Bonnebosq’s town centre lies along the Dorette. The town offers several different points of interest for a stay: two manor houses with protected features, a washhouse that forms part of the local heritage, and a boys’ school inaugurated in 1864. Bonnebosq is also situated on the Cider Route. Local and architectural history therefore sit alongside a regional connection to cider and Calvados. When deciding what to focus on during your trip, you can choose between the town’s historic landmarks, a seasonal guided tour and tastings along the route.
Manor Houses and Architectural History
The Manoir de Criqueboeuf in the centre of Bonnebosq dates from the 16th century. Yul Brynner acquired it in the 1970s. The manor house is partly listed as a historic monument. The protected areas include the entire residential building, as well as the façades and roofs of a reconstructed building, the former Manoir de Launay from Saint-Martin-de-Bienfaite in the Calvados department. Its history brings together several periods: the construction of the manor house, the reconstruction of a building from another place in the department, and its later acquisition by Brynner.
At the Manoir du Champ-Versan, the entire residential building and the washhouse are protected. The two manor houses also differ in the features specified in their protected areas: at Criqueboeuf, these include the façades and roofs of the reconstructed Manoir de Launay; at Champ-Versan, they include the washhouse. This makes it possible to distinguish the protected features of the two historic estates.
Washhouse and School Building
Bonnebosq’s washhouse is part of the local heritage and has a water-retention system. It complements the manor houses with a distinctive architectural feature and is also included in the protected area of the Manoir du Champ-Versan. Another landmark in the town’s history is the boys’ school: the large brick building was inaugurated in 1864. Alongside the 16th-century Manoir de Criqueboeuf, it is a later building with a clearly established date. Together, these buildings offer a glimpse into different periods of Bonnebosq’s architectural history, from the manor house to the school building.
Guided Tours and the Cider Route
The Terre d’Auge Tourist Office offers seasonal guided tours of Bonnebosq by advance reservation. Check the current dates before your trip if you plan to take a tour. Bonnebosq is also on the Cider Route. Along the route, cider and Calvados producers welcome visitors for tastings and to learn about their traditional expertise. The guided tour focuses on Bonnebosq itself; the tasting opportunities are offered by producers along the route.
When planning your trip, it helps to keep these different options in mind: a guided tour explores the town and is seasonal and available by advance reservation only. The Cider Route offers another way to explore cider and Calvados. If you choose your accommodation based on your travel interests, you can focus on the town’s history or the tasting opportunities along the route.
Discover more destinations: Eraines, Luc-Sur-Mer, Courtonne-La-Meurdrac, Le Theil-en-Auge, Tessel, Danestal, Saint-Pierre-Tarentaine, Fontaine-Le-Pin
For the broader travel overview: Calvados.
