Giant comic book illustrations of a sword-wielding brute have taken over the medieval fortress where William the Conqueror was born.
The winter exhibition titled “Amour, gloire et conquête!” opened its doors on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at the château de Falaise in Calvados, returning for a second winter season. Running until January 3, 2027, the playful installation pairs the historical legacy of the medieval monarch with the chaotic energy of Raowl, a comic book character created by Caen-based artist Frédéric Thébault, known as Tebo.
The Winter Exhibition Facts
- The exhibition runs daily until January 3, 2027, with adult tickets priced at 9.50 €.
- Comic artist Tebo brings his character Raowl to guide visitors through the historical timeline from William’s birth in 1027 to his 1066 coronation.
- Visitors can enter an online drawing until November 18, 2026, to win tickets for a special meet-and-greet with Tebo on November 28.
Raowl Meets Medieval History
Guillaume le Conquérant has found an unusual companion inside his fortress walls. In the comic books created by Tebo, Raowl is a brute with a soft heart who fancies himself a prince charming and prefers punches to good manners.
The exhibition uses giant illustrations, projections, life-sized sets, and soundscapes to stage this humorous encounter. According to Natacha Pirou, a cultural mediator at the château de Falaise, the project tells the “true-false life of William the Conqueror.” Visitors encounter playful historical anomalies throughout the rooms, such as claims that the ruler’s mustache was made of fox hair or that he regularly wore socks with sandals.
Multi-Generational Pop Culture References
The installation weaves contemporary pop culture into the medieval narrative to appeal to visitors of all ages. Natacha Pirou explained that the team integrated characters like Pat’Patrouille and Pokémon for younger visitors, alongside Star Wars and Astérix references for older guests.
Despite the humor, the parcours traces legitimate milestones in the monarch’s life. The exhibits cover the battles of Falaise and Val-ès-Dunes, his marriage to Mathilde, the conquest of England, and his coronation at Westminster. Two historians, Hugo Fresnel and Bastien Michel, collaborated on the project to ensure a clear distinction between verified history and regional legend.
A Faux Bayeux Tapestry Accompanies the 2026 Winter Run
Among the creations for the 2026 winter run is a faux version of the Bayeux Tapestry. The original 11th-century embroidery depicts the 1066 conquest across 58 scenes and was likely commissioned by Odon, William’s half-brother.
The exhibition offers a less solemn take on that visual chronicle. The timing coincides with a major displacement for the original artifact: the authentic Bayeux Tapestry is currently on exhibition at the British Museum in London until July 11, 2027, while its home museum in Normandy undergoes extensive renovations.
Château De Falaise Opening Hours and Ticket Prices
The château de Falaise opens its doors daily from 10 h to 18 h for the exhibition, with closures scheduled for December 13, December 25, and January 1. Guided storytelling tours lasting one hour are available on weekends until December 20, then daily during the Christmas school holidays.
Adult admission costs 9.50 €, tickets for children aged 6 to 16 are priced at 5 €, and family passes cost 24 €. Organizers noted that the historical keep remains accessible via tablets, though the towers themselves cannot accommodate wheelchairs or strollers.
