Angers Castle Opens HeROIc After Dark on November 14

An Evening in Two Parts at the Heart of the Monument

On Saturday, November 14, 2026, Angers Castle will host a gathering combining a podcast recorded in public and a nighttime visit. The event is announced for 6 p.m., as part of the exhibition “HeROIc. From Medieval Marvels to Fantasy,” with the evening scheduled until 9 p.m. The proposal is simple and rare in its format: first attend a live podcast in the Apocalypse Gallery, then extend the evening in the royal residence with the exhibition exceptionally open after dark.

The program is aimed at the general public, ages 12 and up. It is presented as free, but access is not automatic: even for this no-cost event, a reservation is required by booking a ticket in advance. Online ticketing will remain open until the last minute, while the castle ticket offices will be able to issue tickets until the day before the event, then on the evening itself only subject to availability.

“Passion Médiévistes” Recorded in the Apocalypse Gallery

The first part of the evening, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., will take the form of a live recording of the podcast “Passion Médiévistes” in the Apocalypse Gallery. Fanny Cohen Moreau returns to the Château d'Angers after a first podcast devoted to the Apocalypse Tapestry in 2024. This time, the announced topic is the fantasy genre and its links with medieval culture.

The choice of venue gives this recording a particular resonance: the Apocalypse Gallery is not just the setting for a discussion, it places the conversation in direct contact with a major medieval heritage work within the monument. The official website presents the castle as a fortress and a place associated with a “gigantic medieval masterpiece unique in the world,” while the event specifically brings the Middle Ages, transmission, and contemporary imaginaries into dialogue.

Fantasy, Weapons, Costumes, and Medievalism on the Mic

The announced guests are directly connected to the exhibition. Nicolas P. Baptiste and Soline Anthore Baptiste, known as “Les Geekstoriens,” are presented as doctors of history and specialists in weapons and costumes from the medieval and modern periods. Floryan Varennes, a historian of medievalism and visual artist, will also take part in the discussion. All three are curators of the exhibition “HeROIc. From Medieval Marvels to Fantasy.”

The theme of the program is therefore not a simple evocation of fantasy. It is built around profiles that bring together history, material culture, ancient weapons, costumes, visual arts, and pop culture. The castle website states that Les Geekstoriens decode pop culture in the tradition of “cultural studies,” notably through articles, lectures, books, and exhibitions.

An Exhibition Open Later Than Usual

The second part of the evening will begin at 7:30 p.m. Until 9 p.m., visitors will be able to continue by discovering the exhibition in the castle’s royal residence. This nighttime opening is explicitly presented as exceptional, with the curators present in the galleries. For the public, the practical appeal is clear: the event does not stop at listening to the podcast, it continues immediately in the exhibition spaces.

The exhibition “HeROIc. From Medieval Marvels to Fantasy” is listed as a temporary exhibition at the castle, scheduled from July 4, 2026, to January 3, 2027. The monument’s homepage identifies it as a current exhibition and mentions seven events around the exhibition. The round table with “Passion Médiévistes” is one of these associated events.

A Podcast Dedicated to Making the Middle Ages Accessible

Created in 2017 by Fanny Cohen Moreau, “Passion Médiévistes” is presented by the castle as a web radio program that talks about History differently. Its slogan is quoted on the event page: “The Middle Ages told by those who study them.” The stated aim is to popularize the Middle Ages through interviews with researchers who study this period.

The podcast is also described as recognized in academic circles and appreciated for both its relaxed tone and its scientific rigor. The castle states that it has more than 2.5 million cumulative listens across 150 episodes since its creation. The Angers evening therefore fits into an approach in which the podcast becomes a vehicle for transmitting scientific knowledge, in connection with cultural and heritage sites.

Speakers Between Research and Creation

Soline Anthore Baptiste is presented as a doctor of modern history and a specialist in the history of clothing. An exhibition curator, author, and lecturer, she designs exhibitions in France, Switzerland, and Belgium, bringing history, material culture, and contemporary imaginaries into dialogue. This approach corresponds to the subject of the evening, which connects fantasy with medieval forms and references.

Nicolas P. Baptiste is presented as a doctor of medieval history, specializing in ancient weapons and armor. A historian, author, and exhibition curator, he has worked for more than fifteen years with museums and heritage institutions in France, Switzerland, Belgium, and Italy. His announced fields focus on military history, arms collections, and medieval imaginaries.

Floryan Varennes occupies a distinctive place in the program. A visual artist and trained historian, he develops a practice at the crossroads of sculpture, installation, and research. Invited as part of the exhibition “HeROIc,” he presents “Respawn,” an installation designed especially for Angers Castle. The site also specifies that he contributed to the development of the exhibition as a member of the scientific committee.

Reservation, Accessibility, and Access Rules

Even though the event is free, the access conditions call for preparation. The castle asks visitors to reserve a place by booking a ticket in advance. Tickets will be available online until the last minute, at the castle ticket offices until the day before, then on site on the evening itself only if places remain available.

The event is announced as suitable for people with reduced mobility and strollers. The site also notes that access to the monument is regulated for reasons related to the Vigipirate security plan, as well as for animals, bicycles, and scooters. Visitors are invited to make their arrangements before arriving, making reservation and anticipation of the access rules two essential points for the evening.