Médiévale de Mantes 2024: free festive immersion in the heart of the Middle Ages in Mantes-la-Jolie

Do you love medieval festivals? Well, we do too. This weekend, November 22 and 23, 2024, we're off to Mantes-la-Jolie in the Yvelines to take you back to the Middle Ages and enjoy somefree entertainment.

From Friday November 22, the Médiévale de Mantes comes to life in the city center with a series of activities starting at 5pm. The Musée de l'Hôtel-Dieu opens its doors for a free visit, accompanied by a historical projection and a medieval make-up workshop for all. The alleyways of Mantes will be animated by theatrical and musical strolls with the Touches d'Histoires Company and Sonata Ferox. On the square in front of the Collégiale, a visit by torchlight will allow visitors to discover this emblematic site in a new light. Finally, gourmets can savour medieval-inspired dishes at the Auberge de Montmirail.

On Saturday, November 23, the town continues to vibrate to the rhythms of the Middle Ages, starting at 10am with the great medieval market. Craftsmen and merchants take to the streets for the 574th edition of the Foire aux Oignons, one of the oldest fairs in France, offering a wide selection of local products and traditional crafts. In the artisans' village, visitors can try their hand at skills such as woodturning, calligraphy and stained-glass creation. Demonstrations of medieval combat organized by La Maison des Fers Croisés and the Confrérie du Vexin, as well as a workshop on how to become a knight, will entertain the youngest visitors.

Saturday is also a day of pure entertainment, with fire and dance shows, children's storytelling and equestrian demonstrations. The public can also discover the town's history through heritage stories, and take part in an initiation to medieval dances. To round off the day, Les Compagnons de Taillebourg put on a spellbinding fire show.

The program

Friday, November 22, 2024

Hôtel-Dieu Museum:

• Open house: 5 pm to 10 pm
• Guided tour: 6pm to 8pm (booking required)
• Make-up workshop: 5pm to 8:30pm
• Screening of "Mantes-la-Jolie's unexpected past": 5:30 pm to 10 pm (duration: 20 min) - in the courtyard, rue S. Bonneau
• Discovery of the medieval archives of Mantes: 18h, 18h30 and 19h (duration: 30 min) - on reservation

Rue du Château :

• Wandering music and dance - Sonata Ferox: 5:20pm and 6:10pm (duration: 20 min)
• Wandering street theater - Compagnie Touches d'Histoires: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm

In front of the Collegiate Church :

• Torchlight tours: 7:30, 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. (duration: 45 min., 6 years and up, by reservation at 01 34 78 86 60 or reservation.patour@manteslajolie.fr)

At the Auberge de Montmirail :

• Medieval catering: 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, November 23, 2024

Shows and entertainment in front of the Collegiate Church:

• Wooden Ferris wheel - La Belle Roue: 10am to 12pm, 12:30pm to 2:30pm, 3pm to 5pm
• Knight's initiation workshop - Compagnie Paladin: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Medieval combat demonstration - La Maison des Fers Croisés and Confrérie du Vexin: 12:40pm (duration: 30 min)
• Introduction to medieval dances - Sonata Ferox: 16h (duration : 30 min)
• Fire show - Les Compagnons de Taillebourg: 5:30pm (duration: 30 min)

Rue du Château :

• To be read
• Medieval festivals and castles in Île-de-France, travel back in time
• Médiévales de Provins celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2025
• Tips for the week of November 18 to 24, 2024 in Paris: free or inexpensive outings

• Heritage stories - Recreation for all: 11:10 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. (duration: 30 min.)

Castle Square:

• Storytelling - Gweltaz: 11am and 3:30pm (duration: 30 min, ages 5 and up)
• Brigand Emploi Recrute" - Théâtre de Pan: 12pm, 2:50pm and 4:50pm (duration: 30 min, for the whole family)

Hôtel-Dieu Museum:

• Visit and Yoga workshop "The body in the Middle Ages": 10:30 am (duration: 1:30 am, with reservation, workshop at extra charge)
• Mantes Ville Royale" walking tour: 1:30pm (duration: 2h, with reservation)
• Stained-glass lantern workshop (continuous): 2 pm to 4:45 pm
• Self-guided tour: 2 pm to 6 pm

Strolling through the city:

• Street crier - Gweltaz: 10 am to 6 pm
• Wandering street theater - Compagnie Touches d'Histoires: 10:10 am, 2 pm and 3:10 pm (duration: 20 min)
• Wandering music and dance - Sonata Ferox: 10:30 am, 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm (duration: 30 min)
• Horse show - Cheval Spectacle: 10:30 am, 2:20 pm and 3:30 pm (duration: 30 min)
• Sacred sheep and dog parade - Dog Trainer: 11:30 am, 1:10 pm and 4:30 pm (duration: 45 min)

Village of artisans and workshops - rue du Château :

• 10am to 6pm: Woodturning, make-up, calligraphy, candles, leatherwork, juggling, stained glass and thread weaving.

At the Auberge de Montmirail :

• Medieval catering: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Medieval market - rue Porte des Comptes :

• 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Ancestral fair - rue Nationale :

• The 574th edition of the Foire aux Oignons (Onion Fair) will bring together Mantais traders from 10am to 6pm.

This weekend in Mantes-la-Jolie is a great opportunity to reconnect with ancient traditions in an immersive, family-friendly atmosphere. Note that admission to all events is free, except for the medieval yoga workshop. For certain activities, such as the guided tour of the Collegiate Church and the "Mantes Ville Royale" tour, reservations are required via the Mantes-la-Jolie cultural service. Medieval catering is available on site. This weekend promises a full, lively immersion in a medieval atmosphere - a good plan not to be missed.