Vol Libre

Vol Libre is the mounted falconry company that performs in Provins Les Aigles des Remparts, the upper town's bird-of-prey show. The company was born in 1998 and in 2002 took over the show, which until then had been run by the town and the tourist office. It has in Provins a hundred birds of 25 species and breeds Spanish horses and raptors.

Who runs it

At its head is Philippe Hertel, falconer, rider and show creator. He began with birds during his military service, in 1984, at the Strasbourg-Entzheim air base, where he later led the falconry section for eight years. In 1992 he obtained the certificate of capacity, the qualification French law requires for keeping wild fauna. He ran a bird-of-prey site in Beaucaire, in the Gard, was artistic director of the Provins show between 1993 and 2001 and has staged shows for other places, such as an amusement park in Germany. The company holds performance licences from the Ministry of Culture.

What it offers

The centre of its work is Les Aigles des Remparts, in the ramparts theatre, on the Rempart du Cours aux Bêtes. It is performed for about seven months a year, from late March to early November, two to four times a day in season, and receives about 90,000 spectators each season. The 2027 season begins on Saturday 27 March, with a new show. Tickets are bought at the ticket office on its website.

Outside the show it organises falconry introductions in Provins in three formats: an activity for families, in which you discover and fly a bird of prey; another for adults, more complete; and another for groups and companies. The website does not publish duration, minimum age or price; they are requested by phone or email. In southern Gironde it also offers, from November to February, an experience with birds of prey booked online.

The company also works for events, film, television, parades and equestrian competitions: it has performed at Chambord castle, at the Nuit du cheval in Paris and at the Geneva jumping show.

Contact and bookings

The headquarters is at 16 Rempart du Cours aux Bêtes, in Provins, next to the theatre. You can contact it on +33 1 60 58 80 32 or at [email protected]. The website has an English version; the show is presented in French. The website does not detail cancellation conditions; it is wise to ask when buying.