A long, narrow Gothic church and traces of lime production offer two distinctive ways to explore Martigny-Sur-L'ante: its architecture and art on the one hand, and the historic use of the limestone plateau on the other. This makes it possible to get to know the place through both individual works and its landscape history.
Gothic church and historic art
Église Saint-Martin is a long, narrow Gothic building dating from the 13th century. Among the church’s historic artworks is an altarpiece-tabernacle, classified as a movable historic monument. It was made between 1760 and 1770 for the Hôtel-Dieu de Falaise and installed in the church in Martigny-Sur-L'ante in 1924.
The three altarpieces in Église Saint-Martin also invite a closer look: each frames three remarkable 18th-century paintings. The paintings are classified as historic monuments and are signed by Pierre JOLLAIN, in 1766 or 1768. Together, these details point to different chapters in the church’s furnishings: the creation of the works in the 18th century and the tabernacle’s later installation in the church.
Traces of lime production
Martigny-Sur-L'ante lies on a limestone plateau whose soil was used for lime production for a long time. The historic legacy of this production includes lime kilns, quarries and former quarry faces. It also includes “gueulards”: the name for the openings through which lime burners fed the material. The different terms make clear that the history of lime production is associated not only with the kilns, but also with the extraction sites and other structural remains. Some remnants are on private property.
Hamlets, bocage and waterways
The scattered hamlets mark the beginning of the bocage landscape in the western part of the area. Waterways are also part of the landscape’s history: the area around Martigny-Sur-L'ante is the source of numerous streams and rivers, including the Ante. It then flows through Falaise and joins the Dives. These waterways offer a perspective of their own on the surroundings, while the scattered hamlets describe the characteristic transition to the bocage.
Viewpoint and notable features
From the Le Grand Chemin viewpoint, there is an uninterrupted view across the undulating landscapes shaped by the valleys of the Baize and the Orne. The view of the valleys offers a different perspective from the local history of lime production: here, the landscape takes centre stage, while the latter concerns the former use of the limestone plateau.
Another notable landmark is the cemetery in Martigny-Sur-L'ante. A stately yew stands there, estimated to be 800 years old and 7.50 metres in circumference. Both measurements are estimates; together, they identify the yew as a natural and cultural feature of the cemetery.
A cycle route with an approximate distance
The “Pont d'Ouilly Mountains and Valleys Cycling Tour” reaches Martigny-Sur-L'ante via the D240 at its junction with the D511. After about 900 metres, it turns left towards Marrue. The distance is explicitly approximate. If you include the tour in your plans, check the current route before setting off, as it may change.
Discover more destinations: Vaucelles, Saint-Vigor-Le-Grand, Coudray-Rabut, Varaville, Longues-Sur-Mer, Mesnil-Clinchamps, Hamars, Longvillers
For the regional travel overview: Calvados.
