Blood of the Drakkars — Noirmoutier's Hidden Viking Stronghold
Decipher the Viking occupation of Noirmoutier (799–1000 AD). Track down the monastery's lost relics, decode the raiders' supply routes, and expose the secret alliance that kept the Norse invaders entrenched on French soil.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In 799, Viking drakkars appeared off the coast of Noirmoutier, launching a 200-year reign of terror across the Loire Valley
Noirmoutier, Bloody Outpost of the Northmen
In 799, Viking drakkars appeared off the coast of Noirmoutier, launching a 200-year reign of terror across the Loire Valley. The monks of Saint-Philbert's monastery were slaughtered; their sacred reliquary—the golden chasse of their founder—vanished into legend. By 843, the Vikings had established a permanent stronghold on the island, using it as a base to pillage Nantes, Angers, and the Aquitaine coast. But how did they hold Noirmoutier for so long? What local lords turned a blind eye? Where did they hide their plunder and sacred treasures? Your mission: walk the island's 2 km core, visit the ruins of the monastery, the castle ramparts, and the harbor fortifications. Piece together cryptic monk chronicles, decode Viking settlement patterns, and uncover the conspiracy that allowed Norse raiders to operate with impunity from French soil. The truth lies buried in stone and salt-worn memory.
« On ne peut s'empêcher de s'émerveiller de la témérité de ces hommes du Nord, capables d'établir une base si loin de leurs terres, au cœur même de l'empire carolingien. »— Ermentaire, moine et chroniqueur, IXe siècle
Île d'Her: Fortification and Wintering
As early as 799, Noirmoutier was the first Frankish land to suffer Viking attacks. These incursions, initially targeted pillaging of the wealthy Abbey of Saint-Philibert, quickly transformed into a strategic occupation. The island, named 'Île d'Her' by the Norsemen, offered an ideal refuge for their fleets, a wintering spot, and a base of operations for sailing up rivers.
Faced with this growing threat, Louis the Pious ordered the construction of a *castrum* around 830. However, the persistence of the raids, notably the defeat of Count Rainaldus d'Herbauge in 835, forced the monks into a definitive exodus in 836. Figures like Bjorn Ironside left their mark there, transforming Noirmoutier into a formidable outpost, even observed by distant ambassadors such as al-Ghazal in 844.
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
The game downloads to your phone on start. Once the "✓ Downloaded" indicator appears, everything works without data — narration, AR, GPS and puzzles. Perfect abroad without a data plan.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
5-10 curated sites across the territory
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 14,90€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
In the Footsteps of Longships
Relive the Viking raids, from the arrival of the first fleets to the establishment of strategic bases.
Strategists and Fleeing Monks
Discover Louis the Pious's defense attempts and the forced exodus of Saint-Philibert's monks.
Noirmoutier, Île d'Her
Explore the island as it was perceived and used by the Northmen, an insular stronghold.
The Longships left their indelible mark on Noirmoutier. Unravel the mystery of their legacy.
A historical journey into the heart of France's first Viking incursions.
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Blood of the Drakkars — Noirmoutier's Hidden Viking Stronghold — is it a guided trail or a free-form hunt?
It's a semi-guided trail: GPS points you to the next stop, but you find the camera clue and solve the puzzle yourself. No app to install, everything runs in your browser.
Q02Can we split Blood of the Drakkars — Noirmoutier's Hidden Viking Stronghold across two days?
Yes — your code stays active and progress is saved. You can start Saturday afternoon, finish Sunday morning. Some players actually prefer this format to make the most of a full weekend on site.
Q03Can we do Blood of the Drakkars — Noirmoutier's Hidden Viking Stronghold as a family with kids?
Yes, from age 6 with an adult reading puzzles aloud, and from age 12 on their own. Kids love the "find the camera clue" part — it's very visual, gets them genuinely involved.
Q04What's the best time to start?
Morning between 10 and 11, or early afternoon around 2 PM, is ideal. You still have daylight ahead, Historic center of Noirmoutier-en-l'Île, France is less crowded, and the light is better for camera clues.
Avis des aventuriers
Soyez le premier à partager votre expérience.
Did you play le sang des drakkars sur noirmoutier? Check the email you received after your game to leave a verified review.
Your turn to play
Noirmoutier Island awaits you for an immersive adventure, between myth and history, to discover the secrets of the Northmen. Weigh anchor and embark on an unforgettable quest!
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
Other escape games in France
View France→More destinations, tours & urban treasure hunts across the country
Explore other cities in France
Nantes
Castle of the Dukes of Brittany and Jules Verne
Concarneau
Fortified Ville Close and fishing port
Laval
Medieval city, between history and mystery
Saint-Malo
Corsair city and ramparts facing the ocean
Mont-Saint-Michel
The medieval marvel between sky and sea
Angoulême
Comic book capital and panoramic ramparts
