THE 2027 MILLENIUM
As part of the 2027 European Year of the Normans, the Gilbert de Venables Cultural Centre is leading two projects officially recognised by the Normandy Region. These initiatives aim to showcase the historical heritage of the Commune Nouvelle of Les Trois Lacs through two major sites of medieval Normandy: the Lordship of Venables, associated with Gilbert de Venables, and the Lordship of Tosny, the cradle of the Conches-Tosny family. These Norman lords played a pivotal role in the expansion of Norman influence, which extended across Italy, Spain, and England.
Project No. 1: To enhance and promote the motte-and-bailey castle of Venables and the history of one of its most emblematic lords, Gilbert de Venables. From the earliest stages of the formation of Normandy, Venables was the scene of rivalries between the Frankish counts and the Norman counts. These conflicts formed part of a broader historical context: the emergence of the feudal system during the formative years of the Duchy of Normandy.
Project No. 2: The Lords of Tosny (Conches-Tosny) were among the most powerful Norman aristocratic families of the 11th century. As leading figures in the emergence of the Duchy of Normandy, the Tosny family embodied the ideal of the ambitious Norman knight: deeply rooted in the lands of Normandy, yet driven by a spirit of adventure, conquest, and exploration beyond the borders of the duchy.
