Festival des Milliaires

A Thousand Steps, A Thousand Places, A Thousand Times

The Festival des Milliaires was born in 2007 from the desire to revive the living arts of Antiquity on the Argentomagus archaeological site, in Saint-Marcel in the Indre region. Every summer, in early August, the festival takes over the Gallo-Roman theatre of Le Virou, a listed historic monument, to offer unique performances at the crossroads of ancient theatre, dance, and music.

Ancient Theatre at the Heart of the Project

The festival's program revolves around the performance of ancient theatrical works—Greek tragedies, Latin comedies, epic tales—performed in the authentic setting of a Gallo-Roman theatre. The Compagnie Démodocos, directed by the philologist and director Philippe Brunet, presents its creations, blending ancient texts, choreography, and original music.

A Dialogue Between Antiquity and the Renaissance

Beyond ancient theatre, the festival explores the links between Antiquity and the Renaissance through concerts of early music, archaeological conferences, and meetings with musicologists and composers. Artistic residencies allow artists to work in situ, inspired by the exceptional atmosphere of the Argentomagus site.

An Exceptional Archaeological Site

Argentomagus is one of the most important Gallo-Roman sites in the Centre-Val de Loire region. The Virou theatre, a mixed theatre-amphitheatre structure, offers a remarkable natural setting for open-air performances. The Argentomagus Museum and its archaeological crypt complete the cultural experience with permanent exhibitions on Gallo-Roman daily life.

A Festival of Research and Creation

The Festival des Milliaires is distinguished by its intellectual and artistic rigor. Each edition is built around a unifying theme—such as "Escape, to escape" in 2025—which permeates the entire program. Archaeological encounters, conferences, and singing workshops complement the performances to offer a complete immersion in the living arts of Antiquity.