The Medieval Festival of the Four Gates and the Quest for the Black Virgin

Program :

Friday 5 June:
From 8am or 10am – Setting up of camps and traders on the different sites.
16:30 p.m. to 18 p.m.: welcoming school children during after-school time for a traditional flower battle on the Place du Terreau.
The festival was opened by the Mayor with the scenario of the disappearance of the Black Virgin.
Location: Town Hall Square
20 p.m. - The "Major or Consul" calls upon 4 troops who present valiant fighters to leave for the 4 corners of Provence... to find the Black Virgin.
Presentation and small combat demonstrations to prove their valor and rivalry.
A fighter from the Helvie Clan Company
A fighter from the Companions of Guilhempierre
A fighter from the Mannaheim Clan
A fighter from the Fréki Guéri
The four champions have been named.
Heading to Place du Terreau for the opening of the festival and presentation of the volunteers.
21:30 pm - Opening fire show (L'ost des Temps Jadis) on the Terreau – Kimborton (40 min)

Saturday June 6, 2026:
9:00 AM - Wake-up call for companies
10:00 am - Free-form walk by company through the city center (CGR - Soubeyran - Place Marcel Pagnol - Town Hall - Guilhempierre - Bd Elémir Bourge (market) - Saunerie - Av. Jean Giono - Allée des Marronniers). A presentation area for the companies will be set up.
11am to 17pm: Opening of the camps, activities, combat, archery, camp life, skits, troubadours, beggars, dances, music, historical lectures, crafts, merchants, exhibitors...)
Place du Terreau:
11:00 AM: Skirmish (fight)
14 p.m. to 15 p.m.: Hérakiel – Juggling and fire show (10 min) and Compagnie des Boulégans – Music, juggling, and dance show (30 min) – Joint performance
16 p.m.: Short play from "L'Ost des temps Jadis" (30 min)
17 p.m.: Vidofmir – music (15 min)
17:30 p.m.: Circle of Odin (Lost + Fréki + Helvie)
18:30 pm: Clan Clan – Celtic Music (15 min)
19 p.m.: Arrival of guests for the banquet (Lost)

19:30 pm: Banquet (150 people, reservations required at https://www.paysdemanosque.com/reservation-en-ligne.html and at the Tourist Offices of Manosque, Gréoux-les-Bains, Oraison, Quinson, Riez and Valensole). €40 for adults. €20 for children.
Fin des ventes 03/06/2026 à 17h00

Menu adultes :
Entrance :
- Tabbouleh base with three grains, raisins and pine nuts (veggie version)
Flat :
- Wild boar stew with hippocras (medieval wine)
Served with seasonal vegetables and semolina.
Dessert:
- Dried fruit compote, roasted almonds and apricot-rosemary jam

Menu enfants :
Starter: Three-grain tabbouleh base with raisins and pine nuts (veggie version)
Dish: Chicken without sauce or with sauce served on the side
Dessert: lemon or raspberry sorbet served with a galette

21:30 pm: Vidofmir – music and fire show (15 min)
22 p.m.: Fire Show – Pirate (Lost)
23 p.m.: Fireworks
Town Hall Square:
11am, 14:30pm and 16:30pm: Méliador Show (15 min)
Drouille Park:
11:00 am: Vidofmir for music and combat (Companions of Guilhempierre, Knights of St. John, Knights of the Golden and Iron Hands, Mannaheim, Knight of St. Julian the Mountaineer)
13:30 pm: Companions of St. John – Vengeance Scene (30 min)
14 p.m.: Clan Clan – Celtic music (15 min)
14:30 PM: Combat demonstrations
15:30 pm: JFG Production – traditional Provençal and Celtic music (30 min)
16:30 p.m. to 17:30 p.m.: Hérakiel – Juggling and fire show (10 min) and Laet la Compagnie des Boulégans – Music, juggling, and dance show (30 min)
18 p.m. to 19 p.m. - Continuation of the scenario: The Black Madonna has been found. Procession starting from Drouille Park, along Avenue Jean Giono, Rue Grande, and ending at the Town Hall Square.
The four warriors carry the Black Madonna and present it to the Mayor. Father Christophe Disdier-Charve blesses it, and it is returned to its place in the Romigier church.


Sunday June 7, 2026:
9 a.m. - Wake-up call for companies
10:00 AM - Troops will parade through the city center (Departure from CGR - Soubeyran – Place Marcel Pagnol - Town Hall – Guilhempierre – Rue Grande - Saunerie - Av. Jean Giono – end and dispersal)
11 a.m. - Concert by JFG Production in the church of Romigier – Exhibition in the church of black virgins.
11am to 17pm: Opening of the camps, activities, combat, archery, camp life, skits, troubadours, beggars, dances, music, historical lectures, crafts, merchants, exhibitors...)
Place du Terreau:
11 a.m.: "Grand Tournament" Fights (Lost – Helvie – Fréki-Guéri)
14 p.m.: Ball and dances with music (Lei Rampelaine de Dauphin and Rode Osco Manosco)
16 p.m.: Children's Arena (Lost of bygone days)
5:00 PM – 5:15 PM: All the musicians arrive from Drouille for the closing of the Terreau.
17 p.m. – Camps and shops close for tidying up.
Town Hall Square:
11am, 14:30pm and 16:30pm: Méliador Show (15 min)
Drouille Park:
11 a.m.: Fighting…?
11:30 am: Ball and dances with music (Lei Rampelaine de Dauphin and Rode Osco Manosco)
14 p.m.: Candy catapult (Knights of St. John)
15 p.m.: Combat demonstration (Companions of Guilhempierre, Knights of St. John, Knights of the Golden and Iron Hands, Mannaheim, Knight of St. Julian the Mountaineer)
16 p.m.: Music by JFG Production - Herakiel – Juggling and fire show – Compagnie des Boulégans, Vidofmir, Clan-Clan…
16:30 pm: All the musicians on Drouille leave towards Terreau for closing time.
Note that during these two days there will be activities throughout the city: Place du cinéma CGR (life camp), Place Marcel Pagnol (workshops), Place des marchands (The Enchanted Forest), Rue Guilhempierre (wooden games), Place des Observantins (Music and dances), Hôtel d'Herbès (tales and stories), Place St Sauveur (sword of excalibur and the knights of the round table), Promenade Aubert Millot and Place du Dr Joubert (shopkeepers), Allée des Marronniers (animals) and medieval taverns.
17 p.m. – Camps and shops close for tidying up.