Attractions and Places To See around Bretteville-Sur-Ay - Top 20

The 13 arches bridge, a must-see

This isn't a mountain bike trail; it's 95% road. Otherwise, it can be enjoyable. But forget about trails.

Very simple abbey church from the 12th century. One of the first with cross-ribbed vaults.

This church was not dedicated to one of the many people who died as martyrs (witnesses of faith) for their Christian beliefs, or who we venerate as blessed or saints because of their exemplary way of life. Rather, this parish has chosen God himself - in the "Holy Trinity" - as its patron saint. According to Christian teaching, we believe in ONE God who exists in THREE persons - God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit. The following description can be found on the EKD (Evangelical Church in Germany) website: "The word tries to express the seemingly impossible, namely that God is three and one at the same time. To understand this, it helps to consider how people have experienced God throughout history: as a creator who loves his world and people like a father loves his children. As a God who became human himself in Jesus Christ, his son, and shared human life. And finally as God who is still present and alive among people in the Holy Spirit.”

Norman castle dating from the 11th century. It remains private property, but you can stop and admire its exterior.

The Château de La Haye-du-Puits is located in the commune of La Haye, in the Manche department, 20 km southeast of Barneville-Carteret. Built in the 11th century by the local lord Tristin, on a mound, it passed to a seneschal of the King of England at the end of the same century. During the Hundred Years' War, on the other hand, the seat of the Barony of The Hague passed to a loyalist of the King of France who was, however, soon stripped of the property... Of this primitive fortress, all that remains is a square keep (5 m on each side), 20 high, housing a staircase and on which we can still see the elements which made it possible to operate the drawbridge, as well as some beginnings of the curtain walls which adjoined it. A more residential manor, from the 16th and 17th centuries, with turrets and vaulted cellars, succeeded the original castle: it is visible on the other side of the street. The interiors of the old keep, listed since 1840, are closed to the public for security reasons but its surroundings are accessible. Information panels have been installed. The nearby manor house with a Renaissance-style door has remained privately owned. Its exterior elements can be observed from the street.

A coastal town in the Manche region in Normandy, Créances is located about forty kilometers from Saint-Lô. Known for its fishing activities, it is also located not far from Pirou and its famous castle, La Haye or Périers. According to popular tradition, the town of Créances was born at the beginning of the Middle Ages, following the shipwreck on the Manche coast of a Portuguese ship. It subsequently developed quietly around fishing and agriculture, gradually taking on the peaceful and pleasant face that we know today, notably thanks to the drying of its numerous marshes. Now, Créances is mainly known for its sweet-tasting carrot which grows in the sandy fields. Visitors also appreciate its preserved beaches as well as its charming architectural heritage.

This 12th-century castle, which used to be on the harbor, is one of the oldest castles in Normandy. It is one of the few medieval fortifications that has been preserved. The former outpost of the fortifications of Coutances is named after the 11th-14th century owners of the castle. The lords of Pirou were related to the house of De Hauteville, to which belonged several founders of the Norman kingdom in Sicily. Until the end of the 18th century, the castle belonged to various noble families, before it became an important smugglers' nest and was finally converted into a farm in the 19th century.