Les Médiévales de Falaise
2026
Edition 2026 — Finished
Edition 2026 — Médiévales de Falaise
The 24th edition of the Médiévales de Falaise takes place on Saturday, August 8th and Sunday, August 9th, 2026, under the theme "A Journey, A Thousand Stories." The Château Guillaume-le-Conquérant, its moats, and the historic town center will host Viking, Oriental, and Norman encampments, jousting tournaments by the Guerre et Chevalerie company, street theater, wandering giant creatures, and a free medieval market featuring over a hundred exhibitors. Highlights include the grand parade on Saturday at 7:30 PM, the tavern raid at 9:00 PM, and the "Les Forgeciels" pyrotechnic show at 10:30 PM at the Château de la Fresnaye park.
24th Médiévales de Falaise — "A Journey, A Thousand Stories"
For its 24th edition, the Médiévales de Falaise takes the theme of travel as its guiding thread, inviting the public to traverse medieval routes from Scandinavian lands to the Orient. Join us on Saturday, August 8th and Sunday, August 9th, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM on Saturday and 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Sunday, at the foot of the Château Guillaume-le-Conquérant and throughout the historic center of Falaise.
Four Areas, Four Worlds
- Rue de la Roche — The Northern Lands: The Clan d'Ivar recreates a traveling Scandinavian camp (nålbinding, weaving, chainmail making, archery, Viking combat demonstrations, and children's battles in Old Norse). The fantasy medieval world of Ante Mortem offers games, foam sword fighting, face painting, and calligraphy workshops, along with the "Accrovoile" (an 8-meter Viking mast to climb, ages 5+) and Valhalla axe throwing (ages 12+).
- Le Courtil — The Southern Lands: The Guerriers Ibelin, Al Qafilah, and Dovahkiin introduce visitors to the medieval Oriental culture, from Baghdad to Al-Andalus—featuring medicine, Turcopole military equipment, games, Middle Eastern flavors, and arts—punctuated by dances, storytelling, and music. A dromedary and Oriental goats add to the immersive experience.
- The Lower Courtyard: The 12th-century Norman camp of the Aisling-1198 association (tents, awnings, calligraphy, medieval cooking, forge and combat demonstrations), street theater with "Brigand Emploi," songs from the "Coupeurs de bourses" by Krypta Prod, Norman tales by Gweltaz le File, and "L'improbable Quête des Maroufles" by the Sonjévéyés company.
- Along the Ante River: The Guerre et Chevalerie company presents jousting tournaments, mounted skill exercises, broken-lance jousts, and foot combat. Children aged 3 to 15 can try their hand at combat in armor sized for them during 20-minute sessions, a unique activity in France.
The Medieval Market, Free Access
Over a hundred exhibitors stretch from the Place Guillaume-le-Conquérant, at the foot of the castle, to the Place Belle-Croix extending from the Rue Trinité: historical and fantasy artisans, decorative objects, jewelry, cutlery, toys, spice stalls, beverages, charcuterie, pastries, sweets, taverns, and historically inspired food carts. You might encounter the giant Omoloùnkà and the chimeras Kassïk and Kélé from the Bric à Brac company, the Sandlakis (guardians of sand and time) from the Kervan company, and Gweltaz le File, a town crier with his cart and message boxes.
Entertainment and New Features
Flam'anime and the PNJ association offer a live-action role-playing game, "Conquête de territoires" (ages 8+), with costumes and equipment provided, as well as juggling initiations. ETC leads the creation of a collective mural, Servifête provides around thirty medieval wooden games, and Falaise Créa Décor offers its own games in the Courtil. Izabel, from the Damuthée company, provides face painting. New for 2026: a costume contest organized by the Yumigami Cosplay association on Sunday at 5:00 PM, with a photo booth at Place Belle-Croix. At Square Charles Ferrand, an immersive "Tournée Millenium 2027" experience allows you to create your own medieval Norman avatar using artificial intelligence.
Programme
Friday, August 7th, 2026 — Preview
- 5:00 PM — Medieval concert of low instruments by the Soñj company · Falaise Media Library (1 hour)
Saturday, August 8th, 2026 — 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Lower Courtyard 1 — Aisling-1198 Company
- 10:30 AM — Fencing presentation
- 11:30 AM — "The Training" combat and squire training
- 3:00 PM — "The Kite" combat and squire training
- 4:30 PM — "The Journey" combat and squire training
- 6:00 PM — Fencing presentation
Lower Courtyard 2 — Theater and Music
- 10:15 AM — Brigand Emploi is hiring · Théâtre de Pan
- 11:00 AM — The Improbable Quest of the Maroufles · Compagnie du Sonjévéyés
- 12:00 PM — The Purse Cutters · Krypta Prod
- 12:45 PM — Norman tales by Gweltaz le File · Atôme théâtre
- 1:30 PM — The Improbable Quest of the Maroufles · Compagnie du Sonjévéyés
- 2:30 PM — Norman tales by Gweltaz le File · Atôme théâtre
- 3:15 PM — Brigand Emploi is hiring · Théâtre de Pan
- 4:00 PM — The Purse Cutters · Krypta Prod
- 4:45 PM — Brigand Emploi is hiring · Théâtre de Pan
- 5:30 PM — The Purse Cutters · Krypta Prod
- 6:15 PM — Norman tales by Gweltaz le File · Atôme théâtre
Rue de la Roche — Viking Encampments
- 10:00 AM — Face painting · Ante Mortem (1h30)
- 11:00 AM — Troll Ball · Ante Mortem
- 12:00 PM — Duel combat · Ante Mortem
- 1:30 PM — Face painting · Ante Mortem (1h30)
- 2:30 PM — Barns Bardagi, the children's battle · Le clan d'Ivar
- 4:30 PM — Combat demonstration · Le clan d'Ivar
- 5:30 PM — Face painting · Ante Mortem (1h30)
Le Courtil — Oriental Encampments
- 10:30 AM — Oriental music and songs · Compagnie Dovahkiin
- 12:30 PM — Oriental music and songs · Compagnie Dovahkiin
- 2:00 PM — The Purse Cutters · Krypta Prod
- 3:00 PM — Soñj, Oriental music
- 4:30 PM — Soñj, Oriental music
- 5:30 PM — Oriental dance initiation · Compagnie Dovahkiin
- 6:15 PM — Soñj, Oriental music
The Market — Free Access
- 11:00 AM — Mirage, the guardians · Compagnie Kervan
- 12:00 PM — Omoloùnkà's walk · Compagnie Bric à Brac
- 2:00 PM — Omoloùnkà's walk · Compagnie Bric à Brac
- 3:00 PM — Mirage, the guardians · Compagnie Kervan
- 4:00 PM — Omoloùnkà's walk · Compagnie Bric à Brac
- 6:00 PM — Mirage, the guardians · Compagnie Kervan
Along the Ante River — Guerre et Chevalerie Company
- 11:30 AM — Equestrian show (40 min)
- 2:00 PM — Foot combat sessions (20 min)
- 4:00 PM — Jousting tournament (40 min)
- 6:00 PM — Foot combat sessions (20 min)
- All day — Armor combat initiation for ages 3-15, 20-minute sessions
Saturday Evening — Free
- 7:30 PM — Grand Parade at the medieval market: wandering companies, volunteers, and costumed visitors
- 9:00 PM — Tavern raid, concert by the Soñj company (45 min), night market, and continuous food service until 10:00 PM
- 10:30 PM — Les Forgeciels, fire show by the Libellune company · Château de la Fresnaye park (45 min)
Sunday, August 9th, 2026 — 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Lower Courtyard 1 — Aisling-1198 Company
- 10:30 AM — Fencing presentation
- 11:30 AM — "The Training" combat and squire training
- 3:00 PM — "The Kite" combat and squire training
- 4:30 PM — "The Journey" combat and squire training
- 6:00 PM — Fencing presentation
Lower Courtyard 2 — Theater and Music
- 10:15 AM — Brigand Emploi is hiring · Théâtre de Pan
- 11:00 AM — The Improbable Quest of the Maroufles · Compagnie du Sonjévéyés
- 12:00 PM — The Purse Cutters · Krypta Prod
- 12:45 PM — Norman tales by Gweltaz le File · Atôme théâtre
- 1:30 PM — The Improbable Quest of the Maroufles · Compagnie du Sonjévéyés
- 2:30 PM — Norman tales by Gweltaz le File · Atôme théâtre
- 3:15 PM — Brigand Emploi is hiring · Théâtre de Pan
- 4:00 PM — The Purse Cutters · Krypta Prod
- 4:45 PM — Brigand Emploi is hiring · Théâtre de Pan
- 5:30 PM — The Purse Cutters · Krypta Prod
- 6:15 PM — Norman tales by Gweltaz le File · Atôme théâtre
Rue de la Roche — Viking Encampments
- 10:00 AM — Face painting · Ante Mortem (1h30)
- 11:00 AM — Troll Ball · Ante Mortem
- 12:00 PM — Duel combat · Ante Mortem
- 1:30 PM — Face painting · Ante Mortem (1h30)
- 2:30 PM — Barns Bardagi, the children's battle · Le clan d'Ivar
- 4:30 PM — Combat demonstration · Le clan d'Ivar
- 5:30 PM — Face painting · Ante Mortem (1h30)
Le Courtil — Oriental Encampments
- 10:30 AM — Oriental music and songs · Compagnie Dovahkiin
- 12:30 PM — Oriental music and songs · Compagnie Dovahkiin
- 2:00 PM — The Purse Cutters · Krypta Prod
- 3:00 PM — Soñj, Oriental music
- 4:30 PM — Soñj, Oriental music
- 5:30 PM — Oriental dance initiation · Compagnie Dovahkiin
- 6:15 PM — Soñj, Oriental music
The Market — Free Access
- 11:00 AM — Mirage, the guardians · Compagnie Kervan
- 11:30 AM — Medieval music concert by Le Madrigal de Condé-sur-Noireau · Saint-Gervais Church (1 hour)
- 12:00 PM — Omoloùnkà's walk · Compagnie Bric à Brac
- 2:00 PM — Omoloùnkà's walk · Compagnie Bric à Brac
- 3:00 PM — Mirage, the guardians · Compagnie Kervan
- 4:00 PM — Omoloùnkà's walk · Compagnie Bric à Brac
- 5:00 PM — Costume contest · Yumigami Cosplay association (1 hour)
- 6:00 PM — Mirage, the guardians · Compagnie Kervan
Along the Ante River — Guerre et Chevalerie Company
- 11:30 AM — Equestrian show (40 min)
- 2:00 PM — Foot combat sessions (20 min)
- 4:00 PM — Jousting tournament (40 min)
- 6:00 PM — Foot combat sessions (20 min)
- All day — Armor combat initiation for ages 3-15, 20-minute sessions
Official program, subject to cancellations or changes.
Highlights
- 24th edition themed "A Journey, A Thousand Stories," from Scandinavian lands to the Orient
- Les Forgeciels, pyrotechnic show by the Libellune company — Saturday at 10:30 PM at the Château de la Fresnaye park (free)
- Grand costumed parade at the medieval market — Saturday at 7:30 PM, followed by the tavern raid by the Soñj company at 9:00 PM and the night market
- Jousting tournament and equestrian show by the Guerre et Chevalerie company, along the Ante river (11:30 AM and 4:00 PM both days)
- Armor combat initiation for children aged 3 to 15, a unique activity in France
- Viking camps by the Clan d'Ivar and Ante Mortem on Rue de la Roche, Oriental camps by the Guerriers Ibelin, Al Qafilah, and Dovahkiin in the Courtil, and a 12th-century Norman camp by Aisling-1198 in the lower courtyard
- Free medieval market with over a hundred exhibitors, from Place Guillaume-le-Conquérant to Place Belle-Croix
- New for 2026: Costume contest by the Yumigami Cosplay association — Sunday at 5:00 PM (free)
- Medieval music concert by Le Madrigal de Condé-sur-Noireau at Saint-Gervais Church — Sunday at 11:30 AM
Prices
2.00€ — 10.00€
Adult 1-day ticket: 8 €
Costumed visitor 1-day ticket: 5 €
Child 1-day ticket (6 to 16 years): 2 €
Adult 2-day ticket: 10 €
Costumed visitor 2-day ticket: 7 €
Child 2-day ticket (6 to 16 years): 4 €
Free for children under 6
The costumed visitor rate is only available on-site, subject to conditions.
Free access to the medieval market and its entertainment, the parade, the tavern raid, the Saturday night fire show, and the Sunday costume contest.
Purchasing a ticket for the paid area does not grant access to the castle rooms or the tablet-guided tour: a reduced-rate ticket must be purchased at the monument's reception.
Ticket office on-site at Rue de la Porte du château, behind the town hall, from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM (last tickets sold at 6:30 PM). Online booking also available.
Published by Valentin Contard, festival listings writer. Reviewed, corrected and approved by Christophe Contard, editor-in-chief. .