The escape game "Black Owl" has just opened its doors at 5 rue d'Alençon, in Puy-en-Velay, on the initiative of Florent Barrué and Laura Mathon, both shopkeepers in Yssingeaux. In a beautiful space of 300m2, a first room allows the public to immerse themselves in the medieval era through "The Brotherhood of the Black Owl". Other themes and puzzles are already planned for the coming months.
"The first room that was opened is a nod to the Bird King festivals and to the medieval era."
What made you want to open this gaming space?
Florent Barrué: It's about wanting to start another project, after the one that allowed my partner and me to open a grocery store in Yssingeaux. We decided to open this escape game to move away from the food industry and towards a leisure activity. It's something I really enjoy, because I love doing escape games and playing board games that involve puzzles and brain teasers.
What's special about it?
Florent Barrué: It's a permanent escape game, open year-round. With 300 square meters of space and a parking lot, it has plenty of room to welcome players and plan future rooms. The first room we opened is a nod to the King of the Birds festival and the medieval period. There are few puzzles involving padlocks. We've incorporated a lot of electronics. We made all the sets ourselves and wrote the entire story.
A few words about the scenario proposed to the players?
Florent Barrué: The escape game we're offering is called "The Brotherhood of the Black Owl," a nod to our establishment's name, "Black Owl." The black owl features in all the stories we want to tell. The first room was named "The Brotherhood of the Black Owl," which represents the King's personal guard. The goal for the players, who take on the role of knights, is to solve puzzles to join the Brotherhood of the Black Owl. First, they must win the King of the Owl's famous archery competition to continue their adventure. It all begins at the Mischievous Chicken Inn.
Will other rooms open in the future?
Florent Barrué: Yes, that's the goal in a space this large. We still have about 150 square meters to use. Eventually, we'd like to offer three or four different adventures, and of course, on other themes. We're eager to open a second room to accommodate more people and allow for rotations. This could be of interest to corporate teams, for example.
What type of audience are you targeting?
Florent Barrué: Of course, there are those who are already familiar with escape games, as there aren't any other permanent escape rooms in Haute-Loire; you have to go to Saint-Étienne or Lyon for that. I'd love to welcome people who have never participated and are hesitant to try, to show them that it's accessible to everyone. The goal is to have fun! I'm here as the game master; I can hear and see people, and my role is to give them clues. I adjust the difficulty level according to the participants' skill level. You can play in groups of 2 to 6 people.
How to book?
Florent Barrué: Simply go to the website and reserve a time slot on the calendar provided. Payment is made online. For time slots other than those offered, you can contact me by phone.
5 rue d’Alençon 43000 Le Puy-en-Velay
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