Abbatia Storia

Abbatia Storia: Évron Basilica Lights Up

Every winter, the Notre-Dame-de-l'Épine Basilica in Évron becomes the canvas for a spectacular artistic creation: Abbatia Storia, a free sound and light show that attracts thousands of spectators to the basilica's esplanade. This 17-minute creation invites the public on a visual and poetic journey through the thousand-year history of this major monument of Mayenne's heritage.

A Journey Through a Thousand Years of History

The show retraces the history of the basilica from the origins of the first 10th-century Romanesque church to the Gothic basilica we know today. Through monumental projections on the facade, Abbatia Storia tells how the abbey church has endured through centuries, wars, and architectural transformations, becoming the spiritual and historical heart of the town of Évron.

A Show Between Art and Technology

The creation uses the most advanced video mapping techniques to transform the basilica's facade:

• Monumental video projections that follow every architectural detail
• Light and color effects that highlight the Romanesque and Gothic elements
• Immersive soundtrack blending classical and modern compositions
• Unprecedented visual effects that turn stone into a living surface

Light as a Guiding Thread

Each edition explores a specific theme related to the history and architecture of the basilica. The recent edition highlights the link between Romanesque and Gothic art, with light as the connecting thread between these two architectural expressions. The projections reveal how light guided medieval builders, from narrow Romanesque windows to large Gothic stained-glass windows.

A Highlight of the End-of-Year Festivities in Mayenne

Scheduled from early December to early January, Abbatia Storia is part of the Lumières d'Hiver (Winter Lights) in Évron, a program of illuminations and animations that transforms the town during the holidays. The show is projected several times each evening, allowing a large audience to enjoy it. Special screenings are offered on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve with adapted schedules.

The Basilica: An Exceptional Night Visit

During the show's run, the basilica is exceptionally open on certain evenings, offering visitors the chance to rediscover this historic monument under a unique light, between shadow and illumination.