Slaying the dragon

The dragon will be the star of the son et lumière show

Dragons, jousting, paper making and parades come together with a host of other activities in Les Arcs sur Argens for the annual medieval Festes du Castrum d’Arcus.

Now in its 20th year and organised by the club Les Méddiévales, the festival runs from July 8 to 11 and involves some 200 participants. They have been preparing for months, building weapons, knitting chainmail and organising the medieval market that runs over the four days. For the kids there’s a chance to learn how to make paper, rope and seals the old-fashioned way, while adults can try their hand at spinning and pressing coins. Jousting tournaments and a big parade each day complete the picture.

One of the main characters in the son et lumière show is a huge dragon which this year has been built by Jochen Sitars from Germany who is the only non-French member of the club. The legend goes that a dragon once stalked the hills around Draguignan, scaring the life out of everyone until the monk St Honorat, of Ile St Honorat fame fought the beast off and slew it with a cross.

The festival opens every day from 10am and the evening son et lumières start at 9.30pm. Reservations are advised as it was booked out every night last year. Tel: 04 94 73 37 30.