Fête des Remparts de Châtenois

A Festival Born from Heritage Restoration

The Fête des Remparts de Châtenois was born in 2003, on the initiative of the Association « Les Remparts de Châtenois », to support the restoration work on the walls of the Château Quarter. The idea was to create a festive and friendly, but also cultural, event that would allow residents and visitors to reconnect with an exceptional and little-known heritage. In about twenty years, the event has become one of the most important medieval festivals in Alsace.

A Spectacular Procession of Over 500 Participants

The highlight of the day is the grand medieval procession, which starts at 9:30 AM from the retirement home. Over 500 participants in period costumes — knights in armor, noble ladies, peasants, monks, artisans, and soldiers — parade through the streets of Châtenois to the sound of fanfares and drums. The procession crosses the village with careful historical staging, immersing spectators in the heart of the Middle Ages. In 2025, the edition commemorated the 500th anniversary of the Peasants' War in Alsace and Lorraine.

The Ramparts Site: A Historic Setting

The Château Quarter, with its restored ramparts, the Romanesque church of Saint-Georges, and its medieval remains, forms the heart of the festival. This exceptional site, a rare example of ecclesiastical fortification in Alsace, provides an authentic setting for medieval activities. Reenactment troop encampments are set up at the foot of the walls, recreating the atmosphere of a medieval camp with tents, banners, and period equipment.

Craft Market, Old Crafts, and Medieval Garden

A medieval craft market showcases the skills of yesteryear: blacksmithing, pottery, basket weaving, leatherwork, heraldry, and illumination. Demonstrations of old crafts bring to life the gestures of medieval artisans. A medieval garden presents the aromatic, medicinal, and dyeing plants used at the time. Ancient games — archery, jousting, skittles — entertain children, while exhibitions and street performances complete the program.

Medieval Food and Festive Atmosphere

The festival offers food in a medieval spirit with roast wild boar, flammekueche (tarte flambée), peasant slices, and medieval sweets, all accompanied by Alsatian beers and wines. Admission is free, making it a particularly accessible and family-friendly event.