Reconstruct the Mora, the flagship of William the Conqueror, identically. This is the challenge initiated by a team of enthusiasts brought together in an association in 2018. A pharaonic project since in addition to the architectural challenge, the group rehabilitated an industrial wasteland on one of the piers of Honfleur to house the site and there welcome the public. A scenography also presents the history of the boat and the various naval conquests of William the Conqueror. Everything therefore went more or less as planned from the start and the project itself was able to see the light of day in 2023. But, twist of events: at the beginning of November 2024, the La Mora association announced that it had requested a safeguard procedure.
“This is in no way a matter of legal redress. Safeguarding is a procedure designed to allow associations that are occasionally mistreated to get through a difficult phase. In backupThere is save », nuance the president of Mora, Jean-Marie Rousseau. He certainly concedes that “the situation is tense”, but not likely, according to him, to call into question this highly publicized project at the time of its presentation.
It remains to be understood how the initial enthusiasm could have led to this critical situation. Let us recall that this project is estimated at no less than 7.2 million euros, financed to the tune of 4 million by public funds, starting with the department of Calvados which put 2.5 million euros into the table.
“It is true, but it is important to remember,” retorts the president, “that the association had to face much higher building renovation costs than those initially anticipated by the architects. The increase in construction materials since Covid has also weighed heavily on our cash flow. »
However, there is another problem… The forecast budgets anticipated more than 100,000 visitors per year around the site. However, the results of the first year show… 40,000 visitors. Although the year is not over, and the Mora only welcomed its first visitors in March, the count is not there. Here again, the president wants to be reassuring: “The concept pleases. There is no doubt that we should quickly welcome around 100,000 visitors per year here. This would allow the financial autonomy of the association. As with all new tourist sites, it takes time. » In other words: this “tense” situation is temporary.
In the meantime, the Mora site therefore remains open. It is moreover the whole purpose of “safeguarding” which allows both the continuation of economic activity and the maintenance of primary jobs. With the hope of staying on schedule, and sailing the new Mora by 2027… 1,000 years after the birth of the Norman duke who conquered England.
