Contemporary art, music, and literature in the heart of Perche
Born in 2025, the Moulin Blanchard Hors les Murs Festival is an initiative of the Moulin Blanchard association, a contemporary art space located in a former water mill in Nocé. This ambitious new format extends the Moulin's cultural programming across the remarkable heritage sites of the Cœur-de-Perche territory, notably the Manoir de Lormarin in Nocé and the church of Courthioust in Colonard-Corubert.
The festival is organized around three axes, each entrusted to a specialized curator:
The summer season at Moulin Blanchard hosts high-quality exhibitions: retrospectives of sculptors, works by renowned photographers like Bernard Plossu or Matt Wilson, and creations by artists in residence. The works dialogue with the mill's architecture and the Perche landscapes, offering a unique artistic experience.
Throughout the year, the Moulin Blanchard association organizes a program of artist and author residencies, an art library, workshops, and one-off events. The summer festival is the highlight of this program, attracting an ever-larger audience to this preserved corner of Percheron Normandy.
Nestled between wooded hills, manors, and orchards, Perche offers an exceptional setting for discovering contemporary art. The Moulin Blanchard, with its restored buildings, gardens, and millrace, provides a unique showcase for exhibitions and performances.
By car: The Moulin Blanchard is located in Nocé, commune of Perche-en-Nocé (61340), in the Orne department. From Nogent-le-Rotrou, take the D9 towards Bellême then the D11 towards Nocé (approx. 20 minutes drive). From Bellême, take the D955 then the D11 (approx. 15 minutes). From Alençon, take the D955 towards Bellême (approx. 45 minutes). The Hors les Murs festival takes place in several heritage sites in Cœur-de-Perche, notably the Manoir de Lormarin in Nocé and the church of Courthioust in Colonard-Corubert. Free parking at each site.
By train: The nearest station is Nogent-le-Rotrou, served by TER Centre-Val de Loire from Paris-Montparnasse (approx. 1h40). From the station, you will need a vehicle to reach Nocé (20 km). Taxis are available at the station.
The exhibitions at Moulin Blanchard and the Hors les Murs sites are open from Thursday to Sunday, from 10 am to 12:30 pm and from 2:30 pm to 6:30 pm. Concerts and special events take place in the evenings, mainly on Fridays and Saturdays from 8:30 pm. The full detailed program is published on the Moulin Blanchard website and updated regularly.
Access to exhibitions is based on free participation (pay-what-you-wish). Concerts are offered at variable rates depending on the events and artists programmed. It is recommended to consult the program and book in advance for concerts, as places are limited in some heritage venues.
During concert evenings, light catering and a bar are available on site. The village of Nocé has local shops. For meals, several restaurants and inns are accessible in the vicinity of Bellême and Nocé.
Perche offers a wide choice of accommodation: rural gites, bed and breakfasts in Percheron manors, hotels in Bellême and Nogent-le-Rotrou. The tourist office of the Parc Naturel Régional du Perche can help you find suitable accommodation.
Association Moulin Blanchard – Nocé, 61340 Perche-en-Nocé
Website: www.moulinblanchard.com
Email: [email protected]
Sponsored link
No photo yet. Share yours!
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Aidez-nous à garder cette fiche à jour. Toute proposition est relue par notre équipe avant publication.
No rating yet — be the first!
No review yet. Be the first!
Share your experience with the community
Moulin Blanchard et sites patrimoniaux du Cœur-de-Perche
Moulin Blanchard, Nocé, 61340 Perche-en-Nocé