Church architecture, the history of the air war and a brewery tour by reservation offer different points of interest during a stay in Bazenville. There is also the “Les balcons de la Seulles” circular hiking trail, which leads to Bazenville and runs alongside the Ryes-Bazenville Military Cemetery. When planning your trip, you can decide whether architecture, remembrance, hiking or local produce should be your focus.
Bessin Architecture and Building History
The Église Saint-Martin dates from the 13th century and is representative of the Bessin architecture of that period. Its layout can be understood from the arrangement of its parts: the bell tower and porch stand at the west end, while to the east, the rib-vaulted choir with a flat end adjoins the single-nave church. The church is partly classified as a historic monument and partly registered as a historic monument. Both its architecture and its tiered heritage-protection status are among the defining features of the village.
Two different properties offer further insights into the area’s architectural history. The Château de la Croix was built around 1727 for Jean-Baptiste Ouzouf de Beaumont; its east wing was destroyed in the 1944 bombings. At the Manoir dit Ferme de Bazenville ou de l’Eglise, the residential building and east wing date from the 17th century. There is also a portal made of dressed natural stone. The manor is thought to stand on the site of the fortified castle mentioned in 1371. This chronology links a possible medieval past with 17th-century buildings and the early 18th-century château.
Second World War Memorial Sites
The Cimetière Militaire Britannique de Bazenville contains 979 graves. It opened two days after the Allied landings in Normandy. The monument to Advanced Landing Ground B-2 commemorates the establishment of the advanced airfield. Construction began on 7 June 1944. The airfield was built within the triangle formed by Bazenville, Crépon and Villiers-le-Sec. Together, these sites offer two different perspectives on the history of 1944: the cemetery as a place of remembrance and the monument’s connection to the airfield.
Planning a Hike and Brewery Visit
The “Les balcons de la Seulles” circular hiking trail leads to Bazenville and runs alongside the Ryes-Bazenville Military Cemetery. This makes it possible to include the village as part of a hike. As route details may change, it is advisable to check the current route before setting off. For your route planning, use the described connection as a guide without assuming a specific walking time or distance.
The Brasserie – Ferme de la Pommeraye in Bazenville offers a different way to discover local produce. It serves farmhouse beer, cider and apple juice. Everything takes place on the farm, from sowing the barley and harvesting it to brewing the beer. Visitors can tour the brewery, taste the products and take home produce from the Normandy region. Tours are available by reservation; the shop is open on request. As conditions may change, it is advisable to confirm tour reservations and shop availability in advance.
These different areas of interest make it possible to plan a focused trip: the church, château and manor represent several centuries of architectural history; the memorial sites relate to the Second World War; and the circular hiking trail and brewery add hiking and local produce to the mix.
Discover more destinations: Juaye-Mondaye, Saint-Manvieu-Bocage, Cottun, La Hoguette, Cordey, Truttemer-Le-Grand, Saint-Julien-De-Mailloc, Notre-Dame-De-Livaye.
For the regional travel overview: Calvados.
