This September’s Accroche-Coeurs street festival will take a shot at world politics by featuring a referendum on whether England, now that it is on course to leave the EU, should be re-united with Anjou in western France.
That political breakup took place in the 13th century, with a lot more hostility than today’s, with the defeat of King John by Philip II of France in 1214. The two regions, called the Angevin Empire, were ruled together starting in 1152, when Henry II of England married Eleanor of Aquitaine. At its peak, it looked like this:
The vote will take place September 8-10, and will feature theatre, dance, circus and fine arts events, with the theme “So British!”
“Today, based on historical ties which once united England and Anjou, it seems important that we take up the initiative once more and propose a strong, structured and ambitious project, at the same time as allowing the English to leave this crisis with their heads held high,” the festival organisers said.
