Le Sel de la Révolte - Historical Show

Le Sel de la Révolte: The Memory of the Angelets in the Streets of Villefranche

Created in 2023 for the 15th anniversary of the network of UNESCO Vauban sites, Le Sel de la Révolte is a traveling historical show that revives a little-known but fundamental episode in the history of Roussillon: the revolt of the Angelets de la Terra.

A Story of Revolt and Resistance

Between 1659 and 1670, in the mountains of the Pyrénées-Orientales, men and women rose up against an unjust salt tax imposed after the annexation of Roussillon by France. These rebels, nicknamed the Angelets de la Terra (Angels of the Earth), waged a guerrilla war in the Pyrenean valleys. The show retraces this revolt, mixing it with the arrival of Vauban, tasked with fortifying the city, and his late philosophical reflections on the treatment of the people.

A Promenade Show

Under the artistic direction of Laetitia Desplanque and Annabelle Garcia from the Compagnie Encima, the show unfolds as a promenade through the streets of Villefranche-de-Conflent, using the ramparts, squares, and alleys as natural stages. Professional actors and the amateur troupe "Les Unes et les Autres", composed of about thirty actors of all ages who rehearsed throughout the year, bring this tragicomic fiction of about 90 minutes to life.

A Supported and Anchored Project

The project is supported by the Department of Pyrénées-Orientales and the DRAC Occitanie. It is part of the Collectif LaClé's mission to bring the heritage of Villefranche-de-Conflent to life through contemporary artistic creation, mixing historical research, theater, and citizen participation.