Les Médiévales de Bayeux
The biggest medieval festival in Normandy in the heart of Bayeux
About Médiévales de Bayeux
A Dive into the Middle Ages in the Heart of Bayeux
Since 1987, Les Médiévales de Bayeux have transported visitors back to the time of Norman knights and lords, in the exceptional setting of the historic center of Bayeux, a city famous for its Bayeux Tapestry and its majestic Notre-Dame Cathedral. As the third largest medieval festival in France, this free event brings together nearly 60,000 visitors for a weekend in early July.
Encampments, Artisans, and Historical Reenactments
The heart of the festival beats around the historical reenactment encampments set up in the streets and squares of the city center. Dozens of reenactment troupes from all over Europe recreate daily life in the Middle Ages: crafts, cooking, weaponry, combat techniques. A large medieval market brings together artisans offering jewelry, leather goods, pottery, decorative weapons, period costumes, and medieval culinary specialties.
Performances, Combats, and Festivities
Les Médiévales offer a rich program of live performances: knights in armor combats, equestrian tournaments, falconry shows, jugglers, minstrels, medieval dancers, and fire-eaters. The streets of Bayeux come alive with costumed parades and processions. Medieval music resonates throughout the city, played by specialized groups using period instruments.
A Renewed Theme Each Year
Each edition explores a different theme related to Norman medieval history. The 2025 edition, the 38th, celebrated the theme of water, highlighting navigators, conquerors, merchants, and storytellers. Visitors are encouraged to come in period costumes for a total immersion into the medieval atmosphere.
Médiévales de Bayeux — edition 2026
The 39th edition of the Bayeux Medieval Festival will take place from Friday, July 3 to Sunday, July 5, 2026, in the historic center of Bayeux. Three days of free medieval festivities on the theme of air: a grand nocturnal parade, a medieval market, street shows, concerts, re-enactment camps, and artisan demonstrations.
39th Bayeux Medieval Festival (2026) — the theme of air
The 39th edition of the Bayeux Medieval Festival will take over the historic center of Bayeux from Friday, July 3 to Sunday, July 5, 2026. To conclude its cycle dedicated to the four elements, this edition explores air and sky: wind instruments, legendary birds, glassblowers, and aerial creatures are its guiding thread.
As every year, these three days of entirely free medieval festivities bring together more than 500 participants — knights, artisans, musicians, and costumed troupes — who bring the Middle Ages back to life in the streets and squares of the Norman city. On the program: the grand opening parade, the medieval market, re-enactment camps, concerts, street shows, and numerous demonstrations of ancestral craftsmanship.
Programme Médiévales de Bayeux 2026
Friday, July 3, 2026
- 7:00 PM – 11:30 PM — Marché des nuiteux: nocturnal medieval market near the cathedral, over 120 stalls (creators, artisans, and producers), taverns
- 8:30 PM — The grand parade: procession of over 500 participants (stilt walkers, acrobats, musicians, costumed residents) led by a giant phoenix from Cie Youplaboum, from Place Saint-Patrice to the Hôtel de Ville (rescheduled to Sunday, July 5 at 11:00 AM in case of rain)
Saturday, July 4, 2026
Medieval market open from 10:00 AM to midnight. Shows and entertainment:
- 11:00 AM — Conference « The Breath of the Middle Ages » (windmills) · Hôtel du Doyen
- 2:00 PM / 4:45 PM — Les Baladeux (juggling) · Jardin de l'Hôtel du Doyen
- 3:30 PM / 6:15 PM — Fée et tendre cochonaille (aerial show) · Jardin de l'Hôtel du Doyen
- 2:00 PM / 4:30 PM / 6:15 PM — Gruppo Storico Fivizzano (flag throwers, drums, and fifes) · various locations
- 2:30 PM / 5:30 PM — Machina Silent (medieval war machines) · Place de Gaulle
- 3:00 PM / 4:15 PM — Théâtre de liens (fabliaux) · Place de Gaulle and cathedral forecourt
- 3:00 PM / 5:00 PM — Griseo Meam (juggling of words and objects) · Place de l'Hôtel de Ville
- 4:00 PM / 6:30 PM — Vagabondes (medieval percussion) · Place de l'Hôtel de Ville
- 4:45 PM — Le Gay-Sçavoir (Norman folklore) · cathedral forecourt
- 9:30 PM — Medieval fanfare · Place de Gaulle
Sunday, July 5, 2026
Medieval market open from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Shows and entertainment:
- 2:00 PM / 4:45 PM — Les Baladeux (juggling) · Jardin de l'Hôtel du Doyen
- 3:30 PM / 6:15 PM — Fée et tendre cochonaille (aerial show) · Jardin de l'Hôtel du Doyen
- 2:00 PM / 4:30 PM / 6:15 PM — Gruppo Storico Fivizzano · various locations
- 2:30 PM / 5:30 PM — Machina Silent · Place de Gaulle
- 3:00 PM / 4:15 PM — Théâtre de liens · Place de Gaulle and cathedral forecourt
- 3:00 PM / 5:00 PM — Griseo Meam · Place de l'Hôtel de Ville
- 4:00 PM / 6:30 PM — Vagabondes · Place de l'Hôtel de Ville
- 4:45 PM — Le Gay-Sçavoir · cathedral forecourt
- Wandering performances: Sonata Ferox (musician), Nagitalùk (giant puppets), Le Peuple de Moriquendi (stilt walkers)
All weekend
- Re-enactment camps and artisan demonstrations: blown glass, instrumentarium, basketry, Le Chantier (medieval construction techniques), Alt'Eras (arts of war with a 6m trebuchet), axe and knife throwing (Les Passeurs de lames)
- Traditional games garden, medieval carousel La Belle Roue (from 2 years old), historical dioramas
Highlights Médiévales de Bayeux 2026
- 39th edition, from July 3 to 5, 2026 — free medieval festival
- 2026 theme: air and sky (wind instruments, legendary birds, glassblowers)
- Grand opening parade on Friday at 8:30 PM with a giant phoenix and over 500 participants
- Medieval market with 120 stalls, concerts, street shows, and re-enactment camps in the historic center
Prices Médiévales de Bayeux 2026
Practical information — Médiévales de Bayeux
Practical Information
Location
Historic center of Bayeux (14400), pedestrian streets, squares, and parks of the city center.
Access
- By train : Bayeux SNCF station (Paris–Cherbourg and Caen–Cherbourg lines), a 10-minute walk from the center.
- By car : A13 exit Bayeux from Paris (260 km), N13 from Caen (30 km).
- Parking : Free parking on the outskirts of the center, shuttle buses to the heart of the festival.
Prices
- Free admission for all activities and shows.
Contact
- Organizer : Ville de Bayeux
- Website : lesmedievales.bayeux.fr
- Tourist Office : 02 31 51 28 28
Festival-goer photos
No photo yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Vous avez repéré une erreur ou une information manquante ?
Aidez-nous à garder cette fiche à jour. Toute proposition est relue par notre équipe avant publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No review yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community
Where does it take place — Médiévales de Bayeux
Centre historique de Bayeux
Centre historique de Bayeux, 14400 Bayeux