Les 400 Coups de Montauban
A historical festival commemorating the 1621 Siege of Montauban
2026
About Les 400 Coups
Les 400 Coups is Montauban's major historical festival, held every September in the old town. It commemorates the 1621 siege, when the Protestant city resisted the armies of Louis XIII and endured the royal artillery's cannonades, which have remained in local memory as the "400 coups." Enjoy free street entertainment including 17th-century costumed parades, equestrian and fire shows, falconry, cape and sword fighting, float processions, light mapping on the cathedral facade, and a funfair at the cours Foucault.
Les 400 Coups — edition 2026
The 400 Coups of Montauban returns on September 11, 12, and 13, 2026, for its 36th free edition in the old town center. The historical show "1621, the Birth of a Legend" is performed in two parts, Saturday evening at Place Roosevelt then Place Nationale, and again on Sunday afternoon, featuring equestrian shows, falconry, and cape and sword fighting. The float parade marches on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon, the 400 Coups projection mapping lights up the cathedral facade, and the funfair and Festiv'B'Arts set up at Cours Foucault starting Friday at 6:30 PM.
The 400 Coups 2026: The 36th edition on September 11, 12, and 13
Montauban's historical festival returns on September 11, 12, and 13, 2026, for its 36th edition, announced by the Montauban Festivités association. Street entertainment, shows, and parades are free.
The weekend's central theme is the show "1621, the Birth of a Legend," produced by the associations Legende Prod, Passdarm, and Festibérique. It recounts the city's siege by the armies of Louis XIII starting August 17, 1621, following Guillemette de Gasc, the heroine of the siege. Part 1 is performed at Place Roosevelt on Saturday at 8:30 PM and Sunday at 3:00 PM; Part 2 at Place Nationale on Saturday from 9:50 PM and Sunday at 4:15 PM.
Surrounding this, 17th-century costumed parades traverse the city center, Square Picquart hosts equestrian, falconry, and fencing shows with antique weapon displays, and the 400 Coups projection mapping is shown on the cathedral facade every half hour until 11:30 PM, starting at 9:15 PM on Saturday and 8:30 PM on Sunday. On Sunday, Place Roosevelt hosts a 17th-century trade and craft market from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and a grand banquet at 12:30 PM by reservation.
At Cours Foucault, the funfair and Festiv'B'Arts area open on Friday at 6:30 PM. The Montauban Festivités association programs concerts and the two float parades there, on Saturday at 9:30 PM and Sunday at 2:30 PM, departing from Place Lalaque.
The Center for Architecture and Heritage (CIAP) rounds out the weekend with two guided tours and a workshop for 7-12 year olds on Saturday afternoon, by reservation.
Highlights Les 400 Coups 2026
- Historical show "1621, the Birth of a Legend," by Legende Prod, Passdarm, and Festibérique — Part 1 Saturday 8:30 PM and Sunday 3:00 PM at Place Roosevelt, Part 2 Saturday 9:50 PM and Sunday 4:15 PM at Place Nationale
- 400 Coups float parade — Saturday 9:30 PM and Sunday 2:30 PM, departing from Place Lalaque towards Cours Foucault
- 400 Coups projection mapping on the cathedral facade — Saturday from 9:15 PM, Sunday from 8:30 PM, every half hour until 11:30 PM
- Equestrian, falconry, and fencing shows at Square Picquart, Saturday afternoon and Sunday at 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM
- 17th-century trade and craft market, Sunday from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM at Place Roosevelt
- Funfair and Festiv'B'Arts at Cours Foucault, inaugurated Friday at 6:30 PM
Programme Les 400 Coups 2026
Friday, September 11, 2026 — Cours Foucault
- 6:30 PM — Opening of the funfair and Festiv'B'Arts, featuring the percussion group Shaking' Groov, in the presence of the Queen and her ladies-in-waiting · Float parade with confetti cannons
- 8:30 PM — DJ Equinoxe · Festiv'B'Arts area
Saturday, September 12, 2026
In the city center
- 10:00 AM — Parade departs from the Ancien Collège, Esplanade des Fontaines, through the Allée de l'Empereur market, arriving at Place Roosevelt
- 2:00 PM — City center parade
Place Roosevelt
- 11:00 AM — Minuet (dance)
- 11:15 AM — Musketeer training · Passdarm association
- 11:50 AM — "The King's Voice" scene: the King rallies his troops before the assault and orders the 400 cannon shots to be fired
- 7:30 PM — Official inauguration of the Fête des 400 Coups: equestrian and falconry show, cape and sword fighting (Passdarm association)
- 8:30 PM — "1621, the Birth of a Legend" show — Part 1
- 9:15 PM — "Les 400 Coups" projection mapping on the cathedral facade, then every half hour from 10:00 PM to 11:30 PM
- 9:45 PM — Parade continues from Place Roosevelt to Place Nationale
Place Nationale
- From 2:45 PM — Washerwomen's scene: performance and ballet by the drapers on the reflecting pool
- 3:00 PM — Duels and combat · Passdarm association
- 3:45 PM — "To Battle" song on the reflecting pool
- 4:30 PM — City center parade
- From 9:50 PM — "1621, the Birth of a Legend" show — Part 2: market scenes and songs, The Washerwomen, The Council of Consuls, To Battle, The Desolation
Square Picquart
- 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM — Equestrian, falconry, and fencing shows, display of antique weapons · Festibérique (the city's website program page indicates a 2:00 PM start)
Cours Foucault
- 9:30 PM — Concert by the Ribul orchestra · Festiv'B'Arts
- 9:30 PM — Departure of the 400 Coups float parade (Montauban Festivités association), Place Lalaque in front of Café Marignan · arrival at Cours Foucault at 10:30 PM
CIAP Guided Tours
- 2:30 PM — "Protestantism and Counter-Reformation" · meet at the tourist office · €4.50 to €6.50 · booking required at montauban-tourisme.com
- 3:00 PM — "Montauban during the 1621 Siege," workshop for ages 7-12 · meet at the CIAP · free · booking required at 05 63 63 03 50 or [email protected]
- 4:30 PM — "Words of Objects – During the Wars of Religion" · meet at the CIAP · free · booking required at 05 63 63 03 50 or [email protected]
Sunday, September 13, 2026
Place Roosevelt
- 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM — 17th-century trade and craft market: woodturning workshop, potter, blacksmith, wooden games and jewelry, artisanal products
- 11:00 AM — Parade from the city center to Place Roosevelt
- From 11:45 AM — Minuet (dance) and musketeer training
- 12:30 PM — Grand banquet · 150 seats · €30 per person · by reservation only at Le Raymond bar at 05 63 63 01 21 before 08/09/2026
- 3:00 PM — "1621, the Birth of a Legend" show — Part 1: equestrian show, cape and sword fighting
- 8:30 PM, then every half hour until 11:30 PM — 400 Coups projection mapping on the cathedral facade
Place Nationale
- 4:15 PM — "1621, the Birth of a Legend" show — Part 2: market scenes and songs, The Washerwomen, The Council of Consuls, To Battle, The Desolation
Square Picquart
- 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM — Equestrian and falconry shows
Places Roosevelt and Nationale
- 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM — Musical entertainment and introduction to Renaissance and traditional Occitan dances by Les Fulgurants: baroque violin, singing, baroque guitar, ancient percussion, three-hole flutes, dulcimer
Cours Foucault
- 2:30 PM — Departure of the 400 Coups float parade, Place Lalaque, with various musical groups and street entertainment · arrival at Cours Foucault at 3:30 PM
All Weekend
- Funfair at Cours Foucault, starting Friday evening
- Festiv'B'Arts area at Cours Foucault, programmed by the Montauban Festivités association
- Historical show "1621, the Birth of a Legend" as a recurring theme, by the associations Legende Prod, Passdarm, and Festibérique
Schedule published by the City of Montauban, which notes that times may change due to weather or organizational requirements.
Prices Les 400 Coups 2026
Grand banquet on Sunday at 12:30 PM, Place Roosevelt: €30 per person, 150 seats, by reservation only at Le Raymond bar at 05 63 63 01 21 before 08/09/2026.
CIAP guided tour "Protestantism and Counter-Reformation," Saturday at 2:30 PM: €4.50 to €6.50, booking required at montauban-tourisme.com.
Youth workshop "Montauban during the 1621 Siege" and "Words of Objects" tour: free, booking required at 05 63 63 03 50 or [email protected].
Practical information — Les 400 Coups
Practical Information
Location
Montauban historic center: place Nationale, place Roosevelt, square Picquart, esplanade des Fontaines, and city center pedestrian streets. The funfair and Festiv'B'Arts area are located at the cours Foucault; float parades depart from the place Lalaque.
Access
By car: Montauban is accessible via the A62 motorway (Bordeaux-Toulouse), exit Montauban Centre. Parking is available on the outskirts of the city center (parking de la Gare, parking Wilson).
By train: Montauban-Ville-Bourbon station (Paris-Toulouse line), a 20-minute walk from the historic center.
Prices
Free for street entertainment, historical shows, parades, and light mapping. The Sunday banquet and one of the CIAP guided tours require payment and booking.
Contact
Montauban Tourist Office
Tel: +33 (0)5 63 63 60 60
Website: montauban-tourisme.com
Official program published by the City of Montauban at montauban.com/400coups.
Les 400 Coups: Montauban reenacts the 1621 siege
Every autumn, Montauban's historic center relives the 1621 siege. For three days, the squares and pedestrian streets are filled with costumed parades, equestrian and fire shows, falconers, cape and sword fighting, float processions, an ancient crafts market, and a funfair.
The legend of the 400 coups
On August 17, 1621, the armies of Louis XIII besieged the Protestant stronghold of Montauban. At the height of the siege in September, the city was subjected to heavy cannon fire from the royal artillery. These salvos gave rise to the local legend of the "400 coups," which eventually gave the festival its name. The people of Montauban resisted until the siege was lifted.
The show "1621, the birth of a legend"
This historical performance, produced by the associations Legende Prod, Passdarm, and Festibérique, serves as the weekend's centerpiece. It recounts the city's resistance through the eyes of Guillemette de Gasc, a young local heroine. The show is performed in two parts on the place Roosevelt and the place Nationale on Saturday evening and Sunday.
Equestrian shows, falconry, and combat
The square Picquart hosts equestrian, falconry, and fencing displays, as well as exhibitions of ancient weaponry. The place Roosevelt brings together horses, falcons, cape and sword fighting, and fire effects for the grand Saturday night show. The Passdarm association provides musketeer training, duels, and combat demonstrations.
Parades, funfair, and Festiv'B'Arts
At the cours Foucault, the Montauban Festivités association sets up the funfair and the Festiv'B'Arts area, featuring concerts and musical entertainment starting Friday evening. They also organize the two 400 Coups float parades, which depart from the place Lalaque on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon.
Ancient market, dancing, and mapping
On Sunday, the place Roosevelt hosts a 17th-century craft market featuring woodturning, pottery, blacksmithing, games, and wooden jewelry. Roving musical acts and workshops for Renaissance and traditional Occitan dances move between the place Roosevelt and the place Nationale. At night, a 400 Coups light mapping show is projected onto the facade of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption, with multiple screenings throughout the night.
Where it happens
The festival takes place throughout Montauban's historic center, centered around the place Nationale and its brick arcades, the place Roosevelt, the square Picquart, and the esplanade des Fontaines. Guided tours and children's workshops are also available in partnership with the Centre d'interprétation de l'architecture et du patrimoine.
Where does it take place — Les 400 Coups
Les 400 Coups in brief
History of Les 400 Coups
Edition 2025 Sep 2025Other festivals near Montauban
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