--- title: "Rues Barrées 2027: dates, programme & getting there" description: "A long weekend in late August, Auxerre. Three days of free street theatre, circus and dance in the old streets of Auxerre." url: https://www.cote-privee.com/events/rues-barrees-auxerre lang: en updated: 2026-10-01 generated: 2026-10-09 image: https://www.cote-privee.com/og/events/rues-barrees-auxerre.png --- # Rues Barrées > Rues Barrées: Three days of free street theatre, circus and dance in the old streets of Auxerre. For three days each August, Auxerre turns its old centre into an open-air stage for Rues Barrées, a festival of street arts. Around twenty companies give some fifty free performances, from circus and juggling to clowning, dance and aerial acrobatics. ## Key facts - Type: Culture - Auxerre - 1 h 51 from Beaune - Free entry - When: A long weekend in late August. The 2027 dates are not announced yet. - Venue: [Auxerre Old Town and Clock Tower](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/auxerre-old-town) - Entry: Free - Organised by: [Ville d’Auxerre](https://www.auxerre.fr/) - Official website: [auxerre.fr](https://www.auxerre.fr/rues-barrees) - Where: Auxerre · Yonne - Location: 130 km north-west of Beaune · Yonne - Coordinates: 47.7959, 3.5699 - From Beaune: ≈ 1 h 51 · 167 km - €415 one way from Beaune with a [private driver](https://www.cote-privee.com/private-driver) - Add the vineyards: our [long-day wine tour, €880](https://www.cote-privee.com/wine-tours/long-day). ## History Rues Barrées is organised by the city of Auxerre. Its 9th edition, from 21 to 23 August 2026, brought 20 companies from France, Spain, Korea and South Africa for 53 performances. Alongside the visiting artists, the festival gives a place to the people of Auxerre: in 2026 residents took part in a project led by the company La Main de l'Homme. ## What to expect Shows take place in about ten spots around the town centre, and many are roving performances that move through the streets, so you come across them as you walk. The festival opens with a show on the Friday evening and ends with a large finale on the Sunday. Some performances are made for young children, from the age of five. ## Tips for the day Every performance is free and needs no booking. The programme with times is available from the tourist office in early July. Auxerre is about 1 hour 45 minutes from Beaune; a driver can drop you at the edge of the pedestrian centre and meet you after the finale, and a tasting in Chablis or Saint-Bris fits easily into the same day. ## Did you know? The 2026 edition brought companies to Auxerre from as far away as Korea and South Africa. ## Around Rues Barrées What to combine with Rues Barrées on the same day, nearest first. ### Other events in August 2027 - **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 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) - **Runs Tuesday 6 July – Tuesday 31 August 2027** · [Montréal en Lumière](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/montreal-en-lumiere): A night-time walk through the history of a medieval hill village, told by some sixty costumed performers. (Culture · Montréal) - **Runs Monday 19 July – Tuesday 31 August 2027** · [Les Grandes Heures de Cluny](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/grandes-heures-de-cluny): A summer festival of classical music in Cluny's churches, with a wine tasting after each concert. (Music · Cluny) ### Nearby - **Saturday 29 – Sunday 30 May 2027 (Confirmed by the organiser)** · [Fleurs de Vigne](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/fleurs-de-vigne-auxerre): The wine festival of the Yonne, held on the Auxerre quays as the vines come into flower. (Wine festival · Auxerre) - **The weekend before Christmas.** · [Marché du Réveillon](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/marche-du-reveillon-saint-bris-le-vineux): A Christmas food market held in the medieval cellars beneath Saint-Bris-le-Vineux. (Christmas · Saint-Bris-le-Vineux) - **A weekend in January, close to the feast of Saint Vincent on 22 January.** · [Saint-Vincent de Chitry](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/saint-vincent-de-chitry): Chitry honours Saint Vincent with a parade, mulled wine for all and a Sunday of tastings. (Tradition · Chitry) - **The last weekend of January, on the Saturday.** · [Saint-Vincent de Coulanges-la-Vineuse](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/saint-vincent-de-coulanges-la-vineuse): A village feast for the patron saint of wine growers, with a parade, mulled wine and the new vintage. (Tradition · Coulanges-la-Vineuse) - **A weekend in mid-April.** · [Course de côte d’Irancy](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/course-de-cote-d-irancy): A motor-racing hill climb on the road out of Irancy, held while the cherry trees are in blossom. (Sport · Irancy) - **Wednesday 21 – Sunday 25 July 2027 (Confirmed by the organiser)** · [Notes d’été à Irancy](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/notes-d-ete-a-irancy): A summer music festival in the church of Irancy, the red wine village of the Yonne. (Music · Irancy) ### Villages - [Saint-Bris](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/saint-bris) (8 km away): Burgundy's Sauvignon village, built over a maze of medieval cellars. - [Irancy](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/irancy) (12 km away): The red wine village of the Yonne, set in a bowl of vines and cherry trees. - [Chablis](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/chablis) (17 km away): Burgundy's northern outpost, where Chardonnay grows on fossil-rich limestone above the river Serein. ### Châteaux - [Château de Maligny](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-maligny) (16 km away): A castle above the Serein north of Chablis, whose name lives on in the Durup family's wines. - [Château Long-Depaquit](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-long-depaquit) (17 km away): An 18th-century château in the heart of Chablis, home of the grand cru La Moutonne. - [Château de Béru](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-beru) (24 km away): A family château above the Chablis vineyards, with a rare sundial and moon dial, and biodynamic wines. ### Things to do - [Auxerre Old Town and Clock Tower (Auxerre, tour de l’Horloge et vieille ville)](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/auxerre-old-town), 1 km away: Half-timbered streets, a medieval clock that tracks the moon, and church spires above the river Yonne. - [Église Saint-Eusèbe d’Auxerre](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/eglise-saint-eusebe-auxerre) (1 km away): A church on the site of a 7th-century monastery, with a Romanesque bell tower and a bright Renaissance choir of stained glass. - [Saint-Étienne Cathedral, Auxerre (Cathédrale Saint-Étienne d’Auxerre)](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/cathedrale-saint-etienne-auxerre), 1 km away: A Gothic cathedral above the Yonne, with 13th-century glass and a rare painting of Christ on horseback. ## Questions about Rues Barrées ### When is Rues Barrées 2027? The 2027 dates of Rues Barrées have not been announced yet. Usual timing: A long weekend in late August.. The organiser publishes them on auxerre.fr. ### Where does Rues Barrées take place? Rues Barrées takes place in Auxerre (Yonne), at Auxerre Old Town and Clock Tower. ### Is Rues Barrées free to attend? Yes, entry to Rues Barrées is free. ### How do you get to Rues Barrées from Beaune? Auxerre is about 1 h 51 from Beaune by road (167 km). The easiest way is a private driver: from €415 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 Rues Barrées? Yes. Your driver collects you in Beaune or at your hotel in an electric Polestar 2 (up to 4 guests), waits while you enjoy Rues Barrées and drives you back. For the busiest weekends, book a few weeks ahead. → [Long-day wine tour, €880](https://www.cote-privee.com/wine-tours/long-day) ## Book - [Book a driver](https://www.cote-privee.com/book?service=wine-tour&place=village:stbris): 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: