A network of around 15 kilometres of trails and several clearly datable architectural landmarks give Sainte-Honorine-Du-Fay two distinct ways to explore: walks through natural areas and the rural landscape, and the history of its churches and chapels. This means the area can be discovered both through outdoor activities and historic architecture. The trails are a focus in their own right, alongside the cultural attractions.
Walks and Getting There
Sainte-Honorine-Du-Fay has 24 municipal trails, forming a connected network of around 15 kilometres in total. They pass through natural areas and alongside farms and hamlets. The 15 kilometres refers to the entire network, not to a single trail. So if you enjoy combining your stay with walks, you’ll find a focus here in its own right, alongside the churches and chapels.
The municipal trails are accessible to everyone and are often suitable for pushchairs. This is a helpful guide if you’re planning a walk with a pushchair. When choosing a trail, check that it suits your plans.
Bus Vert’s route 105 connects Sainte-Honorine-Du-Fay with Caen. If you plan to use this service, check the timetable before setting off. This will help you include the bus journey in your travel plans.
Church and Chapel: Different Architectural Histories
The church’s history spans several construction phases. The oldest parts of the nave date from the 13th century. The church was remodelled in the 15th or 16th century; the western tower was probably built during this period too. Its architectural history therefore ranges from the oldest parts of the nave to a later remodelling, and cannot be reduced to a single date of construction.
The church’s stained-glass windows were destroyed in the 1944 bombings and restored after the war. This history adds destruction during the Second World War and the restoration of the windows to the building’s earlier chronology. Visitors interested in the area’s architecture can therefore find several historical periods represented in one building.
The Chapelle de Longchamps was built in the 19th century on the site of a statue of the Virgin Mary. It has been restored several times; during these works, five stained-glass windows destroyed during the Second World War were completely replaced. Its history thus connects its original site with a later restoration. The chapel is frequently visited throughout the year. Check current visiting arrangements before your visit.
Landscape and 19th-Century Buildings
The washhouses at Le Hom and Bretteville are also among the area’s historic buildings. Both were built at the beginning of the 19th century. By comparison, the Chapelle de Longchamps is dated broadly to the 19th century, while the washhouses are specifically dated to the beginning of that century. The church adds to this chronology with its oldest parts dating from the 13th century and its later remodelling.
Sainte-Honorine-Du-Fay has the character of a bocage landscape. Together with the municipal trails through natural areas and alongside farms and hamlets, this gives you a picture of a place where the landscape and architectural history offer different ways to enjoy your stay. You can focus on walks or explore the various historical building phases; each theme gives the area its own distinct character.
Discover more destinations: Campigny, Agy, Combray, Dives-Sur-Mer, Valsemé, Le Vey, Lisieux, Acqueville
For the overview of the wider area, see: Calvados.
