Several distinct cultural and garden themes take centre stage in Vaux-Sur-Seulles: the church, whose main construction phase dates to the 12th century; the history of Château de Vaussieux; and the 5,000 m² Jardin des Sources. When planning your visit, it is worth considering architectural history, military heritage, the garden and the routes as separate highlights. This will help you plan your stay according to whether you are particularly interested in historic buildings, military history or gardens.
Architectural history and military heritage
The church in Vaux-Sur-Seulles was mainly built in the 12th century. More specifically, the protection applies to the choir: it was partially listed as a Monument historique by decree of 12 April 1927. The construction period and the scope of protection are two different details: the first dates the church, while the second identifies the protected part of the building.
At Château de Vaussieux, building protection and military history also go hand in hand. Its façades and roofs have been listed as a Monument historique since 16 July 1970. Another aspect of the village’s history takes us back to 1778: the château was then the headquarters of the Camp de Vaussieux, under the command of the Duke of Broglie. The listing applies to specific parts of the building; the reference to 1778 identifies the château’s function at the time.
The Vaux-Sur-Seulles pumping station adds a Second World War chapter to this history. It was built by the 78e Road Construction Company under the 16e Airfield Construction Group. Together, the château and the church offer historical connections spanning different centuries. If you choose cultural history as your focus, these three buildings offer different points of interest: a church whose main construction phase was medieval, a château that played a role in the Camp de Vaussieux, and a pumping station connected with the Second World War.
A further contrast in time is the later depiction of the Camp de Vaussieux: the Un Nouveau Monde association began a historical reenactment in Vaux-Sur-Seulles in 2018. The camp of 1778 and its historical reenactment in 2018 thus represent two distinct points in time.
The garden and routes offer different highlights
The Jardin des Sources covers 5,000 m². Water provides the setting for perennials, grasses, roses and numerous shrubs. Unlike the historic sites, the focus here is on the garden, water and plant groupings. If you do not want to focus your stay exclusively on architectural and military history, the garden offers a distinct theme of its own.
Admission to the Jardin des Sources is free, and plants are sold on site. Seasonal visitor arrangements may change, so check access and plant sales before your visit.
The routes also differ in their described courses. La Chevauchée de Guillaume is an equestrian route; the Martragny–Carcagny section is 8.8 kilometres long. Château de Vaussieux and Château de Vaux are marked on the map. By contrast, the Boucle par Vaux-sur-Seulles depuis Esquay-sur-Seulles is a circular walk that leads into the centre of Vaux-Sur-Seulles. Each route answers a different question for planning purposes: the horse-riding section specifies its length and mapped points, while the circular walk leads into the village centre. Route conditions and access information may change; check them before setting out.
Discover more destinations: Espins, Mandeville-En-Bessin, Saint-Pierre-Du-Jonquet, Dozulé, Donnay, Montchamp, Mesnil-Clinchamps, Le Vey.
For the broader travel overview: Calvados.
