La Nuit des Chimères

Enjoy "La Nuit des Chimères", night-time projections in the Plantagenet City, all summer long from 2 July 2026.

The Nuit des Chimères 2026 will put the spotlight on those involved in sound in Le Mans.


Starting on 2 July 2026, the Nuit des Chimères will be making a comeback in the Plantagenet town of Le Mans (Sarthe), with this year's event focusing on sound. Throughout the summer, some twenty portraits of men and women whose professions are linked to the world of acoustics will be projected onto the emblematic monuments of Vieux Mans, from Saint Julien Cathedral to the Gallo-Roman wall.
This choice of theme is fully in line with the region's ambition to make Le Mans an international capital of sound. Engineers, artists, researchers and technicians all have one thing in common: they all play a part in the city's sound influence and contribute to its reputation well beyond the borders of Le Mans.


Luminous, colourful portraits
To bring these faces to life, artist Philippe Echaroux went to meet 21 personalities between 30 March and 3 April 2026. Through his lens, he discovered a rich and internationally recognised sound ecosystem.
"This theme allowed me to delve into a world I wasn't necessarily familiar with, and to discover some very different profiles", explains the artist, several of whose models also took part in the programming of the Le Mans Sonore biennial, organised in January.
Another new feature for this 2026 edition: the projections will gradually evolve from black and white to bright colours, offering a new visual interpretation of the heritage and reinforcing the artistic impact of the works.


Philippe Echaroux's creations will be on view in the open air, free of charge, from 2 July to September 2026, inviting residents and visitors to rediscover, by night, the stones and talents that make Le Mans tick.


Detailed programme to follow...