Martel

From July 1, 2026 to Sept. 30, 2026

Atelier de Florence - Atelier "Dessine ton personnage"

L'atelier de Florence, as part of its summer courses, offers a workshop open to anyone over the age of 7 to learn how to draw a character. Materials supplied Registration required Places limited

Next dates:

• From 07/01/2026 to 09/30/2026
  Open every day
• From 07/01/2026 to 09/30/2026
  Open every day

From Sept. 5, 2026 to Oct. 31, 2026

Escape game - Mission étoile du nord

Plunge into the heart of the 1980s, in the midst of an espionage affair, in a Trans Europ Express restaurant car, nicknamed the Etoile du Nord, which linked Paris to Amsterdam via Brussels

Plunge into the heart of the 1980s, in the midst of an espionage affair, in a Trans Europ Express restaurant car, nicknamed the North Star, which linked Paris to Amsterdam via Brussels. Players have one hour to complete their mission and save the world from a secret and malevolent international organization.

Next dates:

• From 09/05/2026 to 10/31/2026

From Sept. 7, 2026 to Sept. 13, 2026

Exposition - sublime les flammes, topographies du feu intérieur

This exhibition is an extension of " Sublime les flammes " presented at Cressensac

This exhibition is an extension of " Sublime les flammes " presented at Cressensac. The gallery will feature works by artists invited to participate in this exhibition: videos, photos, installations, etc.

Next dates:

• From 09/07/2026 to 09/13/2026
  Open every day
• From 09/07/2026 to 09/13/2026
  Open every day

From Sept. 11, 2026 to Sept. 13, 2026

Lectures - Festival du livre du Haut Quercy

A faithful fixture since 2018: LECTURES—the Haut-Quercy Book Festival—returns in September

A staple of the local calendar since 2018, “LECTURES—Haut Quercy Book Festival” returns in September. Literature lovers will have the chance to meet six authors for public readings performed by professional actors in magnificent locations in Martel and the surrounding area. As a bonus: meet-and-greets, book signings, a roundtable discussion,

a literary picnic... will punctuate these three days, dedicated to talent, beauty, and sharing

An event organized by the association Désirs de Livres

Next dates:

• 09/11/2026
• 09/12/2026
• 09/13/2026

The Sept. 11, 2026

Festival du livre du Haut Quercy -Rencontre avec Emmanuelle de Boysson autour de Tendre Maroc

A meeting with Emmanuelle de Boysson will kick off the 9th edition of LECTURES, the Haut Quercy book festival, on Friday, September 11, at La Raymondie in Martel

A meeting with Emmanuelle de Boysson will kick off the 9th edition of LECTURES, the Haut Quercy book festival, on Friday, September 11, at La Raymondie in Martel. Her novel *Tendre Maroc* immerses us in a bittersweet childhood. Bathed in the light of the Mediterranean, yet in the shadow of a constrained mother, incapable of expressing her love. A rendezvous with childhood... in order to better free herself from it

%AB “To write is to try to save something from the passing of time”—this profession of faith, borrowed from Marguerite Duras, opens Emmanuelle de Boysson’s novel. And her *Tendre Maroc* is indeed a rescue mission. Three years after a heart attack that nearly took her life, the novelist confronts the subject that had haunted her: her childhood, spent between Mohammedia, Morocco—where her father ran a textile company—and Mulhouse, the family stronghold. Colors, scents, friendships, pop music, first romantic escapades... with subtle touches, she weaves an impressionistic narrative of a seemingly blissful youth. Little by little, behind the façade, a crack begins to appear that will undermine her inner stability. A mother who is uncompromising—both with herself and with her family. A devout and philanthropic mother who reserves her outpourings of generosity for the most destitute... but deprives her children of tenderness and trust. For the little girl and the teenager, growing up in this uncomfortable twilight will be a source of vulnerability and unease. But it is also the crack from which what saves her will spring forth: writing

Next dates:

• 09/11/2026

The Sept. 12, 2026

Festival du livre du Haut Quercy - table ronde - La Littérature est-elle un sport de combat ?

Roundtable discussion with the Festival's authors, held in the exceptional setting of the former Mirepoises cloister

Roundtable discussion with the Festival's authors, held in the exceptional setting of the former Mirepoises cloister

Next dates:

• 09/12/2026

The Sept. 12, 2026

Festival du livre du Haut Quercy - "La vie et rien d'autre !" Rencontre avec Françoise Sliwka autour de La Traversée, lu par Chloé Mons

The ordeal refers to the cancer that struck the young woman, putting her life as an actress—full of plans—on hold

*La Traversée* is the story of the young woman’s battle with cancer, which put her life as an actress—full of plans—on hold. Françoise Sliwka’s first book, *La Traversée*, is a chronicle of the time spent battling illness and undergoing treatments—a time that, against all odds, remains a part of life

A story of illness? Not only that. Through this ordeal, Françoise Sliwka seeks to “describe her fragile raft—that is, her life.” So yes, we’ll follow the narrator through this marathon of diagnoses, treatments, tests, results, side effects, and remissions.... But this journey will open other doors, sharpen her perspective on the present, and bring the past back to the surface. When the threat looms, everything takes on a new dimension: a word caught on the fly in the waiting room, a phone call from her exiled son, the serenade of a blackbird heard through the hospital window. The “threatening body” and the “vibrant body”

coexist, and one must constantly navigate between two worlds. Fear and joy, loneliness and love, lucidity and denial... Throughout this journey, we see how this cancer, which saps her energy, paradoxically gives rise to an “enriched” life. All the more so because, in Françoise Sliwka’s introspective gaze, the illness does not emerge as a random, biological accident

It also appears as an encounter with personal history, an encounter with the wounds of childhood

A text that navigates a fine line—neither a guide to resilience nor a moral lesson. Carried by sensitive and concrete language, it seeks only to shed light on and share this “great journey”

Next dates:

• 09/12/2026

The Sept. 12, 2026

Festival du livre du Haut Quercy - «La vie et rien d'autre !" Rencontre avec Françoise Sliwka autour de La Traversée, lu par Chloé Mons

The ordeal refers to the cancer that struck the young woman, putting her life as an actress—full of plans—on hold

*La Traversée* tells the story of the young woman’s battle with cancer, which put her life as an actress—full of plans—on hold. Fran%E7oise Sliwka’s debut book, *La Travers%E9e*, is a chronicle of the time spent battling illness and undergoing treatment—a time that, against all odds, remains a part of life

Reading and meet-and-greet organized by the Haut Quercy Book Festival on September 12 at 3:00 p.m.

at theChurch in the hamlet of Murel (Martel)

A story of illness? Not only that. Through this ordeal, Françoise Sliwka seeks to “describe her fragile raft—that is, her life.” So yes, we’ll follow the narrator through this marathon of diagnoses, treatments, tests, results, side effects, and remissions.... But this journey will open other doors, sharpen her perspective on the present, and bring the past back to the surface. When the threat looms, everything takes on a different dimension: a word caught on the fly in the waiting room, a phone call from her son in exile, the serenade of a blackbird heard through the hospital window. The “threatening body” and the “vibrant body”

coexist, and one must constantly navigate between two worlds. Fear and joy, loneliness and love, lucidity and denial... Throughout this journey, we see how this cancer, which saps her energy, paradoxically generates an “enriched” life. All the more so because, in Françoise Sliwka’s introspective gaze, the illness does not emerge as a random, biological accident

It also appears as an encounter with one’s personal history, an encounter with the wounds of childhood

A text that treads a fine line—neither a guide to resilience nor a moral lesson. Carried by sensitive and concrete language, it seeks only to shed light on and share this “great journey”

Next dates:

• 09/12/2026

The Sept. 12, 2026

Festival du livre du Haut Quercy - "La vie et rien d'autre !"Rencontre avec Françoise Sliwka autour de La Traversée, lu par Chloé Mons

The ordeal refers to the cancer that struck the young woman, putting her life as an actress—full of plans—on hold

*La Traversée* tells the story of the young woman’s battle with cancer, which put her life as an actress—full of plans—on hold. Françoise Sliwka’s first book, *La Traversée*, is a chronicle of her time with the disease and its treatments—a period that, against all odds, remains a part of life

A story of illness? Not only that. Through this ordeal, Françoise Sliwka seeks to “describe her fragile raft”—that is, her life. So yes, we’ll follow the narrator through this marathon of diagnoses, treatments, tests, results, side effects, remissions.... But this journey will open other doors, sharpen her perspective on the present, and bring the past back to the surface. When the threat looms, everything takes on a different dimension: a word caught on the fly in the waiting room, a phone call from her exiled son, the serenade of a blackbird heard through the hospital window. The “threatening body” and the “vibrant body”

coexist, and one must constantly navigate between two worlds. Fear and joy, solitude and love, lucidity and denial... Throughout this journey, we see how this cancer, which saps her energy, paradoxically generates an “enriched” life. All the more so because, in Françoise Sliwka’s introspective gaze, the illness does not emerge as a random, biological accident. It also appears as an encounter with personal history, an encounter with the wounds of childhood

A text that treads a fine line—neither a guide to resilience nor a moral lesson. Carried by sensitive and concrete language, it seeks only to shed light on and share this “great journey.”

Next dates:

• 09/12/2026

The Sept. 13, 2026

Festival du livre du Haut Quercy - "Vertiges de l'amour" - Rencontre avec Luc Chomarat autour de La Fin de la récré, lu par Florian Choquart

The 1970s, in Saint-Etienne

The 1970s, in Saint-Etienne. A young man has just passed his high school graduation exam; he has %AB his whole life ahead of him %BB. But what is he to do with it? With *La Fin de la r%E9cr%E9*, Luc Chomarat offers a novel in the form of a double chronicle: that of the (turbulent) into adulthood, and that of the (chaotic) end of the years known as “The Glorious Thirties.” Reading and meet-and-greet organized by the Haut Quercy Book Festival on September 13 at the Halle de Martel

%Written in the first person, *La Fin de la r%E9cr%E9* recounts the painful and chaotic entry into adulthood. For this coming-of-age novel is also a novel of disillusionment. For the narrator—a tall, somewhat lost teenager—the period begins with a bang: his encounter with love, with Aurore. %AB I told myself: you’re madly in love—that’s what it’s called (...) I thought that once you started dating a girl, things would be simpler, calmer. But I’m anything but calm. %BB. Luc Chomarat’s text skillfully weaves together all the threads: a chronicle of a romantic and

erotic obsession, memories of a bygone era—its music, groups of friends, occasional stints at college, the dread of military service, the new threats of HIV and mass unemployment—a tragic family saga in the shadow of a taciturn father, broken by the Algerian War. Both a romantic novel and a social chronicle, *La Fin de la r%E9cr%E9* takes us on a journey by sight, navigating between laughter and tears, irony and melancholy

Next dates:

• 09/13/2026

From Sept. 19, 2026 to Sept. 20, 2026

Journées Européennes du Patrimoine : projections de films sur le patrimoine martelais

Saturday and Sunday, continuous film screenings: - "Saint-Maur church, tympanum and glass roof" 24 minutes - "Trade in the Pays Martelais from the Middle Ages to the present day" 52 minutes - "Histoires, traditions et légendes en pays Martelais" in 2 parts of 1 hour each - "Tournemire and clock towers"

Next dates:

• 09/19/2026
  Open every day
• 09/20/2026
  Open every day

From Oct. 8, 2026 to Oct. 11, 2026

Les Rencontres Théâtrales de Martel 2026

Anne Roumanoff, Patron of the 2026 Martel Theater Festival

For four days, the medieval heart of Martel transforms into a true open-air stage!

From Thursday, October 8, to Sunday, October 11, 2026, for its 5th edition, the Martel Theater Festival invites you to discover a rich and varied program, designed for audiences of all ages

Anne Roumanoff, Patron of the 2026 Martel Theater Festival

For four days, the medieval heart of Martel transforms into a true open-air stage!

From Thursday, October 8, to Sunday, October 11, 2026, %E0 to celebrate their 5th edition, the Martel Theater Festival invites you to discover a rich and varied program, designed for audiences of all ages. Five theater companies will take over the Palais de la Raymondie, and

seven companies will bring the heart of the village to life, kicking off on Thursday evening with Anne Roumanoff and her latest show, *L’Ége Libre*.

Whether you’re a theater lover, a curious visitor, or just someone strolling through town, let yourself be surprised and come experience Martel in a whole new way: four days of excitement, laughter, discoveries, and artistic encounters in the heart of the town

Next dates:

• From 10/08/2026 to 10/11/2026

The Oct. 9, 2026

Les Rencontres Théâtrales de Martel 2026 - Le coup de Trafalgar par la Cie Iskandar

%AB “This isn’t a house, it’s a casino,” %BB said the building superintendent’s daughter as she watched the building’s residents—who are the actors in this play—file into her parents’ lobby one day in May 1914.

%AB “This isn’t a house—it’s a casino,” %BB said the building superintendent’s daughter as she watched the building’s residents—who are the actors in this play—file into her parents’ dressing room one day in May 1914. There’s the beautiful Désirade, a warm and easygoing woman; the actor Vincent Bonaventure, who plays the role of Don Quixote; Vincent Despagne, a former soldier; Mr. Dujardin, who is always predicting war; his wife; and their son Simon, a teenager who meticulously observes the adult world, commenting on it and explaining it

The wedding of Mrs. Dujardin’s friend, Flore Médard, to a learned professor of archaeology, Arcade Lemercier, is the source of a number of mysteries and dramatic twists

Who is Arcade Lemercier? He claims to be an Egyptologist and to have devoted his life to the treasure of Amenhotep IV. But is that true?

Why did Flore shave half her head before the dinner held in honor of her wedding and then run away?

We’re still asking ourselves that question at the end of the 1914 war, in the building’s basement while Big Bertha thunders away. Arcade, whom we thought was at Verdun, has deserted. Is he really determined to fight the next war—the one in nineteen-hundred-and-something-later—since this one isn’t worth it? From Trafalgar

But the play isn’t over and continues after the war of 1914

By infiltrating the bourgeois comedy of the boulevards, Roger Vitrac parodied its themes and values. Through his wordplay and the deceptions of his characters, he is one of the most authentic representatives of Surrealism

Roger Vitrac, a native of Pinsac, was a leading figure in the Surrealist movement—from which he was also the first to be expelled— wrote *Le Coup de Trafalgar* in 1934, one year after the play *Victor, or the Children in Power*, which made his nameand is regularly staged by the greatest directors

*Le Coup de Trafalgar* has not been performed since 1968. The choice of this play came to us almost by chance as we were looking for a script written by an author rooted in our region, yet with universal appeal

Next dates:

• 10/09/2026

From Oct. 10, 2026 to Oct. 11, 2026 from 10 a.m.

Journées portes ouvertes des ateliers d’artistes - Aerts Jean-Pierre

The artist invites you to visit her studio as part of the 9th edition of the 2026 Artists' Studio Open House

The artist invites you into his studio as part of the 9th edition of the 2026 Artists’ Studio Open House. 28 local artists are opening the doors to their studios.

Aerts Jean-Pierre - Painting:

%AB I have set up my studio and gallery in the former stable of a medieval post house at the Porte de Brive, near the historic center of Martel. There, you’ll discover various aspects and styles of my work, including finished pieces and others still in progress on easels.

First, I’ll tell you how I’ve reinterpreted the work of more than forty 20th-century artists, exploring with them the graphic theme of a guitar. I’ll show you what music inspires in visual artists, and the fundamental role of composition in artistic creation.

Finally, you’ll see the par-idolies inspired by old wooden planks I salvagedfrom abandoned sawmills, upon which I have invoked the mysterious figures of fantasy literature—notably those of Lovecraft, Hodgson, and Stephen King.

And I’ll be able to introduce the most curious visitors to my tools, my techniques, and the materials I use. %BB

Demonstration: Discussions about my practices and techniques...

Next dates:

• From 10/10/2026 to 10/11/2026
  Open every day

From Oct. 10, 2026 to Oct. 11, 2026 from 10 a.m.

Journées portes ouvertes des ateliers d’artistes - Chazelle Bertrand

The artist invites you to visit her studio as part of the 9th edition of the 2026 Artists' Studio Open House

The artist invites you into their studio as part of the 9th edition of the 2026 Artists’ Studio Open House. 28 local artists are opening the doors to their studios.

Chazelle Bertrand - Watercolor, Oil:

"The studio is located across from the medieval town of Martel, facing the Seven Towers and along the Haut-Quercy railroad line. Watercolor is an ideal medium for better capturing the colors and light in the landscapes of Quercy, the seaside, or the Jura, where I divide my professional time. Oil painting is more of a studio-based medium, allowing for reflection and the expression of a graphic style."

Next dates:

• From 10/10/2026 to 10/11/2026
  Open every day

The Oct. 10, 2026

Les Rencontres Théâtrales de Martel 2026 - La Bascule par la Cie Les grandes personnes

La Bascule explains what the death penalty is and describes how it was not abolished in France until 1981—well after most European countries had done so.

*La Bascule* serves as a reminder of what the death penalty is and recounts how its abolition was not enacted in France until 1981—well after most European countries. The performance focuses on the trials and executions of Bontems and Buffet in 1972–1973, and on the work of Robert Badinter. The roles are portrayed by two actors and by painted textile sculptures

%C0 At a time when they are the subject of debate and controversy, we decided to%depict, through theater and visual art, the major social advances of the 20th century

%AB We wanted to recount four %episodes of these struggles that have changed our lives: the workers’ and labor union victories, the abolition of the death penalty, healthcare for all, and women’s rights %BB.

THE ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY: The Turning Point

It addresses the issues of prison, the functioning of the justice system, and the presidential power of clemency.

The performance presents, in detail, the forces at play, and focuses on the trials and executions of Claude Buffet and Gérard Bontems in 1972. The narrative interweaves individual destinies with major collective historical moments. Finally, the show concludes with a reflection on the global state of the debate on capital punishment

To bring this story to life, La Bascule draws on the playful and popular elements of rag dolls, which lie halfway between art and craft. A toy, in fact, is already a sculpture and serves as a medium for invention, %E0 storytelling, and dialogue

Based on this principle, the actor from La Bascule tells stories by manipulating the dolls, inviting the audience %E0? play along as well, in order to reconnect with childhood,%A0since the focus is on founding myths and memory. All the %AB toys %BB are original artistic creations

At a time when the virtual space of the Internet has become a platform where regressive and deadly desires for revenge are expressed. %AB It seemed useful and necessary to us to tell this story in a concrete way—using simple objects, wood, fabric, and a cleaver—in the real, shared space of the street, what%a death sentence really entailed %BB

PRESS AND AWARDS%A0

La Bascule won the “Coup de Cœur” award at the Ch%E2lon dans la rue festival

%AB The question of cutting a man in half is not one of deterrence but of political and moral choice %BB A disturbing, moving performance, met with a standing ovation from the audience and one that provokes thought. Le Dauphin%E9

La Bascule’s production was supported by the DRAC Éle de France, the Parade(s) festival in Nanterre, the Théâtre de la Commune d’Aubervilliers, SPEDIDAM, Frères Poussière, and the Villa Mais d’Ici

Next dates:

• 10/10/2026

From Oct. 10, 2026 to Oct. 11, 2026 from 10 a.m.

Journées portes ouvertes des ateliers d’artistes - Amery Leo

The artist invites you to visit her studio as part of the 9th edition of the 2026 Artists' Studio Open House

The artist invites you into their studio as part of the 9th edition of the 2026 Artists’ Studio Open House. 28 local artists are opening the doors to their studios.

Amery Léo - Stained Glass/Glass:

%AB I have a large exhibition space and a 180 m² studio filled with color and light. This allows me to showcase my work and all the different technical stages. The studio itself is a source of inspiration; it’s a place where I feel both free and committed. It’s my most precious tool. %BB

Demonstration: Yes, I will offer a demonstration of my practice

Next dates:

• From 10/10/2026 to 10/11/2026
  Open every day

The Oct. 11, 2026

Tintin et l'Alph-Art

The young troupe Les Imagités (13-18 years old) presents its theatrical adaptation of Hergé's last unfinished album. One day, Tintin and his friends get involved in a strange art deal...

Next dates:

• 10/11/2026

The Oct. 11, 2026

Les Rencontres Théâtrales de Martel 2026 - Un pour tous, mois d'abord ! par la Cie Colegram

It’s the big day for Hélène, a history student: in public and before a panel of experts on *The Three Musketeers*, she’s defending her thesis?

To make it exciting, she’s presenting a historical and literary reenactment!

The show immerses the audience in Dumas’s work with battles (swords, cane, whip, cape, and firearms), suspense, romance, and a healthy dose of derision.

%A0But History with a capital H won’t be pushed around, and with the tip of its rapier, it points out the implausibilities and absurdities of fiction

The characters ultimately take control to defend their altruistic point of view: One for all, Me First

A delightful, whirlwind, interactive, and… instructive show

It’s the big day for Hélène, a history student: in public and before a panel of experts on *The Three Musketeers*, she’s defending her thesis?

To make it exciting, she’s presenting a historical and literary reenactment!

The show immerses the audience in Dumas’s work with battles (swords, cane, whip, cape, and firearms), suspense, romance, and a healthy dose of derision.

%A0But History with a capital H won’t be pushed around, and with the tip of its rapier, it points out the implausibilities and absurdities of fiction

The characters ultimately take control to defend their altruistic point of view: One for all, Me First

A delightful, whirlwind, interactive, and… instructive show

Next dates:

• 10/11/2026

The Oct. 25, 2026

Autour de la botanique - Troc de plantes & balade botanique

10am-12pm Plant and small gardening equipment swap, magazines. 1 pm bag lunch 2:30 pm plant printing workshop for young and old 4 p.m. Botanical walk with Wawa. Open to all. Shared lunch.

Next dates:

• 10/25/2026

From Oct. 27, 2026 to Nov. 1, 2026

Festival Résurgence X - exposition " sortir des cases, bande dessinées et migrations "

"Sortir des cases" explores the historical relationship between the development of the comic book and migratory movements

"Sortir des cases" explores the historical relationship between the development of the comic book and migratory movements. By bringing together works from all eras, it examines how representations have evolved in tandem with shifts in attitudes.%A0

10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily - - Free - More info: 06 84 70 34 07

Next dates:

• From 10/27/2026 to 11/01/2026
  Open every day
• From 10/27/2026 to 11/01/2026
  Open every day

From Nov. 6, 2026 to Nov. 7, 2026

Spectacle chez l'habitant "Le voyage des épices"

The Anandi Company invites you %E0 on a sensory journey where storytelling, dance, and fragrances intertwine to reveal the fascinating history of %E9spices

The Anandi Company invites you on a sensory journey where storytelling, dance, and fragrances intertwine to reveal the fascinating history of spices. %C0 After the show, the audience is invited %E0 to continue the journey with a pre-prepared meal

Reservations required

Next dates:

• From 11/06/2026 to 11/07/2026

From Nov. 21, 2026 to Nov. 22, 2026 from 9 a.m.

Bourse aux jouets à Martel

L'Association pour l'Enfance is organizing a fair for toys, children's clothing and childcare equipment (0-16yrs) On site: sale of sweet and savory paninis, pancakes and cakes, sale of Christmas decorations, game demonstrations, refreshment stand To benefit the Centre Aéré "Les Lutins des 7 tours"

L'Association pour l'Enfance is organizing a fair for toys, children's clothing and childcare equipment (0-16yrs) On site: sale of sweet and savory paninis, pancakes and cakes, sale of Christmas decorations, game demonstrations, refreshment stand To benefit the Centre Aéré "Les Lutins des 7 tours"

Next dates:

• From 11/21/2026 to 11/22/2026
  Open every day