Le Fabuleux Village des Flottins

The Legend of the Flottins: From Driftwood to Enchantment

It all began in 2007, when the town of Évian-les-Bains asked Alain Benzoni, director of the Théâtre de la Toupine, to create a Christmas market. Passionate about Lake Geneva and its shores, Benzoni envisioned a radically different project: instead of a commercial market, he designed an enchanted village populated by imaginary creatures—the Flottins—shaped from the driftwood the lake deposits on its banks.

The first edition featured about twenty wood sculptures in the streets of Évian. Nearly two decades later, over 650 monumental sculptures, made from 350 tons of driftwood collected throughout the year around the lake, now inhabit the town center each winter.

Live Performance, Storytelling, and Parades in a Magical Setting

Le Fabuleux Village des Flottins is not just a sculpture exhibition: it's a daily live performance. Every afternoon from 3 PM to 7 PM, the streets of Évian come alive with a troupe of professional actors, storytellers, musicians, and circus artists—the Flottins and Flottines—who wander among the sculptures, tell stories, play music, perform circus acts with diabolos, juggling, and acrobatics, and lead the public in parades.

The program is renewed daily, creating a different experience with each visit. Fire ceremonies, children's stories, and visits from Santa Claus punctuate the season, making the village a place of wonder for all generations.

A Pioneering Eco-Responsible Approach

From its inception, Le Fabuleux Village des Flottins has been committed to an exemplary eco-responsible approach. All sculptures are made from driftwood recovered from the shores of Lake Geneva, valorizing a natural material considered waste. This process of collection and artistic creation is part of a logic of circular economy and creative recycling, offering a radical alternative to conventional Christmas decorations.

The event is entirely free, accessible to all, and upholds values of sharing, education, and respect for the environment, making it a model of sustainable cultural event.

Reach Far Beyond Chablais

Having become one of the most unique winter events in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, Le Fabuleux Village des Flottins attracts visitors from all over France and neighboring Switzerland each year. The event significantly contributes to the winter tourism appeal of Évian-les-Bains and has inspired numerous similar initiatives combining art, recycling, and live performance.