Further details have been agreed and released around the Channel Islands involvement in 2027’s ‘Year of the Normans’.
A launch event took place at the British Embassy in Paris recently to mark the upcoming 1,000th anniversary of the birth of William the Conqueror.
Celebrations next year aim to highlight the “Normans, people of Europe” and the historical influence they have had across the continent.
Representatives from across the Channel Islands and Normandy attended the event, which featured traditional storytelling and folk music to showcase shared cultural heritage.
Deputy Steve Falla, member of the Policy & Resources Committee with responsibility for External Relations was there.
“Guernsey has strong cultural and historic ties with Normandy, stemming from our place in the Duchy of Normandy at the time of William the Conqueror and continuing to this day through our political relationship with our partners in the Region of Normandy.
“I was very pleased to lead the delegation of Guernsey political representatives who attended the launch event in Paris, alongside our partners in Jersey and Normandy, to promote our participation in this year-long celebration of Norman heritage.
“Through this event we will also continue to build and strengthen our relationships with wider European partners, which continues to be a priority for us.”
The initiative is being led by the Normandy Regional Council, with which the Channel Islands have maintained a formal relationship through a Memorandum of Understanding since 2015.
Since late 2024, officials and heritage groups from the islands have been collaborating on a programme designed to promote the shared unique identity, and historical links to the Duchy of Normandy.
The historical link
Guernsey’s relationship with Normandy is one of the oldest continuous political and cultural connections in Europe, dating back over a millennium.
It is a unique bond where the island remains loyal to the British Crown while maintaining the legal and cultural DNA of its French ancestors.
Any formal connection started in 933 AD, when William Longsword, the second Duke of Normandy, annexed the Channel Islands.
For the next 133 years, Guernsey was an integral part of the Duchy of Normandy, with the islands adopting the Norman language, legal customs, and feudal systems that still underpin Guernsey’s society today.
The most famous point in our shared history occurred in 1066, when Duke William of Normandy defeated King Harold at the Battle of Hastings.
As the Duke became King of England, Guernsey became part of a combined Anglo-Norman realm.
Then in 1204, King Philip II of France seized mainland Normandy from King John of England, but the Channel Islands chose to remain loyal to the English Crown, as the successor to the Dukes of Normandy.
This led to the 1215 Constitutions of King John, which granted the islands self-governance and the right to be ruled by their own ancient Norman laws rather than English law.
Planned events for 2027
More than 40 projects are being organised across the Channel islands, including exhibitions, academic conferences, and community festivals across our Bailiwick.
Next year’s Alderney Week will be themed around the Year of the Normans, featuring a cavalcade and torchlight procession.
Île d’Argent, Sark’s Norman Metal Festival is taking place from 4 – 6 June. The music event will explore the history and mythology, and feature Norman re-enactors and traditional crafts.
Guernsey’s Victor Hugo Centre will host ‘La Normandie Inconnue’, a collaboration with French museums and Jersey Heritage to display artefacts and literature relating to the Hugo family and their Norman identity.
The National Trust of Guernsey’s courtyard concert will feature traditional music followed by the annual Lé Viaër Marchi, a long standing celebration of island food and heritage.
Guernsey Arts will be responsible for ‘Beyond Our Seas/Between Our Shores’, a contemporary art programme involving artistic residencies and youth workshops exploring the maritime connection between the regions.
A major exhibition will also be held at Guernsey Museums next summer titled ‘Meet The Normans’ which will focus on island life between 1035 and 1087.
This will be followed by an enhanced ‘Fete d’Etai’ medieval festival and community procession in September.
The official programme of events is scheduled to be launched by the Region of Normandy in Caen this July.
Deputy Paul Montague, President of the Committee for Education, Sports and Culture, said there’ll be more information to come then.
“Guernsey’s participation in ‘Millenium – 2027 European Year of the Normans’ is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the island’s deep-rooted connections with Normandy and wider Europe.
“Work has been progressing at pace over the past few months to coordinate and develop a strong programme of events for Guernsey throughout 2027, which have been put forward by our community to showcase the rich history, language and traditions of our island.
“We will continue to support these plans to enable Guernsey to fully showcase our unique part of the Norman story, and I look forward to announcing the full programme of events later this year.”
