In Lisieux, a strong focus on Thérèse, architectural and urban history, and walks through parks and nature come together. You can discover the city through individual buildings and collections, or choose a circular route that connects the city and nature. The different highlights help you tailor your stay to your interests.
Thérèse, the basilica and sacred sites
The Basilique Sainte-Thérèse was consecrated on 11 July 1954. Its Neo-Byzantine architecture combines reinforced concrete with a natural stone facing. In the upper church and the crypt, marble and mosaics illustrate the message of trust and love of Saint Thérèse. The crypt also contains the relics of Saints Louis and Zélie Martin.
The monumental Chemin de Croix behind the basilica is also part of this religious theme: it depicts the Stations of the Passion of Christ and was inaugurated in April 1934. At the Chapelle du Carmel de Lisieux, there is a reliquary containing the relics of Saint Thérèse. At certain times of day, visitors can attend Mass with the Carmelite nuns. As the available times depend on the schedule, it is advisable to check them before travelling.
The Maison des Buissonnets has preserved some of its furniture and objects and is now open to visitors. Check access arrangements again before your visit. This allows you to treat it as a separate stop on your itinerary, without equating it with the sacred buildings.
The cathedral and the history of the city
The Cathédrale Saint-Pierre is one of the few historic buildings in Lisieux to have survived the 1944 bombings. Construction began in 1150 under Bishop Arnoult. The master builder was the first in Normandy to introduce flying buttresses to support the vaults. The chapel at the head of the choir was built to house a tomb. Visitors interested in architecture will find both an early construction date and a concrete example of the structural function of flying buttresses here.
The Musée d’Art et d’Histoire de Lisieux offers a broader view of the city’s past. Its extensive collections span from the Gallo-Roman settlement to the cityscape of half-timbered houses that disappeared during the Second World War. The museum itself is housed in one of the city’s last half-timbered houses. A visit lets you consider the collections on local history and the surviving building as two distinct ways to explore the heritage. Works by Eugène Boudin and Gustave Courbet can also be seen there.
Another way to explore the city’s earlier history is the Jardin archéologique de Lisieux. Information panels guide visitors around the site. The remains of two Gallo-Roman bath complexes were discovered there: one for women and one for men. The archaeological finds and the museum’s broad historical perspective thus offer different ways to engage with the history of Lisieux.
Green spaces and a circular walk
The Arboretum de Lisieux is a 12-hectare urban park. Its approximately 700 trees include more than 130 varieties. The scale of the site and the diversity of its trees give the park a botanical focus alongside its role as a green space. There is also an orienteering course for walkers.
If you would like to plan a longer outing rather than visit just one park, consider the “Dans les yeux de Thérèse à Lisieux” route. This 8 km circular walk starts in Lisieux and combines a tour of the city with a walk through nature. Its fixed total distance and the change between city and nature offer a different way to explore than visiting individual cultural sites. Which option you choose depends on whether you would like to focus more on sacred art, city history, green spaces or exercise.
Discover more destinations: Bretteville-L'orgueilleuse, Magny-En-Bessin, Maltot, Vignats, Moulines, Saint-Germain-du-Crioult, Beaufour-Druval, Magny-La-Campagne.
See the overview of destinations in the wider area: Calvados.
