La Ferté-Bernard Youth Book Festival

Youth Book Festival: Children's Literature in the Spotlight

Since 2010, the La Ferté-Bernard Youth Book Festival has become a must-attend event for families, teachers, and youth literature enthusiasts in Sarthe. Organized by the City of La Ferté-Bernard and the Jean d'Ormesson media library, this festival transforms the Athéna Cultural Center into a vast space for literary discovery every first weekend of March.

A Different Theme Each Year

Each edition of the festival is built around a unifying theme that guides the selection of invited authors and inspires the activities. The 2026 edition plunges visitors into "The Crazy History of Inventions... from Spark to Pixel!", while the 2025 edition offered a fearless return to the Middle Ages. These themes allow for the intersection of literature, history, science, and art in an approach that is fun and accessible to all ages.

About Fifty Authors and Activities for Everyone

The festival hosts approximately fifty renowned authors and illustrators in the field of youth literature. Visitors can meet them during book signing sessions, participate in creative workshops, attend readings, and enjoy attractive and fun activities. School groups benefit from dedicated access on Friday, before opening to the general public on Saturday.

A Free Festival in the Heart of La Ferté-Bernard

True to its mission of democratizing reading, the Youth Book Festival is entirely free. The Athéna Cultural Center, located on Avenue du Général de Gaulle, offers generous and suitable spaces to welcome families and classes in the best conditions. La Ferté-Bernard, a charming medieval town in eastern Sarthe, adds its heritage appeal to the event.