Fête 1900

ℹ️ Event discontinued. The Fête 1900 is no longer organized by the town of Moret-Loing-et-Orvanne.

Moret-sur-Loing, a medieval jewel in 1900s attire

Ranked among the Plus Beaux Détours de France, the town of Moret-sur-Loing boasts exceptional architectural heritage: fortified gates, a 12th-century keep, a medieval bridge, the Notre-Dame church, half-timbered houses, and picturesque quays along the Loing. It was within this historic setting—so dear to the Impressionist painter Alfred Sisley, who spent his final years here—that the Fête 1900 was held each year, turning the medieval stone into a backdrop for the crinolines, straw boaters, and handlebar mustaches of the Belle Époque.

An immersion into the Belle Époque

The concept of the Fête 1900 was simple and joyful: the entire village joined in the fun. Shopkeepers decorated their windows in 1900s style and dressed in period costumes. Residents would bring out their finest attire—long dresses, veined hats, frock coats, and vintage firefighter uniforms—strolling through the streets just as they did during the Belle Époque.

Theatrical reenactments and entertainment

The program was packed with theatrical sketches: bandits in costume robbing the bank, a reenactment of a 1900s wedding with a bridal procession, demonstrations of antique fire pumps by costumed firefighters, and an old-fashioned school classroom complete with a certificate of studies exam.

Traditional artisans and guinguette

The traditional artisan market showcased trades and skills from the turn of the century: lace-making, knife-grinding, blacksmithing, and old-style photography. Vintage cars from the Belle Époque were displayed along the quays, and a lively guinguette atmosphere took over the banks of the Loing.

End of the event

The town hall of Moret-Loing-et-Orvanne, which organized the event, has indicated that the Fête 1900 is no longer taking place. The official municipal calendar for 2026 no longer lists this event, though it does include other annual gatherings (such as the Forum des associations and the Festival Terre Avenir).