Venissimo - Venetian Carnival of Toul

Venice comes to Toul

Created in 2024, Venissimo is the first Venetian carnival in the city of Toul, in Meurthe-et-Moselle. Supported by the association Rencontres Intemporelles, this spring event transforms the historic center of the medieval city into a true open-air Venetian stage. Dozens of costumed participants, adorned with masks and handmade embroidered outfits, mingle freely with the public, offering a striking visual spectacle.

An exceptional heritage setting

The carnival unfolds in Toul's most emblematic locations: the parvis and cloister of the Saint-Étienne cathedral, a Gothic jewel classified as a historic monument, and the gardens of the town hall. These historic settings provide a perfect backdrop for the participants' shimmering costumes, creating remarkably beautiful living tableaux that visitors can capture during photo sessions throughout the day.

Strolls and parade

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Venetian costumed figures stroll freely through the town center. The highlight of the event is the grand parade on Saturday afternoon, which starts from the cathedral parvis and heads to the Les Remp'Arts media library, offering a colorful procession through the streets of Toul.

Artisan market and activities

Venissimo is not just about costumes: a market of local artisans and producers accompanies the event, allowing visitors to discover original creations and local specialties from Lorraine. Workshops for making Venetian masks are also offered, inviting young and old to learn this ancestral art.

The art of Venetian costume

The participants, enthusiasts from all over France and sometimes from beyond its borders, craft their own costumes themselves, rich in colors, lace, and embroidery, in the purest tradition of the Venice Carnival. Each outfit is a unique work of art, the result of hundreds of hours of meticulous work. This artisanal and artistic dimension distinguishes Venissimo from traditional carnivals and makes it a cultural event in its own right.

Growing success

From its very first edition in 2024, Venissimo attracted several thousand visitors, confirming the public's enthusiasm for this original event in the cultural landscape of Lorraine. Building on this success, the association Rencontres Intemporelles has renewed the event from 2025 onwards, consolidating Toul as a must-visit destination for Venetian carnivals in France.