As we approach the 68th anniversary of the Landings, a stay in the touristic area of Bayeux-Bessi ...[+]
Since the creation of the Duchy of Normandy in 911 by the Vikings, the history of Bessin has set itself in stone: Many fortified farms, many manor houses and châteaux are nestled in the verdant countryside of Normandy, often hidden away. To discover this exceptional patrimony is to set off on a voyage through time, in search of the men and women who left their mark on these lands.
If one man must be mentioned here, it has to be William the Conqueror: during the 11th Century, he is behind the construction of vast abbeys and numerous fortified castles in Normandy. The departement of Calvados has at present over 900 Historic Monuments ! Below are a few examples found in Bessin :
The legend of a fairy
One tale says that the Argouges Fairy appears over the moat on certain moonlit nights. Owned by the Levasseur family, the Manoir d'Argouges, situated in Vaux sur Aure, is a unique site, where history and legends intertwine. Erected in the 14th Century, the manor consists of a grouping of remarkable seigniorial buildings. A guided tour is conducted by the master of the house himself, revealing the magical atmosphere of this historic building.
The forgotten Romanesque church of Thaon
The old church of Thaon, listed Historic Monument in 1840, was built in the 11th and 12th Centuries. Deconsecrated in the 19th Century, it is found at the bend of a wooded path, near the river Mue. Nestled in a green setting, it has retained remarkable features of Norman Romanesque architecture. Every year excavations carried out on the site continue to reveal more of its history.
A lookout over the marshland
This 14th Century castle, situated on the border of the Bessin marshland owes its nickname "lookout" to its strategic location. Colombières has witnessed a thousand years of history and has kept in its present architecture the signs of its original defensive purpose. Occupied by the family of Count Maupeou of Ableiges, this exceptional Historic Monument will charm visitors with its elegance, mirrored in the waters of the moat.
Bessin holds many other treasures of architecture, open to the public, and which can be visited during the next European Heritage Days on 18th and 19th September 2010.
Two artists and leaders of the neo-impressionist movement left their mark in Port en Bessin in the 19th Century.
Captivated by the light and the beauty of the fishing village, Georges Seurat and Paul Signac set their easels down and immortalised the landscapes of Port en Bessin. During Heritage Days, a guided tour in the footsteps of Seurat and Signac will be organised, whilst an introduction to neo-impressionist painting will be offered to children during an outdoor workshop.
