Caen’s Millennium kickoff

In March 2025, the City of Caen inaugurated its Millennium celebrations with a ceremony at the Château — and MadamePolare shares why the key became our favorite emblem to mark this historic launch.

On March 20, 2025, Caen officially kicked off its Millennium with a grand opening night at the Château de Caen, which reopened its doors after two years of renovation. The event, presented as one of the highlights of the Millennium program, attracted over 105,000 visitors over several days, with a wide array of performances, projections, guided tours and festivities.

MadamePolare contributed to this moment by creating a visual identity built around a simple, evocative symbol: the key. But why the key? Here's what it means to us:

1. The Castle’s key
   It physically unlocks the Saint-Pierre and Champs gates — a gesture that quite literally marks the reopening of this historic monument to the people of Caen after restoration.
2. The key as a symbol of openness
   A key opens a door. It invites us to cross a threshold. Here, it represents the launch of the Millennium festivities — an invitation to dive into 1,000 years of history and step toward the future.
3. The key as a promise
   It embodies the inaugural gesture — placing the city in the hands of its citizens and guests, opening doors to knowledge, culture, and shared heritage.

Visually, we made the key a central graphic element, subtly woven into the typography and communication materials (both print and digital), in a warm color palette evoking the stone of the castle and the soft glow of an open door.

© Jean-Christophe Lorieux / Ville de Caen

What it means to us at MadamePolare

• A project deeply rooted in local history, blending heritage, civic spirit, and artistic ambition.
• A visual that is meaningful and universal: the key speaks to all generations, transcends styles, and marks a symbolic beginning.
• A clear affirmation of our desire to design visuals that carry meaning — that tell stories and move people before a single word is read.

© I. Henry

In short, the launch ceremony of Caen’s Millennium was a powerful and symbolic moment, and the key — our chosen motif — beautifully captured the spirit of this first opening: toward the past, the present, and above all, the future.