davefortcharters

The Rendezvous features 1700s military units, traditional craft demonstrations, period music and dancing, black powder shooting events and cannon firings – all from the time when France controlled what is now Illinois. Visitors can try their hand at throwing a tomahawk, buy hand-made crafts, learn about French kitchen gardens, and watch swordsmen duel, taste delicious food and much more. This event is hosted by Les Coureurs des Bois de Fort de Chartres and sponsored by Les Amis du Fort de Chartres, with additional site support from the Illinois Historic Preservation Division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Fort de Chartres is located at 1350 IL Route 155, 4 miles west of Prairie du Rocher, Illinois, just an hour from St. Louis. The site is open Thursday-Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Margaret K. Brown created a video about the Flood of 1993 in Prairie du Rocher Il. This is an edited version showing the effects of the flood on Fort de Chartres.

Margaret K. Brown created a VCR documentary movie chronicling the struggle of Prairie du Rocher during the Flood of 1993. This is a digital copy of that VCR tape.

The Rendezvous features 1700s military units, traditional craft demonstrations, period music and dancing, black powder shooting events all from the time when France controlled what is now Illinois. Visitors can try their hand at throwing a tomahawk, buy hand-made crafts, learn about French kitchen gardens, and watch swordsmen duel, taste delicious food and much more. This event is hosted by Les Coureurs des Bois de Fort de Chartres and sponsored by Les Amis du Fort de Chartres, with additional site support from the Illinois Historic Preservation Division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Illinois Humanities. The event is open and free to the general public with special event parking for this event just $5 a car. Donations welcomed.

Bruce left many things behind. These photographs capture some of the things that will survive physically if taken care of and not neglected. They are made of wood, metal, leather, fabric, bone and antler so will decay in time. But he left behind many things that only remain in the memories of those that knew him, those things will never decay.

The 52nd Annual Fort de Chartres Rendezvous Saturday, June 4 & 5, 2022. attracts thousands of people to the site during this special event. The Rendezvous features 1700s military units, traditional craft demonstrations, period music and dancing, black powder shooting events and cannon firings all from the time when France controlled what is now Illinois. Visitors can try their hand at throwing a tomahawk, buy hand-made crafts, learn about French kitchen gardens, and watch 18th century entertainers, listen to musicians play period music, taste delicious food and much more. This event is hosted by Les Coureurs des Bois de Fort de Chartres and sponsored by Les Amis du Fort de Chartres, with additional site support from the Illinois Historic Preservation Division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

This year heralds the celebration of the 50th Annual June Rendezvous and the 300th Anniversary of Fort de Chartres. This celebration was actually planned for June last year, 2020. Unfortunately the Rendezvous was cancelled in 2020 and then had to be postponed until Sept. of 2021 because the Site was closed due to Covid restrictions. Please come help us celebrate a very special Rendezvous at Fort de Chartres in historic Prairie du Rocher Illinois. Sat. and Sun. Sept. 11th & 12th, 2021.

Fort de Chartres June Rendezvous 2017 video by Erica Johanning.

Fort de Chartres June Rendezvous 2017 video by Ericha Johanning.

Fort de Chartres Rendezvous 2017 Lewis and Clark Fife and Drum Corps by Ericha Johanning.

Fort de Chartres Rendezvous 2017 video by Ericha Johanning.

Raising Flag Fort de Chartres June Rendezvous 2017 by Ericha Johanning.

Fort de Chartres 2017 Rendezvous Video by Ericha Johanning.

FORT DE CHARTRES JUNE RENDEZVOUS 2017

Fort de Chartres Rendezvous 2017 by Ericha Johanning.

Fort de Chartres video by Ericha Johanning.

Fort de Chartres June Rendezvous video by Ericha Johanning.

Video of June Rendezvous by Ericha Johanning.

Fort de Chartres video by Erica Johanning.

Saturday June 25, 2016 Darrell Duensing Site Superindentant Ret. at Fort de Chartres State Historic Site gave a tour of the Site to a small group. We invite you to go along and listen to Darrell's unique perspective.

Fort de Chartres Gun Club Meeting and Shoot August 2020. Les Coureurs des Bois de Fort de Chartres is a flintlock only muzzle loading gun club that meets at and supports Fort de Chartres through the support of special events and interpretation. Les Coureurs des Bois holds a meeting and shoot on the 2nd Sunday of every month at 1:00 PM. Anyone is welcome to participate in the shoot, but must be dressed in historic clothes and shoot a flintlock muzzleloader.