Heritage and Creativity Encounters
Artisan craft fair at the Château de la Chevallerie, in the Vendée region
2026
About Heritage and Creativity Encounters
Since 2011, the Heritage and Craftsmanship Meetings have brought together around fifty artisans and creators in the Vendée every autumn. This event, hosted by the South Vendée Attractiveness Agency, features live demonstrations, opportunities to chat with exhibitors, and a chance to purchase unique handmade creations.
Heritage and Creativity Encounters — edition 2026
For its 13th edition, the event is being held at the Château de la Chevallerie, an estate restored by its owners since 2004. Around thirty fine artisans will be demonstrating their skills, including gilding, marquetry, accordion making, and the restoration of pianos and antique books, with two food trucks on-site. The free weekend also features shows and cane fencing initiations, basketry and mosaic workshops, tours of the château, and a Micro-Folie digital museum.
Highlights Heritage and Creativity Encounters 2026
- Exhibition and sale featuring around thirty fine artisans and creators
- Guided tours of the château with the owner
- Histoire de Lames: show and introduction to cane fencing, 17th-century encampment
- Basketry (Mille Brindilles) and mosaic (MosaVie) workshops
- Micro-Folie at the Grange Boulangerie and Baludik scavenger hunt
- Free admission, activities, and parking
Programme Heritage and Creativity Encounters 2026
Saturday, October 3rd, 2026
- 10:00 AM — Opening of the 13th Rencontres du Patrimoine et de la Création
- 10:00 AM–6:00 PM — Open-access Micro-Folie at the Grange Boulangerie: a selection of artworks related to fine crafts, tablets available, and activity booklets for children
- 2:00 PM — Basketry workshop with Mille Brindilles (Émilie Massonnet, basket maker from Sallertaine): wicker weaving, making a swallow or a conical bird feeder · 1.5 hours · 6 people max · sign up on-site
- 2:30 PM — Guided tour of the Château de la Chevallerie with the owner · approx. 1 hour · 10 people max · sign up on-site
- 2:30 PM — Histoire de Lames: show and introduction (theatre, stage combat, cane fencing, 17th-century atmosphere with the Cadets de Gascogne)
- 3:00 PM — Micro-Folie guided session with Florise · approx. 30 mins
- 3:30 PM — Mosaic discovery workshop with MosaVie (Frédérique Guéret) · 1.5 hours · 10 people max · sign up on-site
- 4:00 PM — Histoire de Lames: show and introduction
- 4:30 PM — Guided tour of the Château de la Chevallerie · approx. 1 hour · 10 people max · sign up on-site
- 5:30 PM — Histoire de Lames: show and introduction
- 7:00 PM — Closing of the event
Sunday, October 4th, 2026
- 10:00 AM — Opening of the event
- 10:00 AM–5:00 PM — Open-access Micro-Folie · activity booklets for children
- 10:15 AM — Histoire de Lames: show and introduction
- 10:30 AM — Basketry workshop with Mille Brindilles · 1.5 hours · 6 people max · sign up on-site
- 10:30 AM — Guided tour of the Château de la Chevallerie with the owner · approx. 1 hour · 10 people max · sign up on-site
- 11:00 AM — Mosaic discovery workshop with MosaVie · 1.5 hours · 10 people max · sign up on-site
- 11:00 AM — Micro-Folie guided session · approx. 30 mins
- 11:45 AM — Histoire de Lames: show and introduction
- 2:00 PM — Basketry workshop with Mille Brindilles · 1.5 hours · 6 people max · sign up on-site
- 2:30 PM — Guided tour of the Château de la Chevallerie · approx. 1 hour · 10 people max · sign up on-site
- 2:30 PM — Histoire de Lames: show and introduction
- 3:00 PM — Micro-Folie guided session · approx. 30 mins
- 3:30 PM — Mosaic discovery workshop with MosaVie · 1.5 hours · 10 people max · sign up on-site
- 4:00 PM — Histoire de Lames: show and introduction
- 4:30 PM — Guided tour of the Château de la Chevallerie · approx. 1 hour · 10 people max · sign up on-site
- 6:00 PM — Closing of the event
All weekend
- 17th-century encampment and tavern by the Histoire de Lames association, with props for children's photos
- Collective mosaic artwork: everyone can add one or more ceramic pieces (MosaVie)
- Baludik digital scavenger hunt on smartphone, created by the Vendée du Sud Tourist Office · 30 to 45 minutes
- Exhibition and sale by fine artisans and creators (art embroidery, ceramics, gilding, marquetry, restoration of paintings, pianos and books, leather goods, cutlery, millinery, jewellery, cabinetmaking, stone carving, lath splitting, etc.)
- Food and drink: Tuktaya (Asian street food) and Le truck à croquer (crepes, waffles, ice cream) food trucks
All activities are free. Workshops and guided tours do not require booking; sign up on-site, subject to availability. Programme as published by the organiser.
Prices Heritage and Creativity Encounters 2026
Practical information — Heritage and Creativity Encounters
Open Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm at the Château de la Chevallerie, rue de la Chevallerie in Sainte-Gemme-la-Plaine. Admission and parking are free.
The event was originally held at the Logis de Chaligny in Sainte-Pexine, then at the Jardin Dumaine in Luçon, before finding its home at the Château de la Chevallerie in Sainte-Gemme-la-Plaine. It is organized by the South Vendée Attractiveness Agency in partnership with the Sud Vendée Littoral community of communes, the Vendée Chamber of Trades and Crafts, and the Pays de la Loire Region.
Where does it take place — Heritage and Creativity Encounters
Heritage and Creativity Encounters in brief
Other festivals near Sainte-Gemme-la-Plaine
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Published by Valentin Contard, festival listings writer. Reviewed, corrected and approved by Christophe Contard, editor-in-chief. .
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