Le Torquesne is a traditional village in the Norman bocage landscape. A 11.0-kilometre circular walking route, the local history of the church and cemetery, and a village festival in July give you specific topics to consider when planning your trip.
Circular walk through the bocage landscape
“Au coeur du bocage” is a circular walking route in Le Torquesne. It is 11.0 kilometres long; the stated elevation gain is 193 metres. The distance and elevation gain give you two separate reference points for planning the walk. When weighing up the time available and the distance to cover, take both figures into account rather than looking only at the number of kilometres.
The route begins at the main car park, runs alongside hedges and paths, and includes a section through orchards. These landscape features give the circular route a distinct bocage focus. The route also passes the calvary and the church. A sign in the village cemetery provides information about the church and notable graves.
The church and village cemetery
The church is currently used only on rare occasions. These include weddings and funerals, the mass for the patron saint’s feast day, a meal for older residents, and the annual meeting of the Confraternity of Charity. If you plan to visit the interior, check access in advance.
The furnishings of the Church of Notre-Dame de la Nativité include an oval baptismal font with a pedestal, probably dating from the time of Louis XIV. The central altarpiece depicts the Adoration of the Magi. The Stations of the Cross comprise 14 paintings created by the Parisian painter Alcan around 1880.
In the village cemetery, the upright, decorated tombstones of the Lessard family are considered an example of 19th-century funerary architecture. The cemetery is also home to the grave of J. F. Esmont de la Rosière, the second husband of Mademoiselle de Nocey, the last descendant of the lords of Le Torquesne. Louis Dodier is also buried there; he served as a model for the photographer H. Humbert de Molard. A sign in the cemetery provides information about the church and notable graves.
A village festival in July
The Fête de la Sainte Madeleine is Le Torquesne’s village festival and takes place on the third Sunday in July. The annual programme may vary. If particular events are important to your trip, check the programme for that year in advance.
The walking route and the festival offer different reference points for choosing your dates: the route can be factored into your day’s plans based on its 11 kilometres and 193 metres of elevation gain, while the Fête takes place on the third Sunday in July. If you would like to combine the two, plan the walk as an activity and check the annual programme for the village festival.
Discover more destinations: Vicques, Le Mesnil-Mauger, Tourgéville, Courseulles-Sur-Mer, Coupesarte, Rubercy, Bons-Tassilly, Falaise
For the regional travel overview: Calvados.
