Les 23, 24, 25, 30 et 31 octobre 2026 à la Citadelle de Bitche
Since 2009, every autumn, the underground passages of the Bitche Citadel have been the setting for an extraordinary experience. For its 16th edition, the citadel’s flagship event returns under a new name, the Cursed Corridors, and with a new artistic concept led by the Bitchissime association, which has been commissioned by the town of Bitche to design, produce and run this 2026 edition. The concept remains the same as that which has contributed to the event’s success over the years: transforming the fortress’s underground spaces into an immersive world where architecture, history and fantastical imagery come together to offer visitors a journey that is as bewildering as it is unsettling.
This year, Bitchissime has created a veritable city inhabited by a community that has been confined for generations within the depths of the fortress. In this timeless realm, the inhabitants are still awaiting the return of a mysterious messenger who is to announce whether the war is finally over… or whether a new one is about to begin. Drawing on the evocative power of the underground passages – their architecture, their scale and their historical uses – the journey transforms reality into a fantastical and supernatural world. Pagan horror, liminal spaces, phobias, surprise effects and magical illusions serve as sources of inspiration for crafting a succession of atmospheres, narratives, encounters and sensations, in which the visitor becomes a fully active participant in their own journey.
To bring this world to life, Bitchissime has brought together a multidisciplinary team drawing on the performing arts, visual arts, performance art, music, video and stage design. Existing sets, costumes and equipment will be extensively reused and adapted, whilst local resources and talent will be mobilised to ensure a production that is ambitious, collaborative and sustainable. Artistic performances in the main halls, interventions in the corridors, plays of light and shadow, sound design, unexpected appearances and surprise effects will combine to create an experience designed to engage both the imagination and the senses. With the Cursed Corridors, the Citadel of Bitche thus offers a new interpretation of its underground passages: a familiar heritage site which, for the duration of five evenings, is transformed into a strange, living and deeply unsettling realm.
Booking is essential!
There will be no ticket office on site on the days of the programme. To book your tickets, follow the link below.
