Festival À toutes Vapeurs
The steam and mechanical heritage festival in Void-Vacon
Edition 2026 — event currently on hold
There is no edition scheduled in 2026 for this event. This page remains accessible to archive the history of the manifestation and will be updated if a new edition is announced.
About À toutes Vapeurs
Homage to Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot
Void-Vacon is the cradle of the automobile. It was in this Meuse commune, located between Toul and Ligny-en-Barrois, that Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot was born in 1725, considered the pioneer of the automobile. This military engineer designed and built the first self-propelled vehicles in history: the famous steam drays (1770-1771). The Festival À toutes Vapeurs pays tribute to this visionary genius through a unique event of its kind.
Working Steam Engines
The heart of the festival consists of demonstrations of working steam engines. Visitors can admire a life-size replica of Cugnot's dray, traction engines, miniature locomotives, steam boats, and other machines powered by steam. The spectacle of these machines in action, with their whistles, steam jets, and complex mechanisms, fascinates both children and adults.
Exhibitions and Scale Models
The festival also features exhibitions of scale models, Stirling engines, and model trains. These educational presentations explain the principles of thermodynamics and steam mechanics in a fun and accessible way.
Agricultural and Mechanical Heritage
Beyond steam engines, the festival celebrates agricultural heritage with exhibitions of vintage tractors, period agricultural equipment, and collector vehicles. These carefully restored machines bear witness to the evolution of agricultural and transport techniques since the 19th century.
Activities and Entertainment
The festival is designed as a family and educational event. Activities with costumed historical reenactors, exhibitions on Cugnot's life, workshops for children, and guided demonstrations complete the program for the two days. The Espace Cugnot, a permanent museum dedicated to the inventor, is open to visitors during the festival.
Catering and Hospitality
Catering and refreshment stands are available on the festival site, allowing visitors to eat between demonstrations and enjoy the friendly atmosphere of the event.
À toutes Vapeurs — edition 2026
ℹ️ 2026 Edition cancelled — festival discontinued. The Festival À toutes Vapeurs has not been held in Void-Vacon since 2012 (5th and last documented edition, on July 7 and 8, 2012). The Association du Fardier de Cugnot, organizer of the festival, has not renewed the event. The Espace Cugnot, a permanent museum dedicated to the inventor Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot, remains open all year round in Void-Vacon.
2026 Edition — Cancelled
No edition of the Festival À toutes Vapeurs will take place in July 2026 in Void-Vacon. The festival, which celebrated the mechanical heritage of steam in homage to Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot, has not been held since its 5th edition in 2012.
Visit Espace Cugnot all year round
If you wish to discover the history of the Cugnot's fardier, the world's first automobile (1770), the Espace Cugnot in Void-Vacon remains accessible all year round. The museum presents a life-size replica of the fardier as well as a retrospective on the life and inventions of this automobile pioneer born in Void in 1725.
Contact
Association du Fardier de Cugnot — 06 18 06 07 65 — [email protected]
Prices À toutes Vapeurs 2026
Practical information — À toutes Vapeurs
Access and Transport
The festival takes place in Void-Vacon (55190), on the Route Nationale 4 between Toul and Ligny-en-Barrois.
- By car: From Bar-le-Duc, take the N135 then the RN4 towards Toul, about 40 km (45 minutes). From Nancy/Toul, take the RN4 towards Bar-le-Duc, about 30 km (30 minutes). Free parking on site.
- By train: Void station (TER Grand Est, Nancy-Bar-le-Duc line). The station is close to the festival site.
Opening Hours
Saturday: 2 PM-7 PM. Sunday: 10 AM-7 PM. Steam engine demonstrations take place at regular intervals throughout the day.
Prices
Admission: €6 per person. Free for children under 12 years old.
Activities and Entertainment
Visitors can admire working steam engines, a life-size replica of Cugnot's dray, traction engines, miniature locomotives, and steam boats. Exhibitions of scale models and Stirling engines explain the principles of mechanics. The Espace Cugnot, a permanent museum, is open during the festival.
Catering
Catering and refreshment stands on the festival site. Meals are served at lunchtime and in the afternoon.
For Enthusiasts
Guided demonstrations by specialists explain how the machines work and trace the history of steam. Scale model competitions are organized. Collectors can exhibit their own machines.
Contact
Tel: 06 18 06 07 65 (Serge Robert)
Espace Cugnot, Void-Vacon
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Where does it take place — À toutes Vapeurs
Void-Vacon
Void-Vacon, 55190 Void-Vacon