Come along to this free lecture by Vincent Coriol, lecturer in medieval history at Le Mans University, on the subject of animals and their representations in medieval heraldry.
Friday 27 March at 6.30pm at the Salle André Voisin (Halles) in Fresnay-sur-Sarthe. Free admission.
"Who has no coat of arms wears a lion".
The lion, an emblematic animal, is the most represented animal in the coats of arms of the Middle Ages. But it is far from the only one: fish, birds, bears, goats, sheep, cattle, dragons, chimeras, vouivres and mermaids can also be encountered, forming an abundant menagerie that testifies to the importance of animal representation in medieval mentalities. Symbolic, practical, esoteric or simply a prosaic evocation of common sounds, the presence of animals on coats of arms opens the door to a whole medieval universe that is symbolic... but also very concrete.
"Who has no coat of arms wears a lion".
The lion, an emblematic animal, is the most represented animal in the coats of arms of the Middle Ages. But it is far from the only one: fish, birds, bears, goats, sheep, cattle, dragons, chimeras, vouivres and mermaids can also be encountered, forming an abundant menagerie that testifies to the importance of animal representation in medieval mentalities. Symbolic, practical, esoteric or simply a prosaic evocation of common sounds, the presence of animals on coats of arms opens the door to a whole medieval universe that is symbolic... but also very concrete.
Opening times
On 27 March 2026
- 18:30
