Les Ducales de Guise

Les Ducales de Guise 2024: A Medieval and Family Festival

The 2024 edition of Les Ducales de Guise was held from June 14 to 16, 2024, within the walls of the Château Fort de Guise. This edition, presented as a medieval and family festival, marked the transition to a biennial rhythm, with Les Ducales now alternating with Les Historiales.

As in previous editions, reenactment troupes camped on the site throughout the weekend, animating the festival and presenting the civil and military life of the Middle Ages to the public. The organization aligns with the public education mission of the Club du Vieux Manoir: to show, let be heard, touch, smell, see, and live in order to learn, discover, and understand.

The program included a visit to the castle (free or guided), knight camps with combat demonstrations and weapon displays, daily life activities (tableware, laundry, calligraphy, herbalism, games), artillery demonstrations, crafts (leather, bone, wood, textiles, wool), medieval cuisine, a farm with animals, medieval music, equestrian shows and knightly tournaments, as well as a participatory battle with foam weapons.

A family pass was introduced for this edition, allowing large families to benefit from a reduced rate of €2 per additional child (3rd to 6th) accompanying two adults at full price.

2024 Edition Program

• Castle visit: free or guided
• Chivalry: Camps, combat demonstrations, weapon displays
• Daily life: Tableware, laundry, calligraphy, herbalism, games
• Artillery: Firing demonstrations
• Medieval crafts: Leather, bone, wood, textiles, wool
• Medieval cuisine: Period preparations and meals
• Medieval farm: Enclosure with rabbits and chickens
• Medieval music: Demonstrations and historical instruments
• Equestrian shows: Knightly tournaments
• Participatory battle: With foam weapons for all ages

• Last annual edition before the shift to a biennial rhythm
• Introduction of the family pass for large families
• Medieval reenactment camps throughout the weekend
• Equestrian shows and knightly tournaments
• Participatory battles with foam weapons
• Medieval cuisine and farm with animals
• Artillery demonstrations within the castle grounds