An article by Vokya D, added on May 04, 2026 4 min. reading
The Écouen Historical Society is offering two exciting events in May and June 2026. Between the spectacular discovery of D'Artagnan's skeleton in Maastricht and the national celebration of the Chappe telegraph: an invention of which Écouen is one of the cradles, local history is taking center stage.
May 9, 2026 – D'Artagnan, the man of impossible missions: a conference at the heart of current events
This is not a fictional character. Charles de Batz de Castelmore, known as D'Artagnan, was indeed a Gascon gentleman in the service of the kings of France, who dedicated his life to the French crown before inspiring Alexandre Dumas' hero of Three Musketeers in the 19th century.
And current events give it an unexpected resonance: In early March 2026, a skeleton believed to be that of D'Artagnan was discovered in a church in Maastricht. During repair work related to a partial floor collapse in February, the bones were discovered in the nave of a church whose origins date back to at least the 13th century. A French coin was found nearby, and the burial site, on the very spot where the altar had stood, suggests that the deceased was a person of high rank. The skeleton has since been transferred to an archaeological institute in Deventer.and a DNA sample taken on March 13 is being analyzed in a laboratory in Munich.
It is in this exciting context that the conference organized by the Historical Society of Écouen takes place. Mrs. Odile Bordaz, historian, biographer of D'Artagnan and president of the Historical and Cultural Commission of the European Route of D'Artagnanwill come to present "D'Artagnan, the man of impossible missions" and deliver the very latest information on this major archaeological discovery. A book sale in partnership with the bookstore The experience The evening will conclude with a book signing by Madame Bordaz and a presentation by Gonesse.
Practical information
📍 Écouen Town Hall – Council Chamber
🗓️ Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 16:00 PM
💶 Free entry, registration required
✉️ historicalsocietedecouen@gmail.com
June 7, 2026 – National Chappe Telegraphy Day: Écouen, cradle of a communications revolution
Écouen is not an ordinary place in the history of telecommunications. In 1793,, it is by passing through the hill of Écouen that Claude chappe proceeded to the world's first aerial telegraph experiment, between Ménilmontant and Saint-Martin-du-Tertre, allowing for the first time the rapid and reliable transmission of long-distance messagesSending a message from Strasbourg to Paris took four days by horse; With the Chappe telegraph, it took two hours.
7st June 2026 The Écouen Historical Society is partnering with the 19th National Chappe Telegraphy Day, organized under the aegis of the FNARHto revive this extraordinary chapter in the history of science. Fifteen Chappe telegraph towers or sites will open their doors across France, and Écouen is one of them. within the Tourelles Manor, located between the town hall and the castle, which houses the Chappe space dedicated to the telegraph.
You’ll find here: Annotated presentation of the Chappe telegraph, contextualization of the world's first telecommunication experiment, presentation of Claude Chappe's costume, and visit to the site of the telegraph tower in the forest. Two animation sessions are planned for the afternoon.
Practical information
📍 Le Manoir des Tourelles (Tea Room) – Écouen
🗓️ Sunday, June 7, 2026
🕑 Open from 14pm to 18pm
🎭 Entertainment at 15:00 PM and 16:30 PM
💶 Free entry
To follow upcoming events of the Écouen Historical Society:
✉️ historicalsocietedecouen@gmail.com
