Les Authieux-Sur-Calonne brings together a rich architectural heritage and the landscape along the Calonne. The Chapelle Saint-Meuf preserves part of a former parish church, the Manoir de La Porte stands out for its half-timbering and a room furnished with historic decor, and the Église St Pierre dates back to Romanesque times. The area also has a river important to sea trout and a hiking route with clearly specified details.
Chapel, manor house and church
The Chapelle Saint-Meuf preserves the choir of the former parish church of Saint-Nicolas des Authieux, which was damaged during the Revolutionary period. Its windows date from the 16th century. The chapel has been listed as a Monument historique since 17 July 1926. Its former religious function, a specific architectural feature and its heritage protection thus form part of a shared historical context.
The Manoir de La Porte is an 18th-century half-timbered building. Its design is unusually varied, featuring ear-of-wheat and half-ear-of-wheat motifs, St Andrew’s crosses, and diagonal bracing motifs arranged in three or four rows. The upper floor contains a room entirely decorated with historic wallpaper, dating to around 1820. On 10 January 2012, the manor house received different heritage designations: the room with the historic wallpaper was classified as a Monument historique, while the rest of the manor house was listed.
The Église St Pierre dates back to Romanesque times. Its altar is from the reign of Louis XIV and features two fluted Corinthian columns and a straight entablature. Fluting refers to the long grooves running along the columns. A hollow yew tree stands in front of the portal. The architectural details here therefore differ both in form and in their relationship to the church building.
Local history by the water
The area’s industrial history is also part of its heritage. The Moulin des Authieux complex was partly converted into a cheese factory in 1886; operations at the site ended after 1943. On the banks of the Calonne, the Lavoir des Authieux-sur-Calonne is one of the last surviving washhouses. The mill highlights a change in use, while the lavoir preserves the historic connection to the riverbank.
The Calonne and its landscape
The Calonne is an important spawning tributary of the Touques for sea trout (Salmo trutta trutta). The ecological surveys in the inventory, current as of 11 June 2024, identify it as their most important spawning tributary. Approximately half of this species’ spawning grounds throughout the Touques catchment are found along the Calonne. The ZNIEFF “Basse-Vallée de la Calonne” encompasses a hilly bocage landscape characterised by permanent grassland and orchards. Aquatic ecology and landscape each offer a different insight into the natural environment.
Hiking with set route details
The “Autour du château d'Hébertot” hiking trail runs from Saint-André-d’Hébertot to Les Authieux-Sur-Calonne. Along the way, it offers views of the Château de Saint-André and the two churches of Les Authieux-Sur-Calonne. The route description, updated on 9 January 2026, gives a distance of 9.3 kilometres, a duration of three hours and a moderate difficulty level. Use these details to plan your trip, and check the latest route information before setting out.
Discover more destinations: Cricqueville-En-Bessin, Campigny, Manvieux, Ouilly-Le-Vicomte, Cordebugle, Bourgeauville, Pierres, Épron
View the main travel overview: Calvados.
