This is one of the most exciting cultural projects of the years to come in Calvados. The exceptional “reconstruction” of La Mora, the 34 m longship commanded in his time by William the Conqueror, will last four years in Honfleur and this extraordinary shipyard will be open to the public! Visitors will therefore be able to follow on site every action of the ten marine carpenters engaged in this crazy adventure, which recalls the legendary life-size reconstruction project of L'Hermione, La Fayette's frigate, in Rochefort (Charente-Maritime).
Before accessing the construction site itself, for several days visitors have had the opportunity to discover an equally exciting immersive museum on the Jetée de l'Est in Honfleur. Over four rooms, everyone finds themselves immersed in the heart of Norman maritime history, guided by the voice-over of a shipwright descended from the Vikings. “We are immediately struck by the magical atmosphere of Nordic mythology,” guarantees the president of the La Mora association, Olivier Pagezy. We travel in an immersive way both in the Viking world and in the preparations for the expedition which will lead William to the conquest of England.
“The special effects are astonishing,” adds the enthusiast. We can hear the wood creaking, the breathing of the horses and the rolling of the boat. » Very soon, the public will gradually see the boat itself appear. An exceptional opening is announced for May 1 and the weekend of May 8 and 9. “We have never rebuilt such imposing longships, dating from the 11th century, let alone using the methods and tools of the time! », assures Olivier Pagezy. The task promises to be titanic, especially since the objective is to put the hull in the water in 2027, the millennium of Guillaume's birth.