Tournoi des Sangles

Extreme sport in a medieval fortress

The Tournoi des Sangles is one of the most unique events in Mayenne: a highline tournament (slacklining at height) stretched between the towers of a 15th-century medieval castle. The Château de Lassay, an admirably preserved fortress with its eight towers and moats, offers a spectacular and vertiginous setting for this sport, which involves walking, dancing, and performing acrobatic figures on a line stretched more than ten meters high.

The Houle Douce company

The Tournoi des Sangles is produced by the Houle Douce company, based in Marseille, a pioneer in slackline performance in France. Founded by balance and performance enthusiasts, the company has developed a unique artistic language combining sport, aerial dance, and performing arts. The Château de Lassay has become one of their favorite venues for creating shows specifically designed for the site.

World champions on the lines

The tournament brings together top-level athletes from around the world:

• Louise Lenoble: French freestyle highline champion
• Cécilia Stock: Italian-German highline champion
• Ugo Cavalier: acrobatic slackline performer
• Nicolas Pouchard: musician-tightrope walker playing saxophone and flute on the line
• Antonin Gavoty: pyrotechnician creating fire displays around the performances

Nightly shows: “From Stone to Star”

The highlight of the Tournoi des Sangles is the nightly show, an original creation by the Houle Douce company specifically designed for the Château de Lassay. Titled “De la pierre à l'étoile” (From Stone to Star), this show transforms the fortress into an open-air stage:

• Acrobatic performances on highline between the towers, illuminated by light shows
• Live music played from the lines and at the foot of the walls
• Pyrotechnics creating a magical and dramatic atmosphere around the towers
• Poetic narration connecting the ancient stone of the castle to the stars of the night sky

A week of training and competition

The tournament takes place over a full week in August, alternating training sessions, highline competitions, and public performances. The days are dedicated to the sporting events between participants, while the evenings of Friday and Saturday welcome the public for the nightly shows. This extended format allows athletes to immerse themselves in the location and create unique performances adapted to the castle's architecture.