Basly can be explored from two directions: by taking a walk through the village streets and by discovering a local history whose traces reach back to prehistoric settlements. The Église Saint-Georges, evidence of Protestant history and archaeological settlement remains provide the village with distinct historical points of reference. This picture is complemented by its inclusion in a Natura 2000 site shared by Basly and four other municipalities.
Natura 2000 and Bats
Together with Banville, Bény-sur-Mer, Fontaine-Henry and Reviers, Basly is part of the “Anciennes carrières de la Mue” Natura 2000 site. The site’s designation is based on the presence of bats. Bats thus provide a specific natural point of interest alongside the village’s architectural and archaeological traces.
Church and Building History
The Église Saint-Georges dates from the 12th century. Its bell tower has been listed as a Monument historique since 1927. These are two different dates: the 12th century refers to the church’s origins, while 1927 is the date the tower was listed. This distinction helps avoid conflating the age of the building with the status of one of its individual components. Basly’s Ferme-manoir dates from the 16th or 17th century, adding another period of construction alongside the much older church.
Protestant Heritage
The Protestant history can also be traced through two precise dates. Permission to build a Protestant temple in Basly was granted on 8 February 1652. On 23 January 1680, the temple’s congregation had its church demolished. The sequence of dates puts the events in order: 1652 marks the building permit, and 1680 the demolition by the congregation. The former Protestant cemetery contains several graves and forms part of the municipal heritage. It is also included in the discovery walk. The cemetery thus brings together two aspects: it is part of the local heritage and part of a walk through Basly.
Archaeological Layers of Time
The historical perspective reaches further back still. Remains of a settlement from the Early Iron Age include a rectangular necropolis; Basly also has archaeological traces of a Neolithic settlement with palisades. The palisade traces date from the Neolithic, while the necropolis belongs to the Early Iron Age settlement. Archaeology thus extends the historical perspective on Basly beyond its buildings and Protestant events.
Exploring Basly on Foot
The Circuit-Découverte Basly is a 2.0 km walking route. It invites you to stroll through the village streets and discover the local heritage. Two specific landmarks can help you find your way: the first stop is at Place Bud Hannam, opposite the Église Saint-Georges; the small Protestant cemetery is also part of the route. For planning purposes, the walk and the local history serve different functions: the Circuit-Découverte provides a clear framework for your stroll, while the church, Ferme-manoir, Protestant events and settlement remains reveal the village’s different historical layers.
Discover more destinations: Crocy, Douvres-la-Délivrande, Russy, Valsemé, Saint-Ouen-Du-Mesnil-Oger, Janville, Hamars, Cardonville
For the wider travel overview: Calvados.
