Médiévales de Belleperche

The Abbey of Belleperche, a Cistercian jewel of Tarn-et-Garonne

Founded in 1143 by Cistercian monks from the Abbey of Grandselve, the Abbey of Belleperche is one of the most important medieval monuments in Tarn-et-Garonne. Its name – 'beautiful hiding place' – evokes the secret, green setting it occupies in Cordes-Tolosannes, not far from the Garonne lateral canal, in a fertile plain with gentle contours. Classified as a Historic Monument, the abbey retains remarkable architectural elements: its 13th-century abbey church, its Gothic cloister, its chapter house, and the ruins of monastic buildings that testify to the power and wealth of this monastic estate in the Middle Ages.

Belleperche's history is turbulent: looted during the Wars of Religion, sold as national property during the French Revolution, transformed into a sugar factory and then a farm, the abbey almost disappeared before being bought back and restored. Today, owned by the Department of Tarn-et-Garonne, it is open for visits and hosts cultural events that restore its vocation as a space for culture and sharing.

The Medieval Festival: an immersion into the medieval era

The Médiévales de Belleperche take place in this exceptional setting every autumn, usually in September. Historical reenactment groups specializing in the medieval period (13th-15th centuries) set up their camps in the abbey's gardens and grounds to recreate the atmosphere and daily life of the Middle Ages.

The event's program is organized around several key areas:

• Medieval camps with faithful reconstructions of tents, equipment, weapons, and tools for medieval military and civilian life
• Sword fighting demonstrations and ancient fencing, with presentations of medieval combat techniques by specialists
• Falconry sessions with raptor flights in the open air in the abbey gardens
• Participatory workshops for the public: coin minting, illumination, parchment making, simple loom weaving
• Medieval musical entertainment with troubadours, jugglers, and costumed musicians

Falconry, a noble art at the heart of the Middle Ages

Falconry holds a special place in the Médiévales de Belleperche. An intangible heritage of UNESCO since 2016, this noble art was, in the Middle Ages, the privilege of lords and abbots – and the Abbey of Belleperche, with its abbatial hunts and rural dependencies, was the ideal place for its practice. The falconers participating in the festival present their birds of prey – peregrine falcons, European kestrels, buzzards, goshawks – in free-flight sessions and traditional hunting demonstrations, explaining to the public the unique relationship between the falconer and their bird.

Ancient Fencing: when combat becomes an art

Ancient fencing, or HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts), is one of the emblematic disciplines of the Médiévales de Belleperche. Practitioners specializing in the reconstruction of combat techniques described in medieval weapon treatises – such as Liechtenauer or Fiore dei Liberi – present commented demonstrations that reveal the sophistication and effectiveness of European martial arts of the Middle Ages. Longswords, shields, halberds, and bows are presented and explained to the public, sometimes with supervised introductory sessions for visitors.

The Cistercian Setting, an Ideal Backdrop for Reenactment

The rigor and sobriety of Belleperche's Cistercian architecture – its clean lines, golden stones, and dimly lit cloister – offer a setting of rare authenticity and beauty for medieval reenactments. The camps are naturally set up in the abbey gardens, the fights echo in the spaces trodden by Cistercian monks, and medieval songs mingle with the resonance of Gothic vaults. This coherence between the place and the event makes Belleperche one of the most immersive medieval reenactment settings in Tarn-et-Garonne.

A Free and Family-Friendly Event

The Médiévales de Belleperche are free and accessible to all: families, medieval history enthusiasts, and passing tourists. The event is part of the cultural policy of the Department of Tarn-et-Garonne, which is committed to enhancing its architectural heritage by infusing it with regular cultural life.