Medieval Festival of Baugé

The Medieval Festival of Baugé: Reliving the Middle Ages in Anjou

Baugé-en-Anjou boasts exceptional medieval heritage. The Château de Baugé, a hunting lodge of King René of Anjou in the 15th century, and the Battle of Vieil-Baugé in 1421, a major Franco-Scottish victory in the Hundred Years' War, have inscribed this Anjou town in France's medieval history. It is in this historical setting that medieval animation days take place each summer, transforming the castle and its gardens into a true medieval village.

Immersive Animations for the Whole Family

The medieval days of Baugé offer a rich and varied program of animations that transport visitors to the time of knights and troubadours:

• Historical Reenactments: medieval camps, daily life in the Middle Ages, period costumes and armor
• Medieval Crafts: demonstrations of leatherwork, calligraphy and illumination, pottery, stone carving, basket weaving, clog making
• Martial Arts and Military: knight combats, archery demonstrations, medieval weapon handling
• Shows and Music: troubadour music, medieval tales, dances, historical sketches
• Games and Activities: ancient board games, introduction to medieval fencing, flint fire starting

Specialized Reenactment Companies

The animations are provided by renowned historical reenactment companies, including the Alliance des Lions d'Anjou, the Compagnie Plantagenêt, and the Compagnie des Archers Ligériens. These troupes, passionate about living history, offer rigorous and educational reenactments, allowing visitors to touch, handle, and experience medieval daily life.

The Battle of Vieil-Baugé: A Living Heritage

On March 22, 1421, Franco-Scottish troops commanded by the Constable of Buchan won a decisive victory against the English led by the Duke of Clarence on the banks of the Couasnon, at Vieil-Baugé. This battle, a true revenge for the defeat at Agincourt in 1415, is periodically celebrated with grand medieval festivals, such as the one organized in 2022 for its 600th anniversary. The regular summer animations at the castle perpetuate the memory of this exceptional historical heritage.