Montréal en Lumière
A night-time walk through the history of a medieval hill village, told by some sixty costumed performers.
- Culture
- Montréal
- 1 h 19 from Beaune
- Free entry
€285one way from Beaune with a private driver
Book a driverAt a glance
- Entry
- Free
- Official website
- montreal89.com
Getting there
Private driver from Beaune: 1 h 19 by road (109 km), €285 one way for the whole car.
Coming by train or plane? Transfers from stations and airports →
About the event
On a few summer evenings the hilltop village of Montréal, near Avallon, becomes the stage for Montréal en Lumière, a historical street show. Around sixty costumed performers bring the story of this small medieval town to life in five living tableaux, and the audience follows them through the lanes. The shows are free.
What to expect
The performance starts at 9 pm and moves through the village from one tableau to the next as night falls. Entertainment begins at 7.45 pm, food is served from 7 pm and a bar stays open after the show, so the evening becomes a small village fête.
History
The show was born in February 2006, when people attached to Montréal and its surroundings set up an association to stage a sound and light spectacle in the village streets and to keep it going year after year.
Twenty years later it is still running on the same spirit: in 2026 there were four performances, on 24 and 25 July and on 1 and 2 August.
Good to know
Tips for the day
Park at the entrance to the village, on the right when arriving from Avallon, as Montréal is explored on foot. Bring a light jacket for the late evening. Montréal is about 1 hour 15 minutes from Beaune; with a driver there is no need to find the car park in the dark after the show.
Around here
What to combine with Montréal en Lumière 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
- Tradition
Fête de la Bague
The race is run every 31 May, whatever the day of the week, amid about ten days of festivities in late May and early JuneSemur-en-Auxois - Tradition
Pèlerinage de sainte Marie-Madeleine
Every year on 22 July, the feast of Mary MagdaleneVézelay
Questions
The 2027 dates of Montréal en Lumière have not been announced yet. Usual timing: Two weekends in late July and early August, at nightfall.. The organiser publishes them on montreal89.com.
Did you know? The show is staged entirely by a local association, founded in 2006 for the purpose by residents of Montréal and its surroundings.
Sources
A private driver for the day
No parking to find, no one left as the designated driver: everyone enjoys a glass.