I've checked the official website, but there is no info on when the catapult demos take place. The site says there are 3 a day, and we'd hate to miss seeing this -- at least, I bet our son would....

Have you seen these? Any idea when they take place?

topping for an interesting question

Gee... I live five minutes from Les Baux and have never even thought to ask when the demonstrations are. I'll go by the tourist office tomorrow and see if I can find out...

Patricia

Above and beyond the call, Patricia, but thanks! I'll look forward to hearing what they have to say.

You can call.

Come and discover the most spectacular event ever staged at the Château des Baux-de-Provence - the firing of a giant medieval catapult right before your eyes! During Medieval times armies often used catapults to siege castles and fortresses. Today, the Château des Baux-de-Provence gives you the chance to relive this experience in the grandiose setting of the Baux de Provence. Take part in the demonstrations and witness the firing of a catapult from giant machines that fire with a range of over 200m! Guaranteed excitement!

From 1st April until 30th September on weekends, bank holidays and during school holidays:

April, May and June 12h, 14h, 17h
July and August 10h, 12h, 14h, 16h, 18h
September 11h, 15h, 17h

Other days subject to reservation.

Château des Baux de Provence
13520 Les Baux de Provence
+33.4.90.54.55.56
www.chateau-baux-provence.com

25 mn from Avigon
15 km from Arles





Tourism, Leisure & Holidays in Provence Home Page

Phyllis...

Couldn't get ahold of the tourist office today - they're preparing some Medieval festival for this weekend and apparently overwhelmed. I spoke to a friend and he said that he couldn't remember what times they stage these demonstrations - so I'll try to call early tomorrow morning and see what I can find out !

Patricia

Okay... this was one of those quests that leave one laughing.

Called the Tourist Office in Les Baux...they weren't "sure" of the times of the demonstrations. Said they'd call the château ticket office and call me back.
They called me back...

On the weekends the demonstrations take place at noon and 6 PM.

And the rest of the week ????
" Uhhh, we don't know. Maybe when there are enough people around to watch it ?"

And there you have the official response from those who know - or don't know in this instance !

Patricia

I came across this old thread when doing a search on something else, and I thought I'd revive it to report that we did go to Les Baux last June and had a wonderful time.

My little boy LOVED Les Baux; it was one of the highlights of our trip for him, and it set off a fascination for castles and forts that became one of the themes for the rest of our visit, and an ongoing interest even at home. We have added to our home library with lots of books on castles and knights and history.

(While we balked at buying him toy weapons for souvenirs, by the time we visited Avignon, about a week later, he was so enthralled with everything he'd seen, his grandmother couldn't resist buying him a set of wooden seige weapons at the Papal Palace museum shop, and now Les Baux lives on with Playmobil.)

I wish one of the souvenir shops in the village had a website, though; my son has outgrown the Les Baux t-shirt he did get, and it's far and away his favorite thing to wear. I would love to replace it.

The trebuchet demo was a lot of fun to watch, and the fellow who organized it was very kind to our son and keen to practice his English on him. We have a nice photo of the two of them together.

So, repeated thanks for helping convince me to try out the demos.