The historic event Biot and the Templars 2012 promises many festive and cultural surprises once again this year. On March 30th, 31st, and April 1st, Biot is set to live to the rhythm of the Middle Ages during three exceptional days. Under the theme of medieval fortifications, life-size siege weapons, construction materials, craftsmen, knights, and commoners will take over the Templar City.
Biot and the Templars 2012 is more than ever affirming its openness to Europe. This year, the French, Italian, and German Templar troops are joined by their Spanish and Czech cousins.
In the image of the commanderies present in the West in the 13th century, they will set up their camps in the city center to relive the time of the Crusades over the weekend.
Spectacular performances are also on the agenda. The sound and light pyro show of the City returns.
Following “The Legend of the Templars,” an original scenario “The Attack of the Fortifications,” specially designed for the event, will kick off the festivities. For the first time, the show will be followed by an equestrian staging.
Medieval chivalry and falconry shows, combat reenactments, parades, and street performances will delight young and old alike in an incredibly convincing medieval setting!
This 4th edition will once again offer a quality program, true to history and entirely free.
Throughout the Event
Camps of French, German, Spanish, and Czech Templars, commoners, and a Berber camp will be installed in the city for total immersion in the Middle Ages. Troubadours, jugglers, and musicians will roam around, with demonstrations and workshops also animating the Biot streets.
HISTORIC CENTER STREETS
– Costume Rental, Associations Hall, from March 29 to April 2.
During the event, the Costume Trunk will hold a medieval costume rental stand. The public is encouraged to dress up to fully partake in the festivities.
– Historical reenactment with the troops and participation of the White Knights of Biot
– The Medieval Children’s City in the historic center.
Beyond the highly anticipated Templar Treasure Hunt for children, these two celebration days will provide opportunities to try out proposed activities: archery tournaments, fire shows, bread-making workshops at the Communal Oven Émile Cheval, magic tales, and 20 giant medieval wooden games will test everyone’s skill and courage. Enriching recreational moments to share with friends!
– Parades, street shows, and scenes from medieval life in the historic center streets.
Dancers, musicians, jugglers, and troubadours will draw the public into the dance. The troops will mingle with the crowd to immerse visitors in medieval life.
– Demonstrations of ancient artisanal know-how
Workshops of artisans from various crafts will take over the streets. They will carve stone, melt metals, mint coins, turn jugs and pitchers, grind grain and bake bread, illuminate manuscripts, and blow glass.
– Heraldic crest and seal making workshop by the Alpes-Maritimes General Council, every hour for those over 6, at Place de l’Église.
– Medieval constructions by the Medieval Builders, Place de l’Église and Place des Arcades.
– Presentation of works on medieval themes and book signings (in partnership with Comic Strips Café), George Sand municipal library.
– 13th-century archives exhibition, Biot History and Ceramics Museum.
MISTRAL CAMP
Initiation to medieval archery, by the Malvan Archers.
Medieval and sorcery camp.
CATASTROPHE CAMP
Medieval canteen by Les Délices d’Ugernum.
TOURIST OFFICE
Artistic blacksmithing workshop in heraldry.
Genealogy workshop by the Genealogical Association of the Alpes-Maritimes.
Exhibition of artists Francis Gaudichet, Valerio Paltenghi, and Sophie Fuchs and signing of their works on the Templars theme.
Exhibition by Biot Cine Photo Club.
EQUESTRIAN CAMP OF FONTANETTE
Tournaments of chivalry and combat reenactments
No one shall separate horse and knight, and historically, the horse is at the center of the Templar seal as its emblematic element. During the event, squires and knights will practice equestrian art, skill games, and friendly tournaments: grand equestrian spectaculars in perspective.
Medieval Falconry: high-flying shows!
Like a medieval ballet, a dozen of sharp-clawed raptors will dive vertiginously on the astonished visitor who will also learn to better appreciate and be moved by so much mixed power and beauty. These high-flying shows will leave many amazed!
Life-size siege weapons
Two armored soldiers, helped by the public and especially by children, will operate a collection of siege machines.
Medieval Tavern
Tavern keepers of old will serve, throughout the day, homemade gingerbread and nougat, as well as a good soup or pot cooked over a wooden fire and some brew.
ROUTE DE LA MER
Medieval market at the city gates, Route de la Mer.
Mead, herbalism, leather and silver jewelry, shields, swords, vintage footwear, medieval dishes. Over 50 exhibitors have been selected for the quality of their work, to be discovered in this nearly authentic market: colorful, fragrant, and lively.
TORCHLIGHT PARADE IN PERIOD COSTUME
Guided by the light of timeless torches, the costumed procession, led by all the troops, solemnly winds through the streets of the City to lead visitors to the festivities. In the prelude to the party, Friday, March 30th, the torchlight parade will enchant spectators.
PYROTECHNIC SOUND AND LIGHT ILLUMINATION OF THE CITY
The torches softly go out, and spectators take their seats on the stands, under the muffled thunder of the Templar drums, ready to enter their stronghold of Buzot. At the dawn of the 13th century, the Knights of the Temple write a new page in Biot’s History, and nothing can equal this exceptional staging of the City in images and music to bring the ramparts, towers, and belfries of these incredibly preserved places to life, for the space of a fantastic show. This year, “The Legend of the Templars” continues with “The Attack of the Fortifications.”
LIFE AROUND THE CAMPS AND TAVERNS
Knight camps, but also troubadours, storytellers and musicians, demonstrations, conferences, animations, and workshops for both children and adults so that everyone leaves dazzled by these unforgettable moments spent in Biot.
For the festivities to continue on the evening of Saturday, March 31st: room will be made for joviality to carry on the celebrations around a gigantic bonfire animated by the magical spirit of medieval companies inviting the public to dance.
A CULTURAL EVENT: “Medieval Fortifications”
The 2012 edition of the historical Biot and the Templars event builds on a high-quality cultural program.
Beyond the visual reenactment of 13th-century life, the Town of Biot aims to enable visitors of all ages to gain real knowledge of the medieval era through conferences, exhibitions of archives and artworks, presentations of works on the Middle Ages, demonstrations of expertise that shaped our environment, and guided tours to discover Biot’s heritage.
BUILDERS’ WORKSHOP OF YORE
In the Middle Ages, fortification is an international phenomenon largely due to the Crusades around the Mediterranean, which punctuate the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries. The current state of preservation of fortresses testifies to the fantastic capabilities and know-how of these stonemasons, blacksmiths, carpenters, potters, illuminators, stained glass makers, and early glassmakers. Many castles of this time were built in a few years thanks to ingenious techniques. Therefore, it was possible to bring the material from its natural environment to its installation environment simply with a dozen tools, such as the golden ratio or the squirrel cage.
Several specialized conferences on medieval construction, as well as a builders’ site, will enrich our knowledge of medieval architecture for 3 days. Workshops, anvils, and period scaffolding will be installed at Place des Arcades and Place de l’Église for demonstrations and initiations into these ancient techniques. The 10-meter-high squirrel cage will no longer hold secrets for the audience who will see, before their eyes, a rope technician climb the walls using leg harnesses and a knotted cord.
FUNCTIONING OF LIFE-SIZE SIEGE WEAPONS
From the 11th century, strongholds multiply in medieval Western Europe. Sieges then become more common than pitched battles, and logically, sophisticated war machines develop. Trebuchet, mangonel, bricole, siege crossbow, or stone-thrower; many will be surprised by the names of these machines, their size, and their sophistication.
A medieval camp at the foot of Biot’s walls will recreate a medieval assault. Two soldiers, helped by the public, will operate a collection of siege machines such as the 6-meter-high wheel trebuchet, the stone-thrower, or the mangonel.
CONFERENCES
In the Marriage Hall, interventions by researchers in medieval history and specialists in Biot’s history will allow visitors to deepen their knowledge on the Templar theme. Three quality conferences will thus be scheduled to try to unravel the mystery of the Knights of the Temple and their era.
Saturday, March 31:
– 10:30 AM: Conference “Templars and Hospitallers in Eastern Provence from the 12th to the 14th century” by Karime Haoui.
– 6 PM: Conference “Medieval measurements and construction techniques,” by Pascal Waringo.
Sunday, April 1:
– 2 PM: Conference “Templar Architecture, pragmatism and/or symbolism,” by Maurice Morena.
ARTISTS AND CRAFTSMEN OF YORE
With over 250 artists and craftsmen, performing in a fully recreated 13th-century medieval decor, discoveries will be numerous.
In addition to the various knight camps, the installation of workshops of artisans from all trades will be spread across the historic center streets. In front of the visitors, they will carve stone, melt metals, mint coins, turn jugs and pitchers, grind grain and bake bread, illuminate our manuscripts, create seals and shields, and blow glass!
