Special in 2027
The Millénium & the Armada.
2027 isn't just any Armada: it coincides with the 1,000th anniversary of William the Conqueror's birth — and Normandy is celebrating in style, on the water.
2027 isn't just any Armada: it coincides with the 1,000th anniversary of William the Conqueror's birth — and Normandy is celebrating in style, on the water.
William, Duke of Normandy — born around 1027 in Falaise — changed history when he crossed the Channel and won the Battle of Hastings in 1066, becoming King of England. His story, told in the famous Bayeux Tapestry, still defines Normandy's identity. 2027 marks the millennium of his birth, celebrated across the region as a “Millénium” and a European year of the Normans.
The Armada is at the heart of the celebrations. For the first time at this scale, a fleet of around forty Viking and Norman drakkars — sailing in from Norway and Denmark — will line the left bank of the Seine, facing the great tall ships across the water. It's a vivid nod to the Norse seafarers who sailed up this very river over a thousand years ago and gave Normandy (“land of the Northmen”) its name. Read more on our Viking ships page.
Alongside the drakkars, a dedicated Millénium heritage village of around 400 m² will host cultural events, history and animations on the quays — making the left bank, quiet in 2023, one of the liveliest parts of the 2027 festival.
If the story grabs you, extend your visit: the Bayeux Tapestry and the D-Day coast lie west of Rouen, and the city's own cathedral and medieval streets tell their own chapter of Norman history.
Join the list for the full Armada 2027 guide, day-trip ideas and a heads-up before rooms sell out.