Augustodunum, spectacle historique d’Autun
A night-time pageant of Autun's two thousand years, staged by volunteers in the ruins of the Roman theatre.
- Culture
- Autun
- 47 min from Beaune
€165one way from Beaune with a private driver
Book a driver
At a glance
- Entry
- Paid or by invitation
- Organised by
- Association Spectacle Historique d’Autun
Getting there
Private driver from Beaune: 47 min by road (53 km), €165 one way for the whole car.
Coming by train or plane? Transfers from stations and airports →
About the event
Augustodunum is Autun's great summer son et lumière, performed in the ruins of the Roman theatre. A large costumed cast, horses, hundreds of lights and fireworks carry the audience from Roman Autun to the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
What to expect
The evening moves from peasants and notables of 1521 back to Roman Augustodunum, with chariot races, dances and gladiators, through the fears and fires of the Middle Ages, to a chivalric tournament in the king's honour and a closing firework display over the theatre.
History
The current production, Le Rêve du Roi, is directed by Jean-Claude Baudoin and Pauline Rippinger with a script by Michaël Guijo, and tells the story of Autun through the visit of King Francis I in 1521. Earlier seasons were supported by Stéphane Bern and Jacques Legros; in 2026 the writer and actor Lorànt Deutsch became the show's patron and lends it his voice.
Good to know
Tips for the day
Book online; volunteers seat the audience in order of arrival from 8pm. The stone terraces are hard, so bring a cushion, and a layer for the night air. Roads around the theatre close from 7pm; a driver who drops you at the barrier and meets you after the fireworks avoids the scramble for parking. Autun is under an hour from Beaune.
Around here
What to combine with Augustodunum, spectacle historique d’Autun on the same day, nearest first.
- Culture
Mois des Climats
Each year over several weeks in late spring and early summer, usually ending in early JulyBeaune - Wine festival
Les Vin’dredis de la Halle
Friday evenings through the summer, from late MayGevrey-Chambertin - Culture
Lumières à Beaune
Every evening from late June to late September, and from the Vente des Vins weekend in November to early JanuaryBeaune
- Food & markets
Les Glorieuses de Bresse à Louhans
One day in mid-December, as one of four GlorieusesLouhans
Questions
The 2027 dates of Augustodunum, spectacle historique d’Autun have not been announced yet. Usual timing: around eight evenings from late July to early August, starting at 10pm; in 2026, from 24 July to 8 August.. The organiser publishes them on augustodunum.fr.
Did you know? The 2026 production stages the arrival of King Francis I in Autun in August 1521 and his visit to the ruins of the ancient city.
Sources
A private driver for the day
No parking to find, no one left as the designated driver: everyone enjoys a glass.