Serge Tignères

The Glorious Story of Castles Carriers of myths and legends, castles strongly mark our imaginations, appearing most often as the pivot of a dark and barbaric period. Reality is different. They are full of mystery and grandeur, emblematic abstractions of the Middle Ages, they testify to medieval civilization.

The castle is undoubtedly the emblematic monument of the thousand years of history that constitute the Middle Ages. But how were castles actually built between the 10th and 15th century? What techniques were used before the introduction of modern construction practices?

For the first time, and thanks to new archaeological excavations, this documentary reveals how Pompeii, the pride of its builders, developed, from its origins at the end of the seventh century BC until the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. The use of CGI and 3D mapping provides a very clear view of this ancient superstructure and eight centuries of urban evolution. We will revive this great historical fresco through accounts by international archaeologists and historians. Pompeii: The Origins is a journey to the heart of an ancient ‘motion designed’ city.

Four part miniseries about ancient China, Egypt, The Indus, and Mesopotamia.

From the beginning of the Middle Ages, castles have imposed themselves as symbols of power. Over time, France will cover itself with fortresses built according to almost identical plans. It was in the 12th and 13th centuries that castles took their typical form and truly knew their golden age! Their architecture will freeze for eternity the very image of these medieval buildings. How to explain this prosperous period? What technologies did the architects of the Middle Ages deploy to accomplish such monumental works? To better understand it, we will follow a group of medieval history enthusiasts. Together, they imagined a crazy project: to build a real fortified castle using the methods of the 13th century. Through this titanic challenge, this documentary finally pierces the mysteries of the great builders of History.

At its height, the Roman Empire encompassed Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. How did it keep prospering for over 400 years? And why did it come to a rapid end? What can we learn from the Roman Empire and what guiding principles does it offer us today?