Festival of Classical Languages

A unique festival dedicated to the languages of Antiquity

The Festival of Classical Languages is the only event in France entirely devoted to celebrating classical languages — Ancient Greek, Latin, and Classical Chinese. Created in 2019 by the city of Versailles, this festival is born from the conviction that ancient languages are not dusty relics but living sources of thought, beauty, and understanding of the world. By cross-referencing Greek, Latin, and Chinese traditions, the festival opens up unprecedented comparative perspectives and demonstrates the universality of human questions.

Conferences, shows, and cinema

The festival's program blends forms and disciplines in a spirit of openness and discovery. Conferences by renowned academics and intellectuals — Hellenists, Latinists, Sinologists — are alongside theater performances of ancient plays, performed readings of classical texts, film screenings inspired by Antiquity, and debates on the place of classical humanities in the contemporary world. Each edition is organized around a unifying theme that guides the exploration of the three traditions.

Workshops for all audiences

The Festival of Classical Languages places great importance on practice and transmission. Introductory workshops in Ancient Greek, Latin, and Classical Chinese allow the curious to discover these ancient languages. Workshops in Chinese calligraphy, ancient rhetoric, and public reading of classical texts complete the offerings. These activities, accessible without prerequisites, embody the festival's philosophy: to make classical languages alive and accessible to everyone, far beyond the circle of specialists.

From Tolkien to Pasolini: the 2026 edition

The 8th edition of the festival, on February 6 and 7, 2026, explores forms of orality in Antiquity, cross-referencing Greek, Latin, and Chinese traditions. From Cicero's rhetoric to Homeric poetry recited by aedes, from theatrical declamation to Chinese ritual chants, the festival examines the power of living speech in ancient civilizations. The program features figures as varied as Tolkien, a creator of languages inspired by Old English and Finnish, and Pasolini, a filmmaker haunted by Greek tragedy.

Versailles, city of humanities

The choice of Versailles as the setting for this festival is not accidental. The city of the Sun King, built on the model of Greco-Roman Antiquity, is imbued with classical references: the mythological statues in the gardens, the paintings in the Hall of Mirrors, the architecture inspired by ancient temples. The festival is part of this lineage, echoing the voices of Homer, Virgil, and Confucius in the halls of the Hôtel de Ville and the auditoriums of the Université Ouverte.