L'Alsace se (ra)conte Festival

A festival to bring living words to life in Alsace

Launched in 2023 by the European Collectivity of Alsace (CeA) and the Library of Alsace, the L'Alsace se (ra)conte festival has quickly established itself as the unmissable event for lovers of tales and orality in the region. Every spring, for three weeks in March-April, this major cultural event energizes the entire Alsatian territory by offering storytelling performances in more than 40 libraries and 7 heritage sites, from the largest cities to the smallest villages.

A renewed theme each year

Each edition explores a different theme that guides the programming and inspires the storytellers. The first edition in 2023 was dedicated to language, that of 2024 to movement, the 2025 edition to nature, and the 2026 edition to dreams. This thematic renewal allows for the exploration of the infinite richness of oral tradition from ever-new perspectives, including Alsatian tales in dialect, Vosges legends, stories from around the world, and contemporary creations.

Hohlandsbourg Castle: an open stage for amateur storytellers

The Hohlandsbourg Castle in Wintzenheim holds a special place in the festival's program. Each year, this 13th-century medieval fortress hosts an afternoon dedicated to amateur storytellers, offering a stage for local talents who wish to share their favorite stories. The tales explore nature, the earth, the history of the castle, and the world of dreams, in an intimate and supportive atmosphere conducive to oral transmission.

About twenty professional storytellers

The program showcases a diversity of talents. The 2025 edition brought together 26 professional storytellers, from all over France and beyond, who enchanted audiences with various styles: fairy tales, regional legends, philosophical narratives, stories for young children, and bilingual performances in French and Alsatian. Specific shows for young audiences and exclusive sessions for children in social care facilities (MECS) demonstrate the festival's social commitment.

Valuing Alsace's intangible heritage

Beyond entertainment, the L'Alsace se (ra)conte festival carries a strong conviction: every story told is a thread that connects beings, a collective commitment to keep alive the oral heritage and cultural identity of Alsace. By offering storytelling training workshops for parents and early childhood professionals, the festival helps train a new generation of story sharers. The choice of heritage sites—castles, museums, churches, Alsatian houses—as settings for the performances reinforces the link between living words and history-laden stones.