Pierres en Lumières
The Norman heritage festival illuminated — Eure edition
About Pierres en Lumières
Pierres en Lumières: Eure's heritage in a new light
Pierres en Lumières is a festival unique in France dedicated to showcasing Norman heritage through light. Co-organized by the Department of Eure and the Heritage Foundation, this event invites the public to discover Eure's heritage in an unprecedented light, both literally and figuratively, over three nights in May.
A festival born in Normandy, extended to the whole region
Pierres en Lumières was born in Orne in 2009, on the initiative of the Heritage Foundation and the Department of Orne. Building on its success, the festival gradually expanded to Calvados and Manche, before being joined in 2016 by Eure and Seine-Maritime. Since then, all five Norman departments have participated in this nocturnal celebration of heritage, making Pierres en Lumières a major regional event.
Dozens of illuminated sites in Eure
In Eure, nearly a hundred heritage sites spread across more than 70 municipalities are illuminated during each edition. Castles, manor houses, churches, washhouses, mills, bandstands, motte-castles, and public buildings don their most beautiful luminous attire thanks to professional lighting, candles, lanterns, and torches. Each site benefits from unique lighting, creating a magical and poetic atmosphere.
Free events for all audiences
The lighting of the monuments is accompanied by various free events: open-air concerts, nocturnal guided tours, live shows, exhibitions, historical conferences, tastings of Norman local products, rallies, and treasure hunts for families. These events bring heritage to life and create moments of conviviality and sharing between residents and visitors.
An exemplary public-private partnership
The originality of Pierres en Lumières lies in its public-private partnership model. The event brings together public (municipalities, inter-municipalities), associative, and private initiatives (heritage owners). Each participant — local authority, association, individual — can propose the illumination of their heritage site and organize events. This collective mobilization demonstrates the commitment of the people of Eure to their heritage.
A major event in Eure's cultural calendar
Pierres en Lumières has become one of the highlights of the cultural calendar in Eure. The event attracts thousands of visitors each year, contributing to the department's tourism appeal and raising public awareness of heritage preservation. In its 15 years of existence, the festival has grown from 36 events at its inception to over 116 events in the 2025 edition across Normandy.
Pierres en Lumières — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of Pierres en Lumières in Eure will take place from Friday, May 29 to Sunday, May 31, 2026. This exceptional 10th edition for the Eure department brings together 86 illuminated heritage sites in 71 communes, with 88 project leaders (municipalities, associations, private owners). Three free nights of concerts, nocturnal guided tours, shows, exhibitions, and walks around the Eure heritage.
Pierres en Lumières 2026 in Eure — the 10th edition
The Pierres en Lumières festival returns to the Eure department from Friday, May 29 to Sunday, May 31, 2026 for an exceptional 10th edition in Eure. Co-organized by the Eure Department and the Fondation du patrimoine, the event honors Norman heritage at nightfall during three festive and free evenings.
86 illuminated sites in 71 communes
For this anniversary edition, 86 heritage sites open their doors to the public in 71 communes of Eure: churches, mills, castles, farms, fountains, old forges. 88 project leaders animate the event — 56% municipalities and public structures, 39% associations, and 5% private owners. A collective mobilization that testifies to the attachment of the people of Eure to their heritage.
Two new features for the 10th anniversary
This anniversary edition offers two unprecedented highlights:
- A route between Harcourt and Le Neubourg on Sunday, May 31, promoting soft mobility, agriculture, and local history.
- The exceptional opening of the Hôtel du Département in Évreux with guided tours and presentation of works by students from the Collège de Nonancourt.
Free and varied activities
The program offers activities accessible to all: concerts (sacred music, choirs, wind instruments), nocturnal guided tours by torchlight, live shows, exhibitions, historical conferences, storytelling evenings, heritage walks, and farmers' markets. Each site benefits from unique lighting — professional lighting, candles, lanterns, torches — creating a poetic atmosphere specific to the festival.
Free entry to all sites
Access to all sites and activities is free. Donations may be collected for the preservation of heritage. The detailed program is available on the official website pierresenlumieres.fr and on the Department's portal eureennormandie.fr.
Programme Pierres en Lumières 2026
2026 Program in Eure — 86 illuminated sites spread across 71 communes over three nights. Selection of activities confirmed by official sources (City of Évreux, Department of Eure):
Friday, May 29, 2026
- 2:00 PM–6:00 PM · Visit — Église de Serez
- 6:00 PM–8:00 PM · Natural site of the Côte de l'Estrée
- 6:00 PM–10:30 PM · Former Banque de France (Évreux)
- 6:00 PM–11:00 PM · Église Saint-Gaud, Normanville
- 6:00 PM–8:00 PM · Église de Croth — guided tour
- 6:00 PM–9:00 PM · Église Saint-Martin, Épieds — exhibitions and performances
- 7:00 PM–10:30 PM · Église Saint-Aignan, Garennes-sur-Eure
- 8:00 PM–9:30 PM · Concert — Église de Serez
- 8:30 PM · Visit of historical monuments departing from the Hôtel de Ville d'Évreux
Saturday, May 30, 2026
- 4:30 PM–5:30 PM · Visit — Église Saint-Germain-de-Fresney
- 5:00 PM–11:00 PM · Archaeological site of Gisacum (Vieil-Évreux) — storytelling workshops
- 8:00 PM · Concert — Musée des Instruments à Vent, La Couture-Boussey
- 8:00 PM–9:30 PM · Choir concert — Église de Saint-André-de-l'Eure
- 8:30 PM · Guided tour — Architecture of the Reconstruction (Évreux)
- 9:00 PM–10:00 PM · Candlelight illumination — Église Saint-Germain-de-Fresney
Sunday, May 31, 2026
- All day · Anniversary route between Harcourt and Le Neubourg — itinerary focused on soft mobility, agriculture, and local history (10th anniversary novelty)
- All day · Exceptional opening of the Hôtel du Département in Évreux — guided tours and exhibition of works by students from Collège de Nonancourt (10th anniversary novelty)
Complete and exhaustive program on pierresenlumieres.fr/evenements (department filter: Eure).
Highlights Pierres en Lumières 2026
- Exceptional 10th edition for Eure (May 29-31, 2026)
- 86 illuminated heritage sites in 71 communes
- New: Harcourt — Le Neubourg route focusing on soft mobility, agriculture, and local history
- New: exceptional opening of the Hôtel du Département in Évreux
- Free activities: concerts, nocturnal tours, storytelling, exhibitions, farmers' markets
- 88 project leaders (municipalities, associations, owners)
Prices Pierres en Lumières 2026
Practical information — Pierres en Lumières
Practical Information
Locations
Various heritage sites throughout the Eure department. The list of participating sites is published annually on the festival's official website.
Dates
Three nights in May, usually a three-day weekend (Friday, Saturday, Sunday).
Times
Events take place in the evening and at night, generally starting from 7 PM or 8 PM.
Prices
Free admission to all sites.
Official Website
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Where does it take place — Pierres en Lumières
Sites patrimoniaux du département de l'Eure
Hôtel du Département, CS 72101, 27021 Évreux Cedex, 27000 Divers lieux (Eure)