuve-sur-Lot, and Villeréal. Five digital badges can be unlocked across the department.
- Reservations for paid activities at 05 53 36 40 19 or via the Cœur de Bastides tourist office ticketing website.
Prices Bastides en Fête 2026
On the Trail of Professor Verneuil: 4 € per player (ages 8+, by reservation).
"Le 13ème jeu" escape game: 12 € per player (groups of 3 to 10 people, free for children under 7).
Guided tour of the Musée des Bastides: 5 € for adults, 2 € for ages 12-18, students, and job seekers; free for children under 12.
Self-guided tours of the Musée des Bastides, hiking, autumn market, Janouille's 450th anniversary procession, and soup aperitif: free.
Special issue "Les recettes de nos coteaux" sold for 10 €.
Reservations at 05 53 36 40 19 or via the Cœur de Bastides tourist office ticketing website.
Practical information — Bastides en Fête
Dates and times
Bastides en Fête takes place over a weekend in October, during the Toussaint school holidays. Times vary depending on the activity; please check the current year's program for details.
Locations
In Monflanquin, all the action takes place on the Place des Arcades and at the Musée des Bastides, located above the tourist office on the same square. The village is situated north of the Lot valley, in the Lot-et-Garonne department (47150).
Prices
Access to the event is free, as are most of the activities. Some activities in Monflanquin require a fee: the treasure hunt, the escape game, and the guided tour of the Musée des Bastides. Prices are listed in the event program.
Reservations
For paid activities in Monflanquin: contact the Cœur de Bastides tourist office at 05 53 36 40 19, or book online at coeurdebastides.com.
Organization and contacts
Bastides en Fête is organized by the Lot-et-Garonne Department and Tourisme Lot-et-Garonne (ADRT47), in partnership with the Dordogne Department and Dordogne Périgord Tourisme.
- Tourisme Lot-et-Garonne: Agropole Alphagro 1, ZI de Lasserre, 47310 Estillac. Tel: 05 53 66 14 14, [email protected]
- Dordogne Périgord Tourisme: 25 rue Wilson, BP 40032, 24002 Périgueux. Tel: 05 53 35 50 24, [email protected]
- Official website: www.bastidesenfete.com
- Social media: Facebook BastidesenFete, Instagram @bastidesenfete
An event spanning two departments
Every autumn, Bastides en Fête brings together the bastides of Lot-et-Garonne and southern Dordogne. Lot-et-Garonne alone is home to over 40 of them, the highest concentration in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Launched in 2024 by the Department and Tourisme Lot-et-Garonne (its tourism development and booking agency), the event has included the Dordogne since 2025. It is timed to coincide with the autumn school holidays, with each participating town creating its own unique program.
Monflanquin, a participating bastide
Monflanquin is ranked among the Plus Beaux Villages de France. Founded by Alphonse de Poitiers, brother of King Louis IX, the bastide received its charter of customs in 1256. Perched on a hill north of the Lot valley, it overlooks a landscape of rolling hills striped with orchards. Its regular oval layout—unusual for a hilltop bastide—is organized in a grid around a central arcaded square. Streets and narrow alleys (carrérots) intersect at right angles, lined with stone and half-timbered facades, aerial walkways, and characterful buildings such as the so-called Prince Noir house. The Saint-André church retains its Romanesque porch and walls, while the Cap del Pech offers views stretching as far as the Château de Biron. The fortifications were dismantled in 1632 by order of Richelieu.
The Musée des Bastides, located above the tourist office on the Place des Arcades, traces the history of the 300 new towns of the medieval Southwest. It serves as the hub for Monflanquin's activities during the event: self-guided and guided tours, escape games, and treasure hunts.
What's happening in Monflanquin
Each year, the program features visits to the Musée des Bastides, an escape game, family mystery games, theatrical strolls featuring the character Janouille, a hike starting from the Place des Arcades, a farmers' and artisans' market, and tastings offered by the municipality. A Tèrra Aventura quest—the digital treasure hunt of Nouvelle-Aquitaine—is also specially created for the event.
Where does it take place — Bastides en Fête
Bastides en Fête in brief
History of Bastides en Fête
Edition 2025 Oct 2025Other festivals near Monflanquin
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