Provins Medieval Festival – A lovely event near Paris

About Provins Medieval Festival

Provins, in the French Champagne region and just an hour by car from Paris, holds its Medieval Festival two days in June every year.

A wonderful celebration of all things from the Middle Ages, that takes over the whole town.

Our visit to this festival was just amazing and you almost felt like going 800 years back in time.

Not only that the festival is good, but the whole little town Provins is exciting and has a friendly and relaxing atmosphere.

Provins Medieval Festival is a well organized, fun and exciting event that we highly recommend to visit.

Expect some spectacular entertainment

The events and attractions that have delighted regular aficionados for more than thirty years are the fabulous Medieval Ball, an exuberant main parade, banquets and historical re-enactments.

You can also look forward to performances from musicians, jesters and acrobats who flock to Provins from all across Europe.

The full programme can be read on the Festival’s website.

Eating and drinking

There’s no shortage of cute pavement cafes on every Provins corner – a seat on the main square is perfect if you want to grab a glass of wine and people-watch.

Try a thirst-quenching cup of apple cider – but don’t go for a full flagon if you’re planning on exploring Provins’ towers and secret stairways.

There’s a choice of restaurants from bargain to budget-busting, or you could keep your cash under control by buying snacks from the colourful street stalls.

What to wear for the Festival

Some festival-goers really enter into the spirit of the Middle Ages, suspending their 21st century lives for a couple of days of living in a medieval tent outside the town’s magnificent ramparts.

They’re selling wares such as helmets, leather goods, other arts and crafts and even medieval ice cream and medieval sandwich snacks.

As you might have guessed, this festival is not obsessed with authenticity. Anyone who arrives in some kind of costume gains reduced-cost entry.

This could be as simple as little girls dressed up in their favourite Fairy Princess costume, or grown men looking slightly uncomfortable in itchy wool leggings and fancy hats.

Some ladies go all out with elaborate brocaded dresses and saucy tavern wench ensembles.

So if you hanker after dressing up as a Knights Templar, a whole family of barbarians, or a steam-punk Robin Hood, no-one will call you out on the lack of realism of your outfit.

As the town’s website says, ‘costumes of fantastic inspiration are accepted’ – so let your imagination run wild.