If you are considering Falaise for its culture and urban history, you will find several clearly distinct themes: medieval architecture, the town’s development, the occupation period and art. There is also a free, self-guided themed walking route and a multi-use trail on a former railway line. These differences can help you decide what to focus on during your stay.
Castle and architectural history
The Château Guillaume-Le-Conquérant stands on a rocky spur between the valleys of the Ante and the Marescot. After the conquest of England in 1066, William’s descendants had two square, typically Anglo-Norman keeps built in the 12th century on the foundations of the family castle. The date 1066 refers to the conquest of England; the two keeps were built later, in the 12th century.
Virtual reconstructions and tangible original features let visitors immerse themselves in the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries. The focus is therefore on several historical periods and how they are presented. The Château de la Fresnaye dates from the 18th century, providing a later point of reference alongside the medieval architecture.
The Hôtel-Dieu’s ward for the sick displays a different architectural form. It was built in its present form in 1204 as a large Gothic hall with three identical naves. The three matching naves describe the layout of the hall; this makes it possible to understand the building not only in terms of its age, but also its spatial form.
Town history and the occupation period
The Circuit de Falaise is a free, self-guided themed walking route. It explains the town’s development from its beginnings through to its reconstruction. If you would like to explore the town’s history on foot, the route offers a different focus from the architectural history of the castles and the Hôtel-Dieu.
The Mémorial de Falaise focuses on the daily lives of French people under the occupation. An immersive route covering 1,000 m² explores resistance and survival, as well as liberation and reconstruction. The subject matter therefore extends beyond the occupation period to include the time that followed.
Art and cultural activities
The Musée André Lemaître houses 90 works representing four periods of the artist’s career. André Lemaître was born in Falaise and created around 4,000 paintings, including numerous landscapes of Normandy. The figures for the museum and the artist’s complete body of work reflect two different scales: the periods of his career represented in the museum and the approximate size of his artistic output.
The Micro-Folie Falaisienne includes a digital museum, a mini fab lab, a virtual reality area, an exhibition area and a performance area. Its scope therefore differs from that of a single art collection. As programme details may change, it is advisable to check the current programme before visiting.
On foot and on the Voie verte
The Voie verte Falaise-Damblainville is seven kilometres long and freely accessible. It starts at Falaise’s Centre aquatique and follows the former Falaise–Morteaux-Couliboeuf railway line. The multi-use trail is intended for walks, hikes, jogging, cycling and horse riding; horses must be kept to a walk. If you are choosing between routes, the Circuit de Falaise offers a themed introduction to the town’s history, while the Voie verte lists several recreational uses.
A market visit can also be planned for a specific time: the market is held at the Halles in Falaise on Saturday mornings. If you would like to include it in your stay, plan around that time.
Discover more destinations: Le Torquesne, Annebault, Aignerville, Saint-Ouen-Du-Mesnil-Oger, Meuvaines, Crépon, Le Mesnil-Villement, Cheffreville-Tonnencourt.
For the wider travel overview: Calvados.
