Come and discover the fabulous history of Normandy's birth at the Ornavik historical park, which spans from the year 911 to 1066, from Rollo the Viking to William the Conqueror.
The year 911 is known for the signing of the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte. In it, Charles the Simple, King of the Franks, entrusted Rollo, leader of the Vikings, with the administration of a region that would become the Duchy of Normandy. This territory was located in the lower Seine valley, around Rouen.
The year 1066 is the date on which William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy and descendant of Rollo, became King of England after winning the Battle of Hastings and conquering the country.
You will appreciate the scale of our project, and will probably be impressed by the large number of supporters and partners it brings together. On site, you will learn that volunteers, civic service volunteers, local authorities and dozens of corporate sponsors and foundations are participating in this adventure.
Our main goal is to introduce you to the history of Normandy in the 10th and 11th centuries through a serie of interactive workshops. You will have the privilege of immersing yourself in one of the few experimental archaeology and historical reconstruction sites in existence.
Our volunteers reproduce buildings on site using the techniques and materials used at the time. They work in collaboration with archaeologists and historians, who use experimental archaeology methods. Thanks to this unique archaeology, you can visit buildings from the early Middle Ages that actually existed in Normandy and the Viking world.
Opt for nature and living history, and spend an afternoon at Ornavik Park. Located in a 10-hectare wooded park on the banks of the magnificent Orne Canal, Ornavik Park is also committed to sustainable development (we use as many locally sourced materials as possible: sand, gravel, earth, and wood from the forest for carpentry).
Visitors and volunteers alike live surrounded by nature and are immersed in the soul of the Middle Ages. You will walk through a Carolingian village, chat with our Vikings at the Scandinavian camp set up near the water (entertainment, craftsmen), and help bring this great epic back to life in the heart of the Caen metropolitan area. Your adventure joins ours!
