Medieval Festival of Semur-en-Auxois

Semur-en-Auxois, medieval jewel of Burgundy

Semur-en-Auxois is one of the most beautiful medieval cities in Burgundy, perched on a pink granite rocky promontory surrounded by the meanders of the Armançon. Its fortified towers, its ramparts, and its 13th-century Collegial Church of Notre-Dame offer an exceptional natural setting to host a medieval festival. Since 2000, every May, the city dons its medieval colors — standards, flags, and banners — to welcome over 30,000 visitors who come to immerse themselves in the Middle Ages.

A rich and immersive program

The Medieval Festival of Semur-en-Auxois offers a dense and varied program:

• 16 companies of music and street theater animate the city streets with parades, concerts, and shows.
• A medieval market with 60 exhibitors showcases crafts, medieval objects, local products, and original creations.
• Reconstituted encampments allow visitors to discover daily life in the Middle Ages.
• Falconry shows are organized several times a day.
• Combat reenactments and initiations to handling medieval weapons.
• Demonstrations of medieval crafts: blacksmiths, potters, weavers.
• A banquet and a fire show conclude the festivities in the evening.

A festival open to all

Admission to the Medieval Festival of Semur-en-Auxois is free. Visitors are encouraged to come in costume to fully immerse themselves in the medieval atmosphere; a costume can be rented on-site for 5 euros. The event is for all generations, with activities specially designed for children. The cobbled streets, towers, and ramparts of Semur offer an authentic setting that delights young and old alike.