To see / to visit : chateaux, manoirs, church, canton of Torigni-sur-Vire's farm

MONTRABOT

Church dating from the 13th and 18th centuries (bell tower built 1782).
Some remains, probably from the Roman era, and particularly a very fine motif sculpted in soft limestone on the west door of the bell tower.

PLACY-MONTAIGU

13th century church, bell tower and calvary

Montaigu : name given to the site, characterised by two steeply rising summits, on one of which stand the ruins of a mediaeval château destroyed during the Ligue (16th century religious and political movement). This area was completely destroyed by fire during the last century.

Opposite,
left: the Church of Montrabot

right: the ruins of the Château de Montaigu de Placy-Montaigu

PRÉCORBIN

Church placed under the patronage of Saint Aubin then under that of Saint Anne, dates from 4 different periods. The tower was built in 1689, the nave in 1733, the sacristy in 1764 and the chancel in 1846

ROUXEVILLE

20th century church built after 1944.
Madonna and child from the 14th century, altarpiece from the 18th century and stone altarpiece from the 15th century.

Opposite,
left: the Church at Précorbin

right: the Church at Rouxeville

SAINT-AMAND

127 metres at its highest point, the church and its tower dominate the Canton and the city of the Matignons whose first church it was. It began as a baptismal chapel in the 11th century then a huge nave was added in the 12th century. It was again transformed in the 19th century and was seriously damaged during the Liberation. Rebuilt in 1946. After the great storm of 1999, the tower was re-clad in copper to restore it to how it looked in 1938.

Manors and Châteaux

Manoir de Haute Chèvre (18th century manor) - Manoir du Bois (19th century manor) - Château des Branches (19th century).

These buildings are not open to the public

SAINT-JEAN-DES-BAISANTS

In July of 1944 the bell tower of the church was dynamited and the church itself completely destroyed. It was only rebuilt in 1960 in a contemporary style.

Chapel of Saint Pierre

Its origin and foundations are ancient.
This chapel was for a long period a place of pilgrimage, much in use during the great droughts. It was the custom to dip the bar of the processional cross three times into the Saint Pierre fountain. It is situated 3 kilometres from the contemporary church in the Village of la Crespelière.

The Grotto of the Saint Pierre Chapel

Little is known about the origin of the grotto. A newspaper article published in 1964 relates that a group of parishioners who took refuge there were protected from the bombardments and escaped injury. In gratitude a monument was built on this site

The Grotto of the Chapelle Saint Pierre - Saint-Jean-des-Baisants

SAINT-SYMPHORIEN-LES-BUTTES

The oldest church in the Torigni-sur-Vire Canton (11th century) with a very unusual legend.
It recounts that the church owes its foundation to a miraculous event. A member of a family of barons from Torigni was riding by the place where the present church stands when his horse was killed by a sudden violent storm. He escaped unhurt and, as a sign of his gratitude, promised to build a chapel on the site.

Manoir du Butel

Magnificent 16th century Manor house with extensive outbuildings.

Not open to the public

TORIGNI-SUR-VIRE

Château des Matignon

Ancient stronghold of two descendants of William the Conqueror, Torigni-sur-Vire has conserved a superb château from the 16th and 17th centuries. For more than 3 centuries, this beautiful dwelling has been the property of the famous Matignon family.

Guided tours from June to September
Tel.: 00 33 (0)2.33.56.71.44

Le Château des Matignon - Torigni-sur-Vire

Cour aux Canons

Renovated in 2004. The idea was to connect the Cour d'Honneur (main courtyard ) of the Château to the Cour aux Canons (court of the canons) by spanning the rue du Château. Access to this was made possible via a pedestrian bridge which led to the Cour aux Canons thus establishing a link with Torigni's past: the bridge is in the exact location of the old drawbridge. An asymmetric lawn and a museum-garden, where vegetables used in ancient times are grown, were also created.

Opposite,
left: The pedestrian bridge to the Cour aux Canons

right:
The Cour aux Canons

Château de la Varignière

A 19th century dwelling which has a magnificent park.

Not open to the public

Church of Saint Laurent

A 13th century church. The chancel was built by Charles de Matignon in 1601. Before the Revolution, it contained the tombs of members of the Matignon family.

Church of Notre-Dame du Grand Vivier

12th century church. Fine quality alternating red and white stonework can be seen in the series of blank arches.

No longer open to the general public

Church of Saint Laurent Torigni-sur-vire

Opposite,
left:
Church of Saint Laurent

right:
Church of Notre Dame du Grand Vivier

Church of Notre dame du Grand Vivier Torigni-sur-Vire

Ponds and Walkway under the Lime trees

The Torigni-sur-Vire ponds trace the contours of the moats that Robert of Gloucester had created around the château, rendering it almost impregnable to enemy assault. Over the years, these ponds have been integrated into the château's park. Nowadays the walkway is very popular.

The walkway under the lime trees is protected for almost 300 metres by an immense wall, 12 metres high, built by Jacques de Matignon to shelter his wife, Louise Grimaldi, from the winter winds.

The Arthur Le Duc Museum

The works of this famous animal sculptor, a native of Torigni-sur-Vire (1848-1918), are displayed, according to his wishes, in the old chapel of the château.

Open to the public from June to September - Tel.: 00 33 (0)2.33.56.71.44

VIDOUVILLE

14th century church. At the start of the 19th century it was well-maintained thanks to generous benefactors: numerous ornaments were purchased and the clock tower and clock restored.
It was partially destroyed in 1944. Its restoration was completed in 1947.

Church of Vidouville

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Photography : P.Y LEMEUR / design-creation-web hosting canelle.com 2005/2007