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France's oldest medieval festival is back in October just 1 hour from Paris!

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The Editor

© Ville de Mantes-la-Jolie

On October 17th, head to the Yvelines for a day like no other: the Medieval Festival of Mantes-la-Jolie. The schedule is packed with all sorts of activities to transport you through time, featuring knight battles, juggling demonstrations, and craftspeople's markets.

The past is brimming with extremely intriguing periods — topped by dinosaurs, the court of Louis XIV and the Middle Ages — constantly celebrated in films of all kinds. Only here's the thing, these eras do come with their fair share of dangers, and sometimes we think it's just as well that time travel hasn't been invented yet. But what if we told you there was still a way to journey into the past… with all the comfort of modern times! To do so, head to Mantes-la-Jolie in just a few days.


Celebrating the 576th edition of the Onion Fair in grand style

Have you ever heard of the Onion Fair? No? Yet this major annual event, which brings together a multitude of street vendors (aka traveling merchants) from all corners of France, is none other than the country's oldest medieval festival. And after more than five centuries of existence, it continues to delight Île-de-France every autumn. You can buy all sorts of things there: onions (of course), but also clothing, shoes, cosmetics, decorations, beverages, gourmet treats, fruits and vegetables or even the latest technology. This ancestral event is celebrated all over France, and for this new edition, the charming town of Mantes-la-Jolie transforms its city center into a medieval village with dozens of attractions.


A Vibrant Program

Beyond strolling through shops from another era, you'll be able to take part in workshops to rediscover traditional craftsmanship techniques like woodturning, onion dyeing, candle making, juggling lessons, thread weaving or even stained glass art. Juggling shows, storytelling performances, knight role introductions (along with full-fledged combat demonstrations), visits to a medieval farm or even concerts and a participatory mural — medieval of course — will be offered throughout the day. Finally, you'll be able to join in on themed guided tours

of the city and its museum, to complete the immersion.

Medieval Mantes-la-Jolie
Mantes-la-Jolie – 78200
Saturday, October 17, 2026
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