Fête d'Étampes

The Fête d'Étampes: the medieval town of Gâtinais celebrates

Étampes is a town in the Essonne region with approximately 23,000 inhabitants, a true medieval capital of Gâtinais. Its exceptional historic center, numerous Romanesque churches, its medieval Guinette Tower, and its green natural setting make it one of the richest communes in heritage in the Essonne. This cultural and historical richness is reflected in the town's festive life, which offers entertainment throughout the year.

Fête de la Musique

Every June 21st, Étampes celebrates the Fête de la Musique with free concerts in the streets and squares of the town. Many local artists and bands perform in a friendly atmosphere. The Communauté d'Agglomération Étampois Sud-Essonne (CAESE) also coordinates musical events on an inter-municipal scale, strengthening the festival's reach throughout the territory.

Noël à Guinette

Each December, the town organizes Noël à Guinette, a grand winter festival around the medieval Guinette Tower and in the town center. On the program: rides, face painting, musical trio, magician, balloon sculpting, photo session with Santa Claus, and sweet treats. The event is entirely free and brings Étampes families together in a magical atmosphere.

A Rich Cultural Season

Étampes has a performance hall, the Théâtre Les Grands Solistes, which hosts a diverse 2025–2026 cultural season: concerts, variety shows, and themed evenings. The season opened with a concert by Bel Amure on October 4, 2025. Themed evenings such as the Cuban night (April 10, 2026, with Grupo Company Segundo and Raul Paz) and a Konpa night (April 18, 2026) demonstrate the town's cultural openness.

Exceptional Heritage

Étampes is one of the towns with the richest historical monuments in Île-de-France:

• The Guinette Tower (12th century), the only quadrilobate medieval tower in France
• The Notre-Dame-du-Fort Church (11th–16th centuries)
• The Saint-Basile Church with its Romanesque tower
• The Saint-Gilles Church and its medieval chapels
• Numerous Renaissance private mansions

L'Étampois Sud-Essonne

Étampes is the center of the Communauté d'Agglomération de l'Étampois Sud-Essonne, which coordinates the cultural actions of 24 municipalities. The CAESE notably organizes the Foire Saint-Denis in October, a major annual fair in Étampes, and supports numerous cultural and festive events in the region.

2025 Edition

In 2025, Étampes livened up its festive calendar with the Fête de la Musique on June 21st (free outdoor concerts), the Fête Nationale on July 14th, and Noël à Guinette on Friday, December 19, 2025, from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM (rides, face painting, musical trio, magician, Santa Claus, free entry).

2026 Edition

In 2026, Étampes will once again offer its annual festive events: Fête de la Musique on June 21st, Fête Nationale on July 14th, cultural evenings at the Théâtre Les Grands Solistes (Cuban night on April 10, 2026, Konpa night on April 18, 2026), and Noël à Guinette in December. Full program on mairie-etampes.fr.