Valençay in the Time of Napoleon-Louis
Second Empire Historical Reenactment at the Château de Valençay
2026
About Napoleon III Weekend in Valençay
For one weekend, the Château de Valençay steps back in time to the Second Empire for a grand historical reenactment. Forty specialists in the period will take over the castle and its grounds to showcase 19th-century fashion, cosmetics, gastronomy, garden games, and the dances of Napoleon III's era. The highlight is the grand costume ball held on Saturday evening in the Orangerie, organized in partnership with the "Le Ballet impérial" association. In 2026, the event is scheduled for March 28th and 29th, marking the official opening of the castle's season.
Napoleon III Weekend in Valençay — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of "Valençay au temps de Napoléon-Louis" takes place on Saturday, March 28th and Sunday, March 29th, 2026, at the Château de Valençay, under the banner of the "Second Empire Weekend." This season-opening event brings together 40 historical reenactors focusing on the fashion, cosmetics, and dances of the Second Empire, featuring magic lantern shows and a grand costume ball on Saturday evening in the Orangerie.
2026 Edition
The Château de Valençay kicks off its 2026 season with the "Valençay au temps de Napoléon-Louis" weekend, scheduled for Saturday, March 28th and Sunday, March 29th, 2026, titled "Second Empire Weekend" on the castle grounds. Centered around the theme of costume—which defines the entire 2026 season at Talleyrand's princely estate—the event features 40 reenactors specializing in this historical period.
Both days follow the same program of workshops and presentations: dance workshops in the Orangerie, cosmetics demonstrations in the dining room, presentations on women's and men's fashion in the Salon du Prince, picnics in the castle park (or the Orangerie in case of bad weather), and three magic lantern shows in the kitchen offices—these projection devices are the ancestors of cinema. The castle closes at 6:00 PM.
The Second Empire Ball
On the evening of Saturday, March 28th, the castle and the "Le Ballet impérial" association are hosting a costume ball in the princely estate's Orangerie. The evening begins with a promenade through the castle from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM, followed by the grand ball from 8:15 PM to midnight, featuring dance initiations, demonstrations, and a dance card. A cocktail dinner is served throughout the evening and is included in the ticket price. There is no cloakroom on-site: participants must arrive in costume, and registration is mandatory via the online ticketing system.
Highlights Napoleon III Weekend in Valençay 2026
- 40 reenactors specializing in the Second Empire throughout the castle and gardens
- Second Empire Ball on Saturday, March 28th in the Orangerie, including a dance card and cocktail dinner
- Three magic lantern shows in the kitchen offices
- Presentations on period women's fashion, men's fashion, and cosmetics
- Season-opening weekend for 2026, themed around historical costume
Programme Napoleon III Weekend in Valençay 2026
Saturday, March 28th and Sunday, March 29th, 2026
- 10:30 AM — Dance workshop · Castle Orangerie
- 11:15 AM — Cosmetics presentation · Dining Room
- 12:00 PM — Women's fashion presentation · Salon du Prince
- 12:45 PM — Picnic · Castle Park or Orangerie
- 2:00 PM — Magic lantern show · Kitchen Offices
- 2:45 PM — Dance workshop · Castle Orangerie
- 3:20 PM — Magic lantern show · Kitchen Offices
- 4:00 PM — Men's fashion presentation · Salon du Prince
- 5:00 PM — Magic lantern show · Kitchen Offices
- 6:00 PM — Castle closes
Second Empire Ball — Saturday, March 28th, 2026
- 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM — Promenade · Castle
- 8:15 PM – Midnight — Grand ball, dance demonstrations, and entertainment · Orangerie
Magic lanterns are early projection devices, the ancestors of cinema. The ball is organized in partnership with the "Le Ballet impérial" association; registration is mandatory via the online ticketing system.
Prices Napoleon III Weekend in Valençay 2026
Napoleon III Weekend in Valençay — 2027 edition
The 2026 edition was held from 28 March to 29 March 2026. The dates for the 2027 edition have not been announced yet. This page will be updated as soon as the official programme is published.
Practical information — Napoleon III Weekend in Valençay
Access
The Château de Valençay is located at 2 rue de Blois, 36600 Valençay. Parking is free, and the estate is partially accessible to visitors with reduced mobility. Pets are allowed in the park if kept on a leash.
Hours
In 2026, the festivities take place on Saturday, March 28th, and Sunday, March 29th, from 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM, with the castle closing at 6:00 PM. The Second Empire ball takes place on Saturday, March 28th, from 7:00 PM to midnight.
Rates
- Weekend activities: included with standard castle admission
- Castle + park: €14.50 full price, €11.50 reduced rate, €5 for ages 4-6, free for children under 4
- Second Empire Ball: €80 per person, includes cocktail dinner, registration required
Contact
- Phone: 02 54 00 10 66
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: chateau-valencay.fr
- Online ticketing: chateau-valencay.vivaticket.fr
The Second Empire comes to life at Valençay
The Château de Valençay, one of the fifteen great Loire Valley castles, dedicates a weekend of its season to a Second Empire historical reenactment. The "Valençay au temps de Napoléon-Louis" event immerses visitors in the atmosphere of Napoleon III's imperial court within an exceptional heritage setting. In 2026, it will take place on Saturday, March 28th, and Sunday, March 29th, under the title "Second Empire Weekend," marking the reopening of Talleyrand's princely palace for a season themed around historical costume.
Forty reenactors in period attire
Forty reenactors specializing in the Second Empire will occupy the castle for the weekend. Dressed in authentic period clothing, they will bring the salons, gardens, and the Orangerie to life, inviting the public to discover the fashion, cosmetics, gastronomy, and garden games of the time throughout the day.
The grand costume ball
The most anticipated moment is the Saturday night ball, held in the palace's Orangerie in partnership with the "Le Ballet impérial" association. The evening begins with a procession through the castle, followed by guests—dance card in hand—learning period dances and watching demonstrations. A cocktail dinner is served throughout the evening, and registration is required via the online ticketing system. There is no cloakroom on-site, so guests are expected to arrive in costume.
A program of workshops and presentations
The same program is offered on both Saturday and Sunday: dance workshops in the Orangerie, cosmetic demonstrations in the dining room, presentations on women's and men's fashion in the Prince's Salon, and picnics in the castle park (moved to the Orangerie in case of bad weather). The 2026 edition adds three magic lantern shows in the kitchen offices—these projection devices are the ancestors of cinema.
Château de Valençay: an exceptional setting
The Château de Valençay, the former home of Prince de Talleyrand, a major diplomat in French history, provides an ideal backdrop for this reenactment. Its richly furnished salons, Orangerie, and vast park allow for a true immersion into the 19th-century atmosphere. From 1808 to 1813, the castle hosted the Spanish princes held by Napoleon I, adding to the site's historical significance.
Where does it take place — Napoleon III Weekend in Valençay
Napoleon III Weekend in Valençay in brief
History of Napoleon III Weekend in Valençay
Edition 2025 Sep 2025Other festivals near Valençay
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