Name: Festival of the Bee 2026
Start: 2026-09-13T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-09-13T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Écomusée du Perche

About Festival of the Bee

The Festival of the Bee and the Environment is an annual event organized at the Écomusée du Perche, at the priory of Sainte-Gauburge in Saint-Cyr-la-Rosière (Orne), in partnership with the Union Apicole Ornaise. This September day, dedicated to the world of bees and environmental preservation, offers conferences, honey extraction demonstrations, gastronomic tastings, sales of beekeeping equipment and honeys, as well as games and activities for children. It brings together professional and amateur beekeepers, naturalists, and families.

The Festival of the Bee: a nature event in the heart of Perche

Every September, the Écomusée du Perche hosts the Festival of the Bee and the Environment, an event dedicated to the fascinating world of bees and the challenges of preserving biodiversity. Organized in partnership with the Union Apicole Ornaise (UAO), this day brings together beekeeping enthusiasts, naturalists, and families in the exceptional setting of the prieuré de Sainte-Gauburge.

A rich program centered around the bee

The Festival of the Bee offers a comprehensive and educational program:

Conferences by specialists in beekeeping and the environment

Honey extraction demonstrations: observe the beekeeper's work in real-time

Tastings of honeys and hive products (pollen, royal jelly, gingerbread...)

Sale of beekeeping equipment for amateur and professional beekeepers

Honey market and related products

Games and activities for children: bee observation, creative workshops, nature trail

The Écomusée du Perche, a heritage setting

The prieuré de Sainte-Gauburge, which houses the Écomusée du Perche, is a remarkable architectural complex dating from the 13th to 17th centuries. Located in a green valley, it includes a priory church, convent buildings, gardens, and a conservatory orchard. This bucolic setting provides an ideal backdrop for this day dedicated to nature and beekeeping.

Beekeeping in Perche

Perche, with its hedgerows, flowery meadows, and orchards, is a territory particularly conducive to beekeeping. The Union Apicole Ornaise, a historical partner of the festival, has been working for decades to promote beekeeping and protect bees in the department. The Écomusée du Perche also offers introductory beekeeping courses from March to September, in partnership with the UAO.

Environmental awareness

Beyond beekeeping, the Festival of the Bee raises public awareness about environmental issues: the role of pollinators in ecosystems, the impact of pesticides, the preservation of natural habitats, and biodiversity. Local naturalist associations participate in the event to share their knowledge and field actions.

Practical information — Festival of the Bee

Access to the Écomusée du Perche

By car: The Écomusée du Perche is located at the prieuré de Sainte-Gauburge, in Saint-Cyr-la-Rosière (61130). From Bellême, follow the D955 towards Mamers then the D277 (10 km, about 15 minutes). From Alençon, take the D955 towards Bellême then the D277 (about 40 minutes). From Nogent-le-Rotrou, follow the D923 towards Bellême then the D277 (about 30 minutes). A free parking lot with good capacity is available at the entrance of the site.

By train: There is no train station in the immediate vicinity of Saint-Cyr-la-Rosière. The nearest stations are Nogent-le-Rotrou (25 km, TER Centre-Val de Loire from Paris-Montparnasse in 1h40) and Le Mans (70 km, TGV). From these stations, a vehicle is essential to reach the Écomusée.

Festival location

The Festival of the Bee takes place within the grounds of the Écomusée du Perche, at the priory of Sainte-Gauburge. This magnificent architectural complex from the 13th-17th centuries includes a priory church, convent buildings, gardens, and a conservatory orchard. The site is largely accessible to people with reduced mobility. Activities are spread between covered buildings and outdoor areas.

Opening hours

The festival is held on a Sunday in September, from 10:30 AM to 6:00 PM. Conferences are scheduled at fixed times (posted at the entrance and on the website). Honey extraction demonstrations take place continuously throughout the day. Children's activities are offered from 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

Prices

Admission is €6 per adult. Free for children under 18. This price includes access to all activities, conferences, demonstrations, and workshops of the day, as well as the visit of the Écomusée du Perche.

Catering

A snack bar and a catering area are available on-site, with local Perche products. Honey and hive product tastings are included in the program. Visitors can also picnic in the priory gardens.

Shopping

A sales area for honeys, hive products (pollen, royal jelly, wax, propolis), and beekeeping equipment is set up on the site. This is the ideal opportunity to discover local honey varieties and get equipped to start beekeeping.

Contact

Écomusée du Perche
Tel.: 02 33 73 48 06
Website: www.ecomuseeduperche.fr