Who are we ?
Who are we ?
Our association was created in 1999, with the aim of bringing together the inhabitants of Crèvecœur-le-Grand and its surroundings in a project combining historical ambition and strong conviviality.
François 1er stopped at Crèvecœur-le-Grand in 1520, on his way to the famous Cloth of Gold camp where he met Henry VIII. We bring this passage of history to life through original shows, combining dances, fights and theater during dinner shows and also the occasion of a great popular festival which allow you to discover the Middle Ages and the Renaissance thanks to numerous activities for young and old, arts and crafts and numerous performance troupes historical.
HISTORICAL
1994 – On the initiative of Pierre VARLET, mayor of CREVECOEUR LE GRAND, the town organizes the first FRANÇOIS 1ER FESTIVITIES, thus commemorating the 500th anniversary of the birth of François 1er. These festivals will be organized every two years. 1999 – After three editions of the Fêtes François 1er, the municipality proposes to delegate the organization of this event to an association. The François 1er association was born in December 1999 and its president and founder is Paul-Henri BONTE 2000 – The François 1er association organizes the now traditional François 1er celebrations and creates a new original show: Les RIPAILLES A LA COUR DU ROY. This dinner-show combining theatre, dance and humor will take place every year. 2002 – Cécile LESTIENNE becomes president of the association, which has 35 members 2005 – The association joins the FFFSH (French Federation of Historical Festivals and Shows). This federation, which brings together more than 80 associations, promotes the sharing of experience and offers a quality approach to help associations progress in their organization. 2006 – To diversify the activities offered to volunteers and reach a wider audience, the association offers for the first time an outdoor sound and light show, in front of the castle, created and staged by Dominique MARTENS: L’éveil de la Salamandre . This show tells the story of Crèvecoeur le Grand in a romantic way. 250 volunteers take part. It will be played in even years until 2012. 2008 – The association multiplies the activities outside Crèvecoeur le Grand, financed exclusively by the guests and the volunteers themselves. In 2008, the high point was the participation in the celebrations of the 400th anniversary of the founding of the city of Quebec (Canada) in which 40 volunteers from Crèvecoeur le Grand took part. 2011 – Georges BESSE becomes president of the association 2018 – Karine MAGNIEZ becomes president of the association, which has 130 members
The activities of the association are now
• The François 1er Festival (end of April): medieval festival for the whole family, with activities targeting ancient skills and for children • Revelry at the Cour du Roy (end of September and beginning of October): Dinner show • Activities medieval and renaissance at the invitation of other events in France and sometimes abroad • Outings to discover other shows and historical events
Discover them in pictures
CREVECOEUR-LE-GRAND and François 1er
From childhood, François 1er is friends with Guillaume de Bonnivet, lord of Crèvecoeur le Grand. Bonnivet will later become military adviser to King François 1er and will accompany him in the Italian campaign where he will find death in 1525. In June 1520, François 1er tries to forge an alliance with Henry VIII, King of England, to counter the rise in power of Charles QUINT. The kings agree on an interview near Calais, which will go down in history as the "Interview of the Camp of the Cloth of Gold" because it was particularly lavish, each king wanting to impress the other. On the road from Calais, François 1er stays in Crèvecoeur le Grand where he is received by his friend Guillaume de Bonnivet. The castle of Crèvecoeur le Grand, which now houses the town hall, is marked by this passage and we can observe a representation of François 1er on the pediment from the entrance to the castle and admire the very beautiful François 1er room (in which the king stayed). the scenarios of our shows. The emblem of François 1er is the salamander, which was taken up in the logo of our association. The motto associated by François 1er evoked the salamander and the fire which are represented there "I feed on it and I turn it off” (in Latin “Nutrisco and extinguishing")
FOODS AT THE COUR DU ROY
Indoor dinner-show Total duration: more than 3 hours Principle: The guests spend an original evening in the village hall, transformed for the occasion into a 16th century chateau hall. The evening is organized in alternating moments dedicated to the meal (served by volunteers) and moments dedicated to the show (5 parts). Thus, while attending an original show, the guests also have time to enjoy the meal in a friendly atmosphere. The show takes place on stage and in the hall. The guests are therefore very close to the actors and take full advantage of the show played live in front of them. About 100 volunteers participate in the organization of this show (on stage or behind the scenes). Dominique MARTENS has been directing and developing the script since 2007. The script is completely renewed every two years, but it is always articulated around François 1er and the rebirth, a romantic story, and a very large dose of humor. The show mixes theatre, court dances and peasant dances, scenes or dances performed by children. Most of the music is interpreted live by a musical group that accompanies the dances or punctuates the theater scenes. There are very few shows comparable to this one in France, which explains the success of Les Ripailles with an increasingly distant audience (several hundred kilometers for certain groups of spectators coming by bus) In 2019, the scenario is titled "Les diamants du Roy" and relates in a humorous way the confrontation between the lord of Roberval (Oise) and the navigator Jacques CARTIER for the conquest of CANADA with, of course, part of the action located in Crèvecoeur on Big.
FRANÇOIS I FESTIVITIES
Outdoor medieval festival, at the end of April, around the castle of Crèvecoeur le GrandPrincipe: During one or two days depending on the year, the public comes to admire troupes of professional or voluntary artists, performing animations in a theme medieval, discover ancient know-how. The François 1st festivals will aim to reach a very wide audience through a very family event, accessible to as many people as possible (entrance fee to the site very low, giving access to all the activities). In this, they perpetuate the initial desire that prevailed when they were created by the municipality in 1994. The range of activities offered to the public is very wide, with very particular attention paid to activities for children: initiation to chivalry, woodworking for children…• Medieval camp and demonstrations of archery, crossbows, cooking and herbalism, surgery, calligraphy…• Medieval craftsmen: basket maker, potter, cooper, glassblower, woodworking wood, leatherwork, embroidery…• Tales for children• Initiation to ancient dances• Musical entertainment and dance troupes• Juggling• Fire show on Saturday evening• …
THE EXITS
Our association also aims to promote Crèvecoeur le Grand in France and sometimes outside France. Outings are also an opportunity to bring volunteers together on a trip during which ties are strengthened, in a fairly festive atmosphere. Indeed, during outings, they are relieved of the pressure of the organization, and can give free rein to the show and the activities which allow them to meet the public, but also other associations or entertainment groups. The principle of these outings is simple: they are mainly financed by the guests (accommodation, food, and often a good part of the transport). The volunteers who participate directly finance the rest of the budget, which is often modest. During these outings, the association mainly offers street entertainment (dances, songs, skits, frozen) and is often part of a big parade. Meetings with other troops are all opportunities for friendly moments and improvised entertainment.
THE FFFSH
The French Federation of Historical Festivals and Shows brings together around a hundred associations organizing historical events throughout France. Their goal is to promote festivals and historical shows throughout France and also to help member associations by representing them with national authorities. The FFFSH promotes meetings between associations, which makes it possible to answer questions from each other through the experience of others, and also to create friendly links between their members. A member of the François 1er association (Georges BESSE) is vice- president of the FFFSH in 2019. The FFFSH also aims to raise the quality of the events organized, with the aim of better welcoming the public. For this, it has set up a QUALITY approach aimed at pulling each association upwards, by ever more rigor in the organization. The François 1er association joined the FFFSH in 2006 and immediately got involved in quality approach. Since then, and every year, our efforts have been rewarded with the FFFSH QUALITY LABEL.
They support us
