La Verdoyante : de Saint-Sever à Lisieux

Built during the XIIIth Century in granite and remodelled during the XIXth Century, the Abbey looks quite dumpy. The interior is very beautiful, despite the irregular layout of the nave (during the XVIth century the nave was split into two; a parish church and an abbatial church). Also to be seen: the lantern-light tower, its dome mounted on a cupola (smaller dome) with an entasis 100m high: a separate belfry remains in the old parish church.

13th century fortified gate flanked by two towers and surmounted by a belfry with a pinnacle. Temporary exhibitions throughout the tourist season.

Nestled in an 18th century hôtel-Dieu, the Vire Normandie Museum has reopened its doors after 3 years of renovation. Explore the history of Vire Normandie and follow in the footsteps of the men and women who transformed the town and its Bocage! Come and discover the new scenography and the surprises of the tour: games, multimedia, models, animated films, olfactory device. Visit for all ages. From 5 April 2023, the museum will inaugurate its high season with a new temporary exhibition entitled La fabrique des parfums - Roger&Gallet, une marque iconique. In 1862, two people from Vienna joined forces to create the House of Roger&Gallet. Perfume is no longer just a means of fighting miasmas and bad smells, it is also a matter of hygiene, a social marker and well-being. Art and industry, health and beauty, nature and chemistry, perfume is at the crossroads of many fields. The exhibition offers a history of perfume through the evolution of a famous French perfume brand and an unforgettable olfactory experience! Exhibition until 5 November 2023.

Production of the genuine Vire ‘andouille’ chitterling sausage, according to an age-old recipe involving traditional smoking. Group visits all year round by appointment. Individual tours at 3pm on Wednesdays exclusively in August. Visit lasts: 1 hour.

Located in the heart of Vire, a stone's throw from the Porte Horloge, the Paul Danjou boutique welcomes you to discover its genuine old-fashioned Andouille de Vire. The boutique also offers a wide selection of local Normandy products.

Visits of a genuine Vire ‘andouille’ chitterling sausage production site, by appointment. Product tasting and boutique.

Built in the 12th Century, the keep was dismantled following orders from Richelieu... Along with its counterparts in Falaise, Chambois and Domfront, it is a fine example of a typically Norman square keep.

Small-scale production of cider, pommeau, calvados, apple juice and cider jam. Explanation on the life of the cider apple. Guided tours in French: 45 minutes. By appointment.

A stone's throw from Condé-sur-Noireau, nestling in the heart of the Druance valley, the Castle of Pontécoulant is reminiscent of the life of the noble Norman family, the Le Doulcet de Pontécoulant, resident here since the 14th Century. Overlooking the river and the copse, the English-style gardens, dating from the reign of Louis XVI, are the ideal site for a romantic stroll in the shade of the trees that adorn its meandering pathways.

The Charles Léandre Museum has met with increasing popularity among visitors who appreciate the originality of its museographical displays and the quality of its collections. Over and above paintings by the artist and caricaturist Charles Léandre (1862-1934), other collections include Norman artists, among which an area devoted to Eduardo-León Garrido (1856-1949) and his son Louis-Edouard (1893-1982). On the last floor of the museum, an innovative scenographic display tells the story of this very old industrial town, of its illustrious figures and of the tragic hours of World War II. Unique in Normandy, a must-see: the scale-model of old Condé (40m2) which, just like the Plan of Rome, reminds us of the town's topography prior to the bombardments on the 6th of June 1944. Opened in 2016, a new gallery pays tribute to contemporary Norman art, with work by the artist Jack Mutel (1935-2016).

Within the prestigious reception area at Corlet Numérique in Condé-sur-Noireau, the printers' longstanding employees offer you a fascinating insight into typographical composition and printing using equipment that dates from the early 19th century. During your visit, you will discover an original Linotype at work, a monotype, manual printing presses, a pedal machine, an Ofmi Heidelberg press at work and a range of other equipment and lead or wood lettering, an array of pictures and illustrations along with comprehensive documentation on printing professions. ‘Moments d'Histoire à la une’ (History's Highlights) exhibition. Unaccompanied visit. Guided tour on request.

In the heart of the preserved natural and undulating countryside of the Suisse Normande area, we invite you to discover the pleasure of outdoor sport. For schools, leisure associations, medico-social establishments or works councils, the Pont d’Ouilly outdoor leisure base proposes a vast range of sport and leisure activities: canoeing-kayaking, stand-up paddle, archery, orienteering, climbing, treetop adventure, fishing, environmental education, themed walks, geocoaching and a touring holidays for teenagers. Within an exceptional environment, the leisure base also proposes group accommodation adpated to suit your needs and your budget: two group rentals with a sleeping capacity of 30 and 36, together with a campsite with a capacity of 250. All accommodation is available on a simple rental or half-board basis. For private individuals, Pont d’Ouilly Loisirs also proposes canoeing-kayaking on the river - one or two hours on site or a 5 to 13km river tour from Pont d'Ouilly to Clécy. You will also find the Orne Aventure treetop adventure park at La Roche d'Oëtre.

Chapelle Saint-Vigor: the apple-blossom chapel A true work of art Nestled in a rural setting, in complete harmony with the surrounding farms, a Chapel to St Vigor has been on this site since the thirteenth century. The current building, built for Guillaume de Vanembras, dates back to the 15th century with some later additions and changes. The Vanembras family were buried in the nave of the chapel until 1737, where some inscriptions are still visible. The chapel fell into ruin and was finally closed to the public in 1983. The Japanese artist, Kyoji Takubo, first visited in 1987 and fell under its spell. He decided to create an art work from it. Work started in 1992 with the aid of Japanese and French sponsors. The first thing restored were the roof timbers, followed by the main roof with the creation of the tiling which mixes old roof tiles with rainbow coloured glass tiles. The floor was relaid in steel and the walls covered in sheet lead on which the artists applied layers of different colour paint, finally on the last white layer he added the branches of apple trees. He then cut through the layers of paint to bring out the different colours of Normandy apple blossom.

Come and experience history at first hand. Discover the castle in virtual reality with the aid of a touchscreen tablet. Falaise Castle is a solid stone fortress dating from around 1000. Built by the first Dukes of Normandy, it was enlarged after the conquest of England in 1066. In the12th century, William’s descendants built two square, typically anglo-norman, keeps using the foundations of the original castle. These buildings show the Dukes of Normandy at the height of their powers. They are most sophisticated of the Royal Dukes’ palace/keeps and best preserved of their fortresses in France. The virtual reconstruction breathes life into the palace, taking you back to the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries. You go back to two different eras with the two circuits: The outside circuit shows you the first fortified enclosure and the daily life in the basse-cour (lower town) in the 12th century. You go inside for the real immersion in the history of the castle. Through your touchscreen tablet, the rooms of the keep appear before you as they would have been in the 13th century. You are plunged straight into the splendour of the Anglo-Norman court - how the people lived in the castle, how their lives were organised, what they all did as part of the daily life of a fortified castle. Images of the people who once lived here appear to tell you their stories with the sounds that accompanied their lives.

The Battle of Normandy started on D Day - 6 June 1944 - lasted 3 months and put 2 million soldiers in a corner of France that had about a million inhabitants. 150,000 Normans had to evacuate their homes, with an estimated 20,000 killed, mainly as a result of the bombardments. The Falaise area paid its price. The dreadful fighting in the Falaise-Chamois Pocket which marked the end of the Battle of Normandy and the beginning to the rout of the German army, is remembered as among of the most bloody of the war. The Second World war marked a turning point with 30million combatants and 35 million civilians killed: for the first time in the history of modern warfare the civilian dead were more than those of the military. The acknowledgement of the military sacrifice and the need for rapid post war reconstruction, meant the fate of the civilian population was largely forgotten. But now, to remember and pay homage to these millions of civilians, the local government organisations of Falaise and its surrounding countryside, have joined forces to create a memorial to civilian life in the war. Set in the heart of Falaise, next to William the Conqueror’s castle, in one of the major buildings of the first stage of Falaise’s postwar reconstruction, this new museum tells the story of civilian life in the Second World War. The painstaking reconstructions, put together by the Caen Memorial, are put into context by the memories of those who lived through it all.

Andre Lemaitre (1909-1995) was born in Falaise. Inspired by nature, this painter in the great French tradition, produced some 4,000 paintings mostly of the Normandy countryside between Falaise and Honfleur. Andre Lemaitre: a traditional painter This museum, dedicated to him in his native town, contains around 90 of his works and reflects his life and art in all its diversity. All four major periods of his work are represented in the museum.

Paris between 1920 and 1950, as soon as December comes, crowds gather and line up outside the window of the big department Stores. With their noses pressed against the windows, children and parents look in all directions. Passers-by are fascinated by dozens of automatons. At Automates Avenue, visitors can travel in time and in space, dream with these fabulous window-actors and see a fairyland of past times coming back to life. The streets of Paris have been revived for 300 Automatons featured in 16 large animated original window stores coming back into action, as they once did, in an extraordinary setting.

This 18th Century listed Historic Monument is still home to the Vendeuvre family. Inside the castle, discover life in the 18th Century thanks to a series of moving subjects. In the basement, the kitchens bear witness to day-to-day life in this fine residence. The Orangery houses a Miniature Furniture museum - the world's very first collection. Exhibition of 17th to 19th Century dog kennels. In the gardens, "surprising" fountains punctuate the visitor's stroll. In April, the Tulip Festival. Unaccompanied visit lasts 1h30/2h.

The Orangery is home to the first collection of miniature house furnishings in the world: models, maquettes, mini-masterpieces, ivories, silverware all minuscule. This collection of small scale objects includes over 800 pieces of furniture, and thousands of other objects. The Chateau retains its original furnishings and decor. Visit an interior where family paintings, games tables, dog beds and automata follow cheek by jowl. The family atmosphere, the furnishings and the curios, take you back to a bygone age. The Chateau kitchens boast over 500 copper pots as well as revealing a number of Chef Maurice’s best kept secrets. In the gardens, a pyramid icehouse, and an amazing water garden full of surprises, where water is everywhere: Chinese bridge, Muses’ grove, crystal tree, turtle waterfall and the grotto of 200,000 shells.

Normandy’s first vineyard: an incredible adventure where nothing was left to chance. The land remains the common denominator throughout the visit. The example of a former quarry offers an introduction to the site’s geology. Then, from the vineyard heights, an appreciation of the surrounding landscape. And of course, some information on wine growing. Finally, a taste of our Normandy wine in the cellar reception area, offering panoramic views across the vineyard. At Les Arpents du Soleil you are sure to appreciate the beauty and the harmony of the site, as you relish in a taste of our wines, grown in total respect for nature and the land. Certified High Environmental Value. Open from Monday to Saturday from 2 to 6pm. Visits every Thursday at 2.30pm from April to mid-November. Visit lasts: 2 hours. Booking required. For visits on Saturdays and public holidays, refer to the ‘Actualités’ (News) pages of the website or give us a call.

The Chateau de Grisy, on the banks of the Dives, consists of the fortified farmhouse, farm buildings, a pond, and attached orchards. A harmonious group of buildings in a tranquil setting full of charm. Built in the 16th century, and enlarged in the 17th, it has long elegant facades, and one of the farm buildings has a massive, complete cider press.

Unaccompanied tours of outdoor areas, the park and the dovecote. Located on the banks of the Dives and surrounded by a moat, the 17th century-early 18th century Château de Carel was built on the site of a previous dwelling. The buildings around the castle comprise an elegant classical architectural group that highlights the clean lines of its 16th century dovecote. The site is a listed historic monument.

The Abbey of Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives is a Benedectine abbey founded in the 11th century. It offers one of the most comprehensive illustrations of monastic architecture in Normandy. Rare medieval paving.

The site presents the vegetables, 'medicinal' plants and flowers that are traditionally grown in the Pays d'Auge since the 1960's. Discover their different uses and associated techniques and beliefs, via a new visit entitled "Jardin de femmes en Pays d'Auge" (Women's garden in the Pays d'Auge).

The "Halles" or indoor market comprise three naves with 13th century framework supported by stoneworked gables. A vast and picturesque market is held every Monday, along with an antique fair on the first Sunday of every month. The market is closed the week prior to Easter.

Maison Jort is one of the oldest traditional cheesemakers in the Pays d'Auge. Come and discover our Camembert de Normandie AOP, Pont l'Evêque and Livarot cheeses. The store will advise you on the best way to serve, mature, preserve and enjoy these famous Normandy cheeses.

La Brasserie du Chaos is a beer brewery located in Berville (Saint-Pierre-en-Auge). Brewery tour and direct sales by appointment.

Discover the authentic, eco-friendly world of the Savons d'Orély during an exclusive guided tour! Every Thursday at 14:00 (booking required), immerse yourself in the art of cold saponification, step by step: from pouring to cutting and curing superfatted organic soaps that are rich in glycerine to nourish the skin without drying it out. This welcoming experience is suited to anyone over the age of 6 and includes a fun olfactory quiz: test your senses by guessing unique natural fragrances.

Cider, calvados, cider-based aperitif.

Sale of cider. Boutique open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 12 noon and from 1.30 to 4.30pm.

Visit the Graindorge cheese dairy through a corridor of glass galleries. Discover how Livarot and Pont l'Evêque, protected designation of origin cheeses from Normandy, are made. Free tasting. We recommend you visit in the morning to see the production process (between Tuesday and Saturday). Tour duration: 1hr 30mins Tour in French and English. (paper documents translate the tour into GER, NL, ESP, IT, PO, JAP, RU, CHI, KO In July and August: a cheese bar is open!

A microbrewery recently set up in Livarot, we offer local, organic beers, 90% of which are produced in short circuits. Our philosophy is to work locally! With a classic range and an ephemeral range, come and treat your taste buds and get to know our story.

In 1906, Georges Leroy, a Livarot-based owner of a company that produced ‘small nailed and stapled boxes’ acquired a steam engine he had seen in operation at the 1889 World Fair. The machine supplied the entire company with electricity up to 1957, today offering a fine symbol of the period. Listed on the French Historic Monuments supplementary inventory, the engine is open to visitors within a factory interpretation area, organised around it.

15th and 16th century typical Pays d'Auge manor house. 16th century painting. 16th century half-timbered tiled dovecote and park. Quality arboretum. 17th century stables. Guided tour in French or English: 30 minutes.

La Voie Lactée brewery is so named because it is brewed in former milk tanks converted into brewing tanks. In 2019, Denis Grenier will produce 5 ranges of top-fermented, unfiltered and unpasteurized craft beers: - Andromède, the blonde - Altaïr, amber - Eclipsis, dark - Céphée, white - Alpha du Centaure, the session IPA All our beers are hand-brewed in accordance with brewing traditions and hygiene standards. The brewer uses French malt and Alsatian hops.

Producer of ecological spirulina, produced with renewable energy. Come and discover our health food to help you stay in shape and boost your immunity! Online shop: www.spirulinedupaysdauge.comaccessible 24/24, home delivery.

La Ferme de la Mondière is a family-run business producing farmhouse cheeses made from raw milk: Camembert PDO, Pont L'Evêque PDO, Livarot PDO. You'll also find farm milk and cream.

Installed within the 16th century ‘Old Manor’, of typical half-timbered Pay d’Auge construction, the museum focuses on local history, and on popular art and traditions. Brotherhood of charity adornments, Pré d’Auge ceramics.

Production of Calvados Pays d’Auge. Tours of the cider press, distillery and ageing cellars. Guided tour in French + tasting lasts: 1 hour.

Built in the early 20th century to commemorate Saint Thérèse, the basilica was consecrated in 1954. Covering a surface area of 4,500m² with a 95m high dome, it is one of the largest churches to have been built during the 20th century. Three nave crypt adorned with mosaic. Carmelite and Saint Thérèse exhibition. 35 minute film. Visits of the dome in July and August. Unaccompanied or guided tours (in summer): tour lasts 45 minutes.

Gothic construction began circa 1170 and was completed in the mid 13th century. The Flamboyant chapel behind the choir houses the tomb of Pierre Cauchon who became Bishop of Lisieux after Joan of Arc's trial. The parish church of St. Thérèse includes many commemorative objects. Free guided tours in July and August.

The Museum of Art and History in Lisieux, a certified "Musée de France", reopened its doors with a brand new scenography in June 2013. Located in one of the last remaining traditional half-timbered houses in Lisieux, the museum offers a chronological tour of the town's history, from its origins to the present day and via its many faces: From the Gallo-Roman to the medieval and classical city, via its textile industry, illustrious figures, reconstruction... Two specific themes are also covered: the Bishops of Lisieux and typical local inhabitations. A rich history, illustrated by over three hundred objects, paintings, photographs... However, the museum's most impressive asset cannot be contained within a display cabinet or even an exhibition area, for it is the town itself.

The Cospéan wing was created in the 17th century under Philippe Cospéan, Bishop of Lisieux at the time, to complement the XIIth and XIIIth century Bishop's Palace. The palace became national property in 1791, when the bishopric was abolished. Eight years later, the sub-prefecture and a prison moved in. The sub-prefecture remained until 1857 and the prison until 1907, before giving way to the Palais de Justice until 2020. After a terrible fire in 2000 and restoration work on the facade in 2011, the Cospéan wing is about to be completely restored and fitted out!

The house where Thérèse Martin lived as a child and up to the age of 15: dining room, Thérèse's bedroom (display cabinet with her toys), garden. Audio-guided tour in French, English, German, Spanish, Dutch, Italian, Polish, Portuguese: 30 minutes.

Wax museum located within the Basilica of St. Thérèse of Lisieux and presenting 11 life-size scenes of her life. The highly realistic representation is commented in 6 languages: French, German, English, Spanish, Italian and Dutch.