A protected tombstone for Guillaume Cuquemelle and his family, dating from 1613, is located on the north wall of the nave of Saint-Maurice Church. Its precise location offers a tangible starting point for exploring the local history. The village also has architectural features and buildings from different centuries.
Church, manor house and local memory
Saint-Maurice Church brings together several clearly datable architectural features: a transept arm from the 15th century supports the massive, squat bell tower from the 17th century; the sacristy was built in 1725. The building thus reveals different historical periods.
Manoir de la Cour was the centre of the Seigneurie de Saint-Maurice, the local lordship. Its Flamboyant Gothic features include moulded windows with tracery and a projecting corner turret with four loopholes. Hôtel Fauvel, a 16th-century building, retains a monumental fireplace and two doors with curved lintels. Different details stand out in these buildings: Gothic forms at the manor house and preserved features at Hôtel Fauvel.
The 9th US Infantry Division memorial commemorates 14 American soldiers and officers who were killed nearby on 17 June 1944. It stands on the D42 between the Fierville mill and the centre of Saint-Maurice. The Fontaine du Bienheureux Thomas Hélye was inaugurated on 28 May 1860. In 1977, the Sunday closest to 19 October was set as the date for a celebration of Blessed Thomas Hélye. The celebration programme at the time included a Mass in the church, veneration of the relics and a procession to the Fontaine du Bienheureux.
A walking trail through the countryside
The Circuit du bouilleur de cru starts in Saint-Maurice-en-Cotentin and is included in the Côte des Isles walking guide. This easy walk is 17.3 kilometres long and takes about four hours and 15 minutes. Seasonal conditions may vary. Along the way, the trail passes through shaded paths alongside washhouses, traditional regional houses and stone walls. These features give the route its rural character, while its distance and walking time provide a concrete guide for planning the day.
The waterways can also be distinguished: the coastal river Gerfleur flows through Saint-Maurice-en-Cotentin and then empties into the Havre de Carteret. The stream La Grise, also called Le Gris, rises near Hôtel-au-Mière in Saint-Maurice-en-Cotentin. For the Gerfleur, the route through the village and onward to the Havre de Carteret is specified; for La Grise, the geographical reference is its source.
Pepper growing at Plantation Petite Rivière
Plantation Petite Rivière describes itself as a pepper farm in Normandy and the region’s first pepper producer. During guided visits, visitors can learn more about growing pepper and taste products from the farm. This makes it possible to combine a visit focused on cultivation with a tasting.
By reservation, Plantation Petite Rivière also offers a tour of the pepper plantation and farm grounds. It covers cultivation and harvesting, as well as the animals involved in maintaining the fields. Visitors interested in farming practices can gain practical insight into work on the farm; reservations are required for this tour.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Fermanville, Virandeville, Fresville, Saint-Germain-De-Tournebut, Audouville-La-Hubert, Gréville-Hague, Le Tanu, Les Moitiers-D'allonne.
For the main travel overview: Manche.
