Fête de Ligny-le-Châtel

Ligny-le-Châtel, a wine village in the heart of Chablisien

Ligny-le-Châtel is a village of some 1,200 inhabitants nestled in the Serein valley, about twenty kilometers north of Chablis. A wine village par excellence, it is surrounded by vineyards producing Chablis and Chablis Premier Cru appellations, on the characteristic Kimmeridgian limestone soils. Its church, Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul, a listed Gothic and Renaissance building, overlooks the cobbled streets of the historic village and gives Ligny a special architectural charm.

In 2026, the village was in the spotlight by hosting the 55th Saint-Vincent tournante du Chablisien (February 7 and 8, 2026), a major wine event organized in rotation by the Chablis producing communes since 1966. For the Ligny residents, it was the third time in history that their village hosted this major event, after 1982 and 2002. Tens of thousands of visitors flocked to the streets to taste Chablis wines and participate in the ceremonies of the Confrérie des Piliers Chablisiens.

The local festival: an annual meeting of conviviality

Beyond the major wine events, Ligny-le-Châtel organizes its local festival every year, a special moment for community life. Driven by the village's Festival Committee, this summer festival brings together young and old in the streets and on the main village square for several days of entertainment.

The traditional program includes a countryside meal prepared by the association's volunteers, where everyone gathers around long tables set up outdoors. Music and dancing liven up the evenings, sometimes provided by local bands or traveling musicians. Traditional games, pétanque competitions, and sports tournaments punctuate the days, while children have their own entertainment. A flea market and an artisan market often complete the program, attracting visitors from neighboring villages.

The Serein and the nature of Ligny

The local festival is also an opportunity to discover the natural charms of Ligny-le-Châtel. The Serein river, which flows through the village, offers green banks ideal for walking. The Ligny mill, the restored washhouses, and the old limestone buildings form a local heritage that the festival helps to highlight. Visitors can also take advantage of the wine cellars and estates that open their doors for Chablis tastings on the sidelines of the festivities.

A village proud of its wine-making traditions

The vine is at the heart of Ligny-le-Châtel's identity. Several leading wine estates are established in the commune, cultivating plots in Chablis and Chablis Premier Cru on the slopes bathed by the Serein. The local festival would not be complete without a tasting of the village's wines, which the producers gladly offer during the events. This wine dimension gives the Ligny festival a special character, blending rural conviviality and pride in a world-renowned terroir.