Medieval Festival of Sainte-Suzanne

Sainte-Suzanne: a living medieval city

Sainte-Suzanne-et-Chammes, classified among the Most Beautiful Villages of France and labeled Petite Cité de Caractère, offers an exceptional setting for a dive into the medieval world. Perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Erve valley, the fortified town preserves its castle, its ramparts, and its picturesque streets which serve as a natural backdrop for historical animations.

The great medieval day in May

Each year, on the third Sunday of May, the courtyard of the Sainte-Suzanne fortress transforms into a vast medieval encampment. Five historical reenactment companies take over the site to offer:

• Live shows: sword fights, lance duels, scenes of medieval life
• Equestrian games: cavalry demonstrations and tournaments
• Reconstructions of daily life in the 13th century: calligraphy, weaving, blacksmithing, cooking
• Participatory workshops: archery initiation, axe throwing, medieval games
• Medieval music and dance for complete auditory immersion

The Féodales de Clairbois

In addition to the medieval day in May, the Clairbois Medieval Center, located between Sainte-Suzanne and Chammes, offers a season of medieval animations from April to August. Every second weekend of the month, the Féodales de Clairbois revive the traditions and customs of the Middle Ages in the setting of a 13th-century fortified farm.

A full program of summer animations

Throughout the summer, medieval animations are also organized every Wednesday in July and August in the Butte Verte park, from 2:30 PM to 6 PM, offering families an accessible and fun journey back in time.

Remarkable heritage

A visit to the medieval town of Sainte-Suzanne ideally complements the festival experience: the castle and its 11th-century keep, the Renaissance residence housing the Center for Interpretation of Architecture and Heritage (CIAP), the ramparts offering an exceptional panorama of the Mayenne countryside, and the Poterne promenade along the fortifications.