Napoleonic Historical Re-enactment

1799 Lives Again at Montecuccolo Castle

The Napoleonic Historical Re-enactment brings to life one of the most dramatic moments in the history of the Modenese Apennines: the capture of Montecuccolo Castle by Napoleon Bonaparte's French troops in 1799. For an entire weekend, the ancient manor, perched on the village of the same name in the Municipality of Pavullo nel Frignano (Province of Modena, Emilia-Romagna), becomes the stage for a re-enactment that intertwines battles, parades, conferences, and moments of historical theatre.

A Page of Frignano's History

At the end of the 18th century, the Frignano region was crossed by anti-Napoleonic uprisings, when local populations rebelled against the advance of the French revolutionary armies. Montecuccolo Castle, already a fief of the noble family that produced the famous general Raimondo Montecuccoli, was the scene of those events which culminated in the burning of the fortress. The re-enactment, titled "1799: the capture of Montecuccolo by the French", relives the siege and the subsequent return of the Este family with Austrian troops, offering the public a story that is often forgotten but deeply rooted in the identity of the territory.

What to Experience During the Event

• The re-enactment of the French siege of the castle, with participants in period costume
• The evocative trial of Napoleon, the highlight of the second day
• The re-enactment of the return of the Este family with Austrian troops
• Conferences and book presentations dedicated to the uprisings and the history of the Frignano region
• Castle entertainment, activities for children, and guided tours of the village and manor

Flavours of the Apennines

The festival is also an opportunity to discover the traditional gastronomy of the Frignano region: the Manor Table offers themed menus, while stalls offer borlenghi and crescentine, signature specialities of the Modenese mountains. A day of history and tradition, immersed in the landscape of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines.