Les Historiques Festival

Les Historiques: When YouTube Meets Medieval Heritage

Born in 2015 from the initiative of Benjamin Brillaud (aka Nota Bene), one of France's most popular history videographers, the Les Historiques festival has become a must-attend event for history popularization enthusiasts. Organized with Calie (Calidoscope), the festival brings together about twenty content creators specializing in history every summer at the Montbazon Fortress for meetings, conferences, and workshops open to all.

A Rich Program of Conferences and Workshops

Over three days, conferences given by invited videographers cover various themes: ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary history, archaeology, mythology, art history, and much more. Participatory workshops allow the public to learn about video content creation, historical research, and popularization techniques. Book signings and informal meet-and-greets encourage exchanges between creators and the public in a warm atmosphere.

Medieval Entertainment and Fortress Discovery

The exceptional setting of the Montbazon Fortress—Foulques Nerra's 11th-century keep, ramparts, and gardens overlooking the Indre valley—provides a vibrant backdrop for complementary medieval entertainment. Medieval crafts, behourd (armored combat) demonstrations, trebuchet shooting workshops, guided tours of the fortress, and old games enrich the experience. Shows and open-air concerts punctuate the evenings.

A Passionate and Welcoming Community

Les Historiques stands out for its welcoming and intergenerational atmosphere. Families, students, teachers, and history enthusiasts mingle in a spirit of sharing and curiosity. The festival helps democratize access to history by showing that historical knowledge can be rigorous, accessible, and entertaining.

An Event Growing Year After Year

Since its creation, Les Historiques has continuously grown, attracting an increasingly large and diverse audience. The festival has helped introduce the Montbazon Fortress and the Touraine heritage to a new generation of visitors, successfully blending digital culture and historical heritage in a format unique to France.