Event Details
One of France's Oldest Medieval Festivals in an Authentic 13th-Century City
Every summer, the hilltop city of Cordes-sur-Ciel, perched above the Tarn valley in Occitanie, transforms into a living stage of the Middle Ages. The Fêtes Médiévales du Grand Fauconnier, organised by the Comité du Grand Fauconnier, are among the oldest medieval festivals in France; they were founded in 1971 to mark the 750th anniversary of the bastide's founding. On 11 and 12 July 2026, knights, troubadours, craftspeople, jugglers and historical re-enactment groups from across France bring the narrow lanes and squares of this 13th-century Gothic city back to life. Unlike many events of this kind, there is no artificial scenery here: visitors walk through real Gothic mansions, five layers of medieval ramparts and monumental gateways that have stood unchanged for centuries.
Highlights
- Knight combat displays in the lanes of the medieval old town
- Falconry demonstrations (fauconnerie), the tradition that gives the festival its name
- Medieval market with blacksmith, basket weaver and woodturner at Place de la Halle, Place Charles Portal and Place de la Bride
- Street performances by troupes Caminaïres, Comme des Gosses, Espéranza, Gonraad Le Dragon, Marazula, Pescalune and Turba Musica
- Concert inside the Church of Saint-Michel (Saturday, 4:00 PM)
- Torchlit night parade (Saturday, 9:30 PM) and fire show (Saturday, 10:30 PM)
- Grand costume procession from Jardin Royal (Sunday, 3:00 PM)
- Medieval ball under the Halle with Pescaluna (Sunday, 5:30–6:30 PM)
- Donkey rides for children (Sunday, 2:00–6:00 PM)
- Medieval face painting and fortune teller throughout both days
Program
Saturday, 11 July 2026 (10:00 AM to midnight)
- 11:00 AM: Market animation at Place de la Bouteillerie with Turba Musica
- All day: Street performances by all troupes throughout the old town
- 4:00 PM: Stories and harp in the courtyard of the Musée d'Art Moderne et Contemporain (Véronique Gaumont)
- 4:00 PM: Concert at the Church of Saint-Michel with Caminaïres
- 9:30 PM: Night torchlit parade
- 10:30 PM: Fire show
Sunday, 12 July 2026 (10:00 AM to 6:30 PM)
- All day: Street performances by all troupes
- 2:00 PM: Stories and harp in the museum courtyard (Véronique Gaumont)
- 2:00–6:00 PM: Donkey rides (L'Ane qui vole)
- 3:00 PM: Grand costume procession departing from Jardin Royal
- 5:30–6:30 PM: Medieval ball under the Halle and at Place de la Bride with Pescaluna
Open throughout both days: Medieval market with authentic craftspeople (blacksmith, basket weaver, woodturner), a medieval encampment at Place de la Bride and Gonraad Le Dragon.
Tickets & Entry
Entry to the walled old town costs €5 per person per day (flat rate). Children under 6 and all visitors wearing a medieval or fantasy costume enter free of charge. Tickets are available on site or through the Comité du Grand Fauconnier website. Those wishing to hire a costume can do so from Monday, 6 July 2026 at the festival's costume workshop at 2 rue des Jardins.
Getting There & Parking
- By bus: Albi–Cordes line, stop Cordes-sur-Ciel La Bouteillerie; approximately 8 minutes on foot to the old town.
- By car: Parking is banned at Place Charles Portal from Friday, 10 July for the duration of the festival. Use the lower town car parks.
- By train: Cordes-Vindrac station, connected via Albi.
Visitor Tips
- Arrive early; the steep lanes of the old town fill up quickly on both days.
- Wearing a medieval or fantasy costume waives the entry fee and enhances the atmosphere.
- Wear sturdy shoes; the cobblestone streets are steep and uneven.
- Book accommodation in Cordes-sur-Ciel or nearby Albi (approx. 25 km) well in advance.
- The Saturday evening fire show is the emotional centrepiece of the festival; arrive early to secure a good vantage point.
