European partners
MILLENIUM is built upon exceptional European cooperation, bringing together territories united by a common heritage forged through Norman expeditions during the medieval era.
Across the Channel, William the Conqueror — first Duke of Normandy, then King of England — left a multifaceted legacy. It can be seen in numerous objects and heritage sites, as well as in the deep historical and cultural ties that still connect Normandy and England today. All nations of the United Kingdom — England, Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland — will take part in the commemorative year.
Cities such as Canterbury, Norwich, Reading, Hastings, Battle, and Colchester are planning reenactments, festivals, exhibitions, gastronomic events, and sports activities.
This participation will take many forms: in Canterbury, the annual parade will be dedicated to medieval Normandy.
The British Library will present an exceptional exhibition on the political, linguistic, and cultural impact of the Norman Conquest in the United Kingdom.
The Tower of London, the National Archives, and the British Council are all contributing to the initiative, with, for example, a bilingual educational kit.
“The Battle Conference on Anglo-Norman Studies”, the leading British conference dedicated to medieval English and Norman history and culture, will exceptionally be held in Normandy in 2027 for its 50th anniversary.
A shared heritage, embodied through figures such as Richard de Clare (known as Strongbow) or Henry II Plantagenet, grandson of William the Conqueror, closely links Ireland and Normandy.
Trinity College will launch a digital research project, NAISC (Normandy and Ireland Settlement Connections), which will highlight the ties between Normandy and Ireland through an innovative geospatial tool.
An interpretation centre on the history of the Normans in Ireland will open in New Ross in 2027. Dublin will host an international conference, “Normanitas”, as part of the city’s History Festival.
The Channel Islands, whose history remains deeply connected to Norman expeditions, will also be fully involved.
In Guernsey, the culture, heritage, and tourism departments plan to orient all their activities around MILLENIUM. A series of exhibitions and events will highlight the island’s Norman heritage.
In Jersey, the French Festival will be renamed and will feature a programme that resonates with MILLENIUM.
While Duke William of Normandy was seizing the kingdom of England in 1066, other Normans were engaged in an equally extraordinary military adventure: the conquest of Southern Italy and Sicily by the sons of the Lord of Hauteville.
In 2027, the Normandy Region will play an active role in the programme of Fantastico Medioevo, a multi‑year cultural event (2025–2028) dedicated to showcasing the medieval heritage of Basilicata. The programme, infused with Norman heritage through artistic, scientific, and civic exchanges, brings together researchers, young talents, cultural institutions, and European partners.
Normandy’s history is closely linked to that of Scandinavian peoples. Norman expeditions directly follow in the footsteps of the Viking sagas. Symbols such as the Jelling Stone, offered to the city of Rouen in 1911 to mark the Millennium of the founding of Normandy, are enduring reminders of these deep ties.
In Denmark
The Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde is working with Normandy on a project to bring together Viking ships in Normandy in 2027. Several exhibitions and installations will be featured in Copenhagen’s museums (Glyptotek, Ordrupgaard, Arken). A digital installation based on the Bayeux Tapestry will also be presented at the Moesgaard Museum in Aarhus.
In Norway
The International Puppet Festival 2027 in Bergen will celebrate the European Year of the Normans, featuring companies from all partner territories.
The National Museum of Oslo and the Bayeux Tapestry Museum are preparing a collaborative project exploring the connections between the Bayeux and Baldishol tapestries.
Several events will also mark 2027: an exhibition of contemporary textile art at the Fossekleiva Centre, an exhibition on symbolic animals at the Kistefos Museum of Contemporary Art, and the reopening of the Viking Ship Museum in Bygdøy, accompanied by a special event dedicated to the European Year of the Normans.
Flanders shares a historical heritage with Normandy through Matilda of Flanders, born in Bruges and wife of William. Partnerships are being considered around Franco‑Flemish polyphony and gastronomy. Several meetings with Flanders, recently involved in the MILLENIUM project, are paving the way for future cultural and economic cooperation.