After a gloomy 2023 vintage due to uncertain weather, it is – the fifty or so volunteers hope – under a July-like sun that the event plans to get underway at 10:30 a.m. this Saturday.
1 Shows
The program is intended to be packed to allow onlookers to enjoy a day around the Middle Ages without interruption. From 10:30 a.m., a costumed parade accompanied by dances and riders from the equestrian center will leave from the Champ-de-Foire to reach the Place du Château, stopping at the Place de l’Église.
At the Porte d’Archiac, medieval camps will be set up for demonstrations of daily life and also combat. Thus, from 11 am, the public will be able to practice axe throwing and archery with the Clan des Loups de la Seudre. The battles will be recreated by the Mesnie de Barbazan company with a second performance at 2 pm.
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On the castle square, at 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m., the Vol en scène company will offer a falconry show. At 3:15 p.m., a conference will be presented on the life of Eleanor of Aquitaine, by Catherine Chadefaud-Dubois, a history professor, followed at 4:15 p.m. by sketches on the historical figure presented by Nuits blanches en pays jaune d’or from Lignières-Ambleville.
Then it’s time for dancing and singing from 5:45 p.m., with the local Rigaudons troupe accompanied by volunteers from the Barbezieux neighborhood committees, then a show by the Goliards (6:30 p.m.), singing with Méli Mélo vox (7:30 p.m.) and at 9 p.m. a ball hosted by the Goliards to allow the public to try their hand at the practice.
The grand finale will be provided at 10:30 p.m. by L’Arche en sel, a fire show.
2 Exhibitors and a pre-evening
To ensure there is no downtime during the day, exhibitors and artisans will have stands all day long at the castle. Demonstrations of bronze casting, drawings, leatherwork and more will be on display.
Children will not be forgotten since wooden games from the Atleb association will be made available. Archery and axe throwing demonstrations will be accessible to them, and a face painting workshop (for a fee) will be offered to them.
For those who can’t wait, the Le Club cinema will be showing “The Name of the Rose” from Wednesday July 3 at 8 p.m., an investigation conducted in the heart of a Benedictine abbey in 1327.
3 Catering, parking, budget: the most practical
No event today without a food truck. So fast food will be offered on Place du 14-Juillet, at the bottom of the castle, but also in the restaurants in the city center. Apart from this consumption and the makeup workshop, all the activities offered will be free. To do this, the association has invested 19,000 euros in this 2024 edition, subsidized to the tune of 10,000 euros by the city, 1,000 euros by the 4B community of communes and 8,000 euros by the private partnership.
As for parking, the Place du Château will be partially open, but only accessible from the Rampe des Mobiles. Parking along the Avenue du 14-Juillet will be authorized in its lower part.
