Crest Medieval Festival

The Crest Medieval Festival: When History Comes Alive

Since 2006, the Crest Medieval Festival has been a must-attend event on the Drôme Valley's festive calendar. Every year, during the Pentecost weekend, this historic town dominated by the tallest keep in France (52 meters) rediscovers the magic and folklore of the Middle Ages for two days of spectacular festivities.

A Journey Through Time

For two days, the streets, squares, and alleys of Crest transform into a genuine medieval village. Visitors, often in costume, wander among the craft stalls, knights' encampments, and performance stages, immersed in a timeless atmosphere.

Highlights of the Medieval Festival

• Grand Medieval Market with quality artisans offering jewelry, weapons, costumes, pottery, and period items
• Historical Encampments recreated by specialized groups, showcasing daily life in the Middle Ages
• Demonstrations of Ancestral Skills: blacksmithing, stone carving, illumination, calligraphy, weaving
• Street Performances: jugglers, fire-eaters, acrobats, troubadours, and minstrels
• Historical Reenactments depicting episodes from the history of Crest and the Arnaud family
• Workshops in medieval martial arts, archery, and period games
• Medieval Music Concerts and evening banquets

The Keep of Crest: A Stone Sentinel

The Tour de Crest, the tallest keep in France with its 52 meters, is the town's emblematic monument and the symbol of the Medieval Festival. A remnant of the former castle of the Counts of Valentinois and then the Arnaud family, the keep offers an exceptional panorama of the Drôme Valley and the foothills of the Vercors. During the Medieval Festival, the keep hosts numerous activities in its park and within the building.

A Community-Driven Event

The Crest Medieval Festival is organized by the City's services with the collaboration of director Alain Carré and the enthusiastic participation of Crest associations, local businesses, and restaurateurs. This collective effort makes the Medieval Festival an authentic and warm event, where historical reenactment professionals and local volunteers unite their talents to offer a high-quality spectacle.

Each edition is themed differently, inspiring the activities and decorations. The 2025 edition, themed "My Beloved Witch", explored the fascinating world of medieval witchcraft between myth and reality.