Le Printemps du Grand Meaulnes

ℹ️ Festival currently on hold. The last publicly documented edition of Le Printemps du Grand Meaulnes was the 8th edition, on June 2 and 3, 2018. In 2018, the Communauté de communes du territoire de Fresnes-en-Woëvre announced on its website that Le Printemps du Grand Meaulnes would become the « Festival du Pays de Fresnes » to broaden its scope. Since then, no new public edition has been documented, and the official agenda of the local authority does not mention a next date.

In the footsteps of Alain-Fournier and the soldier-writers

Le Printemps du Grand Meaulnes was born in 2011 from a desire to pay tribute to the soldier-writers of the First World War and to promote the historical and natural heritage of the Woëvre plain. The festival took its name from Alain-Fournier's famous novel, Le Grand Meaulnes, whose author is buried in Saint-Rémy-la-Calonne, a neighboring commune of Bonzée. Each edition honored a different soldier-writer: Alain-Fournier, Louis Pergaud, Maurice Genevoix, etc.

A multidisciplinary festival

During its eight editions, Le Printemps du Grand Meaulnes was much more than just a book fair. The festival embraced multiple dimensions:

• Book fair: authors, historians, and publishers presented their works and signed their books, with an emphasis on war literature, history, and heritage.
• Conferences and round tables: interventions by specialists on the history of the Great War, soldier-writers, and the memorial heritage of Meuse.
• Exhibitions: presentations of objects, documents, and photographs related to the First World War and local heritage.
• Historical re-enactments: re-enactment troops brought to life the daily lives of soldiers and key moments of the conflict.
• Shows and performances: readings, plays, and artistic creations related to the festival's theme.

Anchored in the territory

The festival also highlighted the riches of the territory:

• Rural culture: the association Vu d'un Œuf produced works and shows with young people from the area.
• Nature and landscapes: the CPIE de Meuse and the Hannonville ecomuseum offered activities to discover the natural heritage.
• Local producers' market: Meusian terroir to discover and taste.

The Base de Loisirs du Colvert

The festival took place at the Base de Loisirs du Colvert in Bonzée, a pleasant natural site on the edge of a body of water, which became intercommunal equipment in 2017. This green and spacious setting allowed for the hosting of various activities in a relaxed and family-friendly environment. The base remains open to the public and hosts other events of the local authority.

Memory and territory

For eight years, Le Printemps du Grand Meaulnes contributed to the duty of remembrance while energizing the territory of the Woëvre plain. By combining literature, history, rural culture, and local produce, the festival offered a rich and complete experience to visitors. Should a new edition be organized, the information will be relayed by the Communauté de communes du territoire de Fresnes-en-Woëvre.