Enjoy a thrilling journey across time this weekend with the Épopée Normande

"[The project] was born 5 years ago; it's our fifth edition in 2026 ", explains Louis de Thézy, 30, owner of Chanteloup Castle and organiser of the Épopée Normande project. What started with a small group of around 40 people has now turned into a great organisation of 400 volunteers. With nearly a thousand costumes, 170 actors and 20 horses, everything about the event is planned to help you travel through Norman history without ever leaving your seat. It is all made possible through the help of many donations and associations.

An incredible location

"We're lucky, it's a family home that is asking to be revived, to breathe again. It has been in our family for 300 years." Chanteloup Castle, an impressive structure, established in the 11th century, is the main stage of this play.

Open to the public all year round, it truly comes alive during these four nights. It's Louis' hope to see this great building restored to its former glory one day, with the financial help of patrons here to see the show. "We're talking about several million euros, particularly to restore its 13th-century keep, which is in danger of collapsing, but also some of the roofs." The castle first opened to the public in 2022.

A Norman history tied to England

As an interesting historical fact presented in the show, the Chanteloup Castle was captured three times by the English during the Hundred Years' War. Each time, Louis d'Estouteville, Mont-Saint-Michel's captain and defender, eventually got his castle back.

Passionate volunteers

One of the show's main strengths is the many people who joined together to work on every aspect and detail of it. Among them, Isengrine Trichet, 31, harpist and volunteer since the second edition, is eager to share her enthusiasm and love for the spectacle.

With a few roles within the production, Isengrine reminds us that the best way to care about history is to never forget about it. "I know that my grandma used to tell me a lot of stories about World War II. I'm so lucky to have this role, to not forget them."

Another volunteer, Sophie Hewertson, 46, has found a new way to connect with her two sons through taking part in the play. "We came to see the show, and my boys said they really wanted to be a part of this; it's amazing and it's totally magical. I really want them to share things with people of all ages." While Sophie has a few roles, one of them is integral to Chanteloup Castle's history: "I start as somebody in the village who washes the laundry and then I do other things. But my main role is to be the Lady Jeanne Paynel, in 1415." Jeanne Paynel married Louis d'Estouteville, owner of the castle.

Noëlle Bert, 71, one of the many seamstresses of the production, worked on Louis d'Estouteville's tabard. A single one of the three tabards took her roughly 50 hours of work to create. As a reference, she used the family emblem, reproducing its colours and symbols.

A unique way to connect with people

What is interesting about this spectacle is the way it helps the audience to empathise with the many characters present. You go from one time period to the next, following the story of two boys in search of a great hidden treasure. "We're going to follow those two children who discover the castle's history through Louis d'Estouteville," says Louis de Thézy. "This is not a movie; we really are diving into history's very heart. There is something for everyone, young or old."

Over the course of the almost two-hour display, it's the message that is the most important part, as Isengrine told us: "Even if we have war all around us, even if we have fear, even if the world is set on fire, there is still hope, there are still people who are here to love and to spread beauty."