Les Médiévales d'Estaing
Immersive medieval festival in the classified village of Estaing in Aveyron
2026
About Les Médiévales
The Les Médiévales d'Estaing festival takes place on the second weekend of September in a village officially ranked among the Most Beautiful Villages of France. For two days, the cobbled streets, the castle, and the banks of the Lot River host a medieval market, locals dressed in 12th-century costumes, street performers and troubadours, a Saturday night banquet, and the Tristan Challenge, where the winner is knighted in the public square. Visitors are encouraged to come in costume.
Les Médiévales — edition 2026
The Médiévales d'Estaing will take place on Saturday, September 12th and Sunday, September 13th, 2026, as announced by the town of Estaing and the château. The event features a medieval market, locals in 12th-century costumes, street performances, a Saturday night banquet, and the Tristan Challenge. A detailed schedule has not yet been published.
2026 Edition
The Médiévales d'Estaing returns on Saturday, September 12th and Sunday, September 13th, 2026, held as usual on the second weekend of September. Both the town of Estaing and the château have confirmed these dates.
The Section Médiévales du Foyer Rural d'Estaing is maintaining the format from previous years: a medieval market, locals in 12th-century costumes, street performances, ticketed shows at the château, a Saturday evening banquet, and the Tristan Challenge, where the winner is dubbed a knight. Visitors are encouraged to come in costume.
The château will host artisans and troubadours in its courtyard to demonstrate historical games, crafts, and customs, and will set up a tavern in front of the entrance. During these two days, the château can only be visited with a costumed guide by reservation; it will close at 12:30 PM on the preceding Friday, September 11th.
The hourly program for the two days is not yet online. The château states "Program and details coming soon"; for the previous edition, the town published this information in August.
Highlights Les Médiévales 2026
- The Tristan Challenge, where the winner is knighted in the public square
- The Saturday evening banquet, accompanied by troubadours
- Locals strolling through the streets in 12th-century costumes
- The château courtyard open to artisans and troubadours, with a tavern set up at the entrance
- Château access exclusively via guided tours in costume, by reservation only
Programme Les Médiévales 2026
What's planned for 2026
As of mid-August 2026, neither the town nor the château has released the official schedule for the two-day event. Here is what has been published so far.
Saturday, September 12th and Sunday, September 13th, 2026
- In the village — medieval market, locals strolling in 12th-century costumes, street performances, a Saturday evening banquet, the Tristan Challenge, and the knighting of the winner. Organized by: Section Médiévales du Foyer Rural d'Estaing.
- In the château courtyard — artisans and troubadours showcase games, traditional techniques, and customs of the past.
- In front of the château — a tavern serving period-style drinks.
- Château tours — on September 12th and 13th, the château is only accessible via a guided tour in costume. Reservations are required at 05 65 44 72 24 or [email protected]. Guided tour rates: 10 € per adult, 6 € for ages 12 to 17, and free for children under 12.
The château notes that the "Program and details are coming soon." Specific times, the names of the performing troupes, and the banquet price are not yet available. For the previous edition, the day-by-day program was released in August on the town's website; it is also shared on the Médiévales d'Estaing Facebook page.
Prices Les Médiévales 2026
Practical information — Les Médiévales
Practical Information
Access
By car: Estaing is located 35 km north of Rodez via the D920 towards Espalion, then the D921. Free parking is available at the entrance to the village.
Schedule
Event times are listed in the program published by the municipality closer to the date on estaing12.fr and the Médiévales d'Estaing Facebook page.
Prices
Access to the village, the market, and street performances is free. Shows held at the castle and the Saturday night banquet require payment. During the festival, the castle can only be visited via a guided tour by reservation: €10 per adult, €6 for ages 12 to 17, and free for children under 12.
Contacts
Mairie d'Estaing — 05 65 44 70 03 — [email protected] — www.estaing12.fr
Château d'Estaing, tour reservations — 05 65 44 72 24 — [email protected]
Two days of medieval festivities in a historic village
Every second weekend of September, the village of Estaing—ranked among the Most Beautiful Villages of France and a UNESCO World Heritage site as part of the pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela—dedicates two days to a medieval festival. The event is organized by the Medieval Section of the Foyer Rural d'Estaing.
The Tristan Challenge and the knighting ceremony
The festival is based on a legend: Tristan d'Estaing, lord of the village, has gone to fight alongside King Philippe Auguste, and his betrothed, Yolande de Lévezou, treats the locals and visitors to two days of celebration in anticipation of his return. The Tristan Challenge, a series of medieval-inspired trials, serves as the central theme, with the winner being knighted in the public square.
Market, troubadours, and banquet
The medieval market brings together local artisans and regional products. Locals stroll about in 12th-century attire, troubadours and street performers bring the streets to life, and various shows are held at the castle (some requiring a ticket). On Saturday evening, a banquet gathers guests to the sound of troubadours. Period costumes are available for rent during the festival.
The Château d'Estaing
The Château d'Estaing, a listed Historic Monument, overlooks the village and the Lot River. This imposing structure, linked to the d'Estaing family who produced an admiral for France, provides the perfect backdrop for the festivities: its courtyard hosts artisans and troubadours, a tavern is set up at the entrance, and tours are led by costumed guides. The Gothic bridge over the Lot, the medieval alleys, and the Saint-Fleuret church complete the setting.
Where does it take place — Les Médiévales
Les Médiévales in brief
Other festivals near Estaing
Festival-goer reviews
No review yet. Be the first!
No rating yet — be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community
Have you spotted an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every suggestion is reviewed by our team before publication.
Festival-goer photos
No photo yet. Share yours!
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)