--- title: "Augustodunum, spectacle historique d’Autun 2027: dates, programme & getting there" description: "A night-time pageant of Autun's two thousand years, staged by volunteers in the ruins of the Roman theatre." url: https://www.cote-privee.com/events/augustodunum-spectacle-historique-autun lang: en updated: 2026-10-02 generated: 2026-10-09 image: https://www.cote-privee.com/og/events/augustodunum-spectacle-historique-autun.png --- # Augustodunum, spectacle historique d’Autun > 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. 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. ## Key facts - Type: Culture - Autun - 47 min from Beaune - When: Around eight evenings from late July to early August, starting at 10pm. The 2027 dates are not announced yet. - Venue: [Roman Theatre of Autun](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/theatre-romain-autun) - Entry: Paid or by invitation - Organised by: [Association Spectacle Historique d’Autun](https://augustodunum.fr/) - Where: Autun · Saône-et-Loire - Location: 40 km west of Beaune · Saône-et-Loire - Coordinates: 46.9531, 4.3102 - From Beaune: ≈ 47 min · 53 km - €165 one way from Beaune with a [private driver](https://www.cote-privee.com/private-driver) ## 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. ## 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. ## 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. ## 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. ## Around Augustodunum, spectacle historique d’Autun What to combine with Augustodunum, spectacle historique d’Autun on the same day, nearest first. ### Other events in July 2027 - **Runs Thursday 6 May – Saturday 31 July 2027** · [Mois des Climats](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/mois-des-climats): A festival of visits, walks and tastings celebrating Burgundy's UNESCO-listed Climats. (Culture · Beaune and the Côte-d'Or vineyards) - **Runs Tuesday 25 May – Tuesday 31 August 2027** · [Les Vin’dredis de la Halle](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/vindredis-halle-chambertin): Summer Friday tastings and gourmet evenings at the Halle Chambertin in Gevrey. (Wine festival · Gevrey-Chambertin) - **Runs Sunday 6 June – Thursday 30 September 2027** · [Lumières à Beaune](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/lumieres-a-beaune): Light projections on Beaune's landmarks, every evening in summer and from the Vente des Vins to early January. (Culture · Beaune) - **Runs Wednesday 16 June – Saturday 31 July 2027** · [Le Parcours des Tréteaux](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/parcours-des-treteaux-pernand-vergelesses): A theatrical tasting walk through Pernand-Vergelesses, with six food and wine stops. (Culture · Pernand-Vergelesses) - **Runs Thursday 24 June – Tuesday 31 August 2027** · [L’Été Frappé](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/l-ete-frappe-macon): A free summer-long festival of concerts and shows in the streets and parks of Mâcon. (Music · Mâcon) - **Runs Friday 25 June – Thursday 30 September 2027** · [Le Brunch des Halles](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/brunch-des-halles-dijon): Summer Sunday brunches cooked by local chefs under Dijon's iron market hall. (Food & markets · Dijon) ### Nearby - **One day in mid-December, as one of four Glorieuses; Louhans held its contest on 13 December 2025.** · [Les Glorieuses de Bresse à Louhans](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/glorieuses-de-bresse-louhans): Burgundy's side of the great December poultry contests, where the finest Bresse capons are judged and sold. (Food & markets · Louhans) ### Villages - [Maranges](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/maranges) (27 km away): Three villages on the last slopes of the Côte de Beaune, sharing one appellation for bright, fruity reds. - [Santenay](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/santenay) (30 km away): Spa town and wine village near the southern end of the Côte de Beaune, known for its reds. ### Châteaux - [Château de Sully](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-sully) (14 km away): A moated Renaissance château where Marshal Mac-Mahon was born, still home to his family. - [Château de Morlet](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-morlet) (15 km away): A fortified manor near Épinac with a striking Renaissance gatehouse of 1584. - [Château d’Épinac](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-d-epinac) (16 km away): Nicolas Rolin's castle above the Drée valley, which gave its name to the town of Épinac. ### Things to do - [Roman Theatre of Autun (Théâtre romain d’Autun)](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/theatre-romain-autun), 1 km away: One of the largest theatres of Roman Gaul, still used for performances on summer nights. - [Porte Saint-André](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/porte-saint-andre-autun) (1 km away): The best-preserved Roman gate of Autun, with its arcaded gallery and a tower that is now a Protestant church. - [Couhard Stone (Pierre de Couhard)](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/pierre-de-couhard-autun), 1 km away: A mysterious Roman pyramid on the hillside above Autun, with a wide view over the town. ## Questions about Augustodunum, spectacle historique d’Autun ### When is Augustodunum, spectacle historique d’Autun 2027? 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. ### Where does Augustodunum, spectacle historique d’Autun take place? Augustodunum, spectacle historique d’Autun takes place in Autun (Saône-et-Loire), at Roman Theatre of Autun. ### Is Augustodunum, spectacle historique d’Autun free to attend? No, Augustodunum, spectacle historique d’Autun is not free: you need a ticket or an invitation. Check the official website for prices and booking. ### How do you get to Augustodunum, spectacle historique d’Autun from Beaune? Autun is about 47 min from Beaune by road (53 km). The easiest way is a private driver: from €165 for the whole car, up to 4 guests, with no parking to find and nobody at the wheel after a glass of wine. ### Can we book a private driver for Augustodunum, spectacle historique d’Autun? Yes. Your driver collects you in Beaune or at your hotel in an electric Polestar 2 (up to 4 guests), waits while you enjoy Augustodunum, spectacle historique d’Autun and drives you back. For the busiest weekends, book a few weeks ahead. → [Private driver from Beaune](https://www.cote-privee.com/private-driver) ## Book - [Book a driver](https://www.cote-privee.com/book?service=driver&place=sight:autuntheatre): No parking to find, no one left as the designated driver: everyone enjoys a glass. Your driver waits and drives you back: no parking to find, and everyone can enjoy a glass. ## Sources - - [The full events calendar](https://www.cote-privee.com/events) --- Canonical page: