Les Riches Heures de Fougères
Festival in Ille-et-Vilaine
About Les Riches Heures de Fougères
Les Riches Heures de Fougères
Les Riches Heures de Fougères are a grand medieval festival organized in Fougères, Ille-et-Vilaine (Brittany). Every two years, the association Les Fous Gèrent recreates a vibrant Middle Ages at the foot of Fougères Castle, one of Europe's largest medieval fortresses, in partnership with the City of Fougères, the Department of Ille-et-Vilaine, and the Brittany Region.
A recreated medieval city
For a weekend, the historic Saint-Sulpice district, the gardens of the lower town, and the Val Nançon valley come alive with costumed troop encampments, a large medieval market bringing together some sixty artisans, demonstrations of period crafts, music, theater, and storytelling. The castle's great courtyard transforms into a lists for chivalry tournaments and demonstrations of siege engines. Taverns, workshops, and children's games complete the immersion.
Information and program
To find out the dates, detailed program, and participation details, consult the website of the organizing association Les Fous Gèrent, the agenda of the City of Fougères, or the Destination Fougères tourist office.
Les Riches Heures de Fougères — edition 2026
Les Riches Heures de Fougères, a grand medieval festival organized every two years by the association Les Fous Gèrent, returns on Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the foot of Fougères Castle. For a weekend, the medieval city of Ille-et-Vilaine travels back in time: a living encampment in Val Nançon, a medieval market around Saint-Sulpice, street shows, music, and chivalry tournaments in the castle courtyard.
Les Riches Heures de Fougères — 2026 edition
On Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, June 28, 2026, Fougères hosts a new edition of its grand medieval festival, Les Riches Heures de Fougères. Organized every two years by the association Les Fous Gèrent, in partnership with the City of Fougères, the Department of Ille-et-Vilaine, and the Brittany Region, the event transforms the historic Saint-Sulpice district and the castle grounds into a vast medieval setting animated by dozens of costumed troupes and volunteers.
An immersion in the heart of the Middle Ages
About twenty "mesnies" (households/companies) set up their encampment in the Val Nançon valley, where the public discovers medieval daily life activities and demonstrations of period crafts (embroidery, calligraphy, leatherwork, shoemaking). The large castle courtyard becomes a jousting arena: knightly combats and siege engine demonstrations punctuate the two days. In the streets and gardens, strolls, theatre, music, and storytelling complete the entertainment, presented by companies such as Les Lions de Flandres and Les Maroufles (theatre), Chalemie, Saltabraz, and Meghan (music), or the storytellers Badin and the "hommes-livres" (book-men).
Medieval market and tavern
Around the Saint-Sulpice church, a large medieval market brings together about sixty artisans set up on wooden stalls with colorful banners. Taverns offer medieval-inspired cuisine (stews, pies, pastries, mead). Workshops and games are planned for children throughout the weekend.
Programme Les Riches Heures de Fougères 2026
Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, June 28, 2026
Continuous entertainment, generally from 10 AM to 6 PM across all sites (castle, Saint-Sulpice district, lower town gardens, Val Nançon):
- Medieval encampment of about twenty "mesnies" (households/companies) in Val Nançon — demonstrations of daily life and period crafts (embroidery, calligraphy, leatherwork, shoemaking)
- Chivalry tournaments and siege engine demonstrations in the main castle courtyard
- Street theatre with the companies Les Lions de Flandres and Les Maroufles
- Medieval music with Chalemie, Saltabraz, and Meghan
- Storytelling with Badin and the "hommes-livres" (book-men)
- Medieval market with about sixty artisans around Saint-Sulpice church (free admission)
- Workshops and games for children, taverns, and medieval cuisine
Highlights
- Grand parade on Saturday from 11 AM to 12 PM, from the lower to the upper town
- Medieval ball (fest-noz) on Saturday evening from 8:30 PM to 11:30 PM at the castle (5 €)
- French sign language tours on Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM
Highlights Les Riches Heures de Fougères 2026
- Grand biennial medieval festival, June 27 and 28, 2026, at Fougères Castle
- Troop encampment in Val Nançon, medieval market with about sixty artisans in Saint-Sulpice
- Chivalry tournaments and siege engines in the castle courtyard
- Parade Saturday 11 AM-12 PM and medieval ball (fest-noz) Saturday evening
Prices Les Riches Heures de Fougères 2026
Practical information — Les Riches Heures de Fougères
Practical information
Location
Fougères Castle and Saint-Sulpice district, Fougères (35300), Ille-et-Vilaine. Activities are spread between the upper and lower town (castle, Saint-Sulpice district, gardens, Val Nançon valley).
Access and opening hours
Medieval festival open from 10 AM to 6 PM. The medieval market around Saint-Sulpice church is freely accessible.
Prices
Site and castle entrance: 9 € for adults, 6 € for 6-12 year olds, free for under 6s. Saturday evening medieval ball: 5 €.
Contact
Association Les Fous Gèrent — official website lesfousgerent.fr. Information also available from the City of Fougères (02 99 94 88 00).
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Where does it take place — Les Riches Heures de Fougères
Château de Fougères et quartier Saint-Sulpice
Fougères, 35300 Fougères