Pierres en Lumières en Seine-Maritime

A unique festival born in Normandy

Pierres en Lumières is a unique festival in France, born in the department of Orne in 2009 at the instigation of heritage enthusiasts. Building on its success, the festival expanded to all of Normandy from 2015, becoming a regional event co-organized by the five Norman departments (Seine-Maritime, Eure, Calvados, Manche, Orne) and the Fondation du Patrimoine, Normandy delegation. In 2025, the festival celebrates its 10th regional edition, confirming its place as an unmissable event for Norman heritage.

Seine-Maritime heritage under the stars

In Seine-Maritime, dozens of heritage sites participate in the festival each year. Majestic abbeys, Romanesque and Gothic churches, castles, half-timbered manors, archaeological sites, and historic buildings open their doors at nightfall to offer original activities. The Abbey of Jumièges, the Abbey of Saint-Wandrille, churches in the Pays de Caux and Pays de Bray, castles in the Seine valley, and many other places are adorned with lights and host events that enhance their architecture.

Varied and free nocturnal activities

The Pierres en Lumières program is rich and diverse. The activities offered include concerts of classical, baroque, jazz, or traditional music in exceptional acoustics, spectacular light shows that reveal the architectural details of the monuments, nocturnal guided tours that unveil the secrets of the places, exhibitions of contemporary art or photography, live performances mixing theater, dance, and music, and artistic projections on facades.

The men and women of heritage

Beyond highlighting the stones, the festival celebrates the men and women who work to preserve Norman heritage. Public and private owners, association volunteers, artisans, restorers, and history enthusiasts are honored during this exceptional evening. The festival thus brings together public, associative, and private initiatives in a common effort to promote heritage, creating unique encounters between the public and the guardians of these architectural treasures.

An exemplary departmental partnership

Pierres en Lumières is the result of an exemplary partnership between the five Norman departments, which jointly coordinate the event's programming and communication. The Department of Seine-Maritime, through its Directorate of Culture and Heritage, plays a major role in organizing and promoting the festival in its territory, which boasts exceptional heritage ranging from the great abbeys of the Seine valley to the rural churches of the Pays de Caux.

A poetic and accessible experience

Pierres en Lumières offers a unique experience: discovering monuments often visited during the day under a radically different lighting, at dusk and after dark. This nocturnal approach reveals details invisible in daylight, creates enchanting atmospheres, and invites a renewed look at heritage. All activities are free, making this event accessible to all audiences and contributing to the democratization of access to heritage.