Discover Villers-Bocage through its many layers of history: Saint-Georges Church brings together architectural features and historic artefacts, while the Muches, the château and the history of sandstone reveal other chapters in the town’s story. There is also a regular weekly schedule to help you plan your trip: a farmers’ market takes place on Place de l'Église every Friday. If you would like to include both cultural history and a local market in your plans, these offer two different ways to explore the town.
Saint-Georges: different building phases
The western part of the parish church features elements dating from the 13th century. The chancel was rebuilt in the second quarter of the 16th century. These details refer to different parts of the building and do not indicate a single date of construction for the entire church. Several centuries separate the surviving elements in the western part from the later rebuilt chancel, making it possible to explore the building’s history in stages.
The nave houses the Mise au Tombeau, which is listed as a historic monument. In the 18th century, a crypt received the remains of the lords of Villers. The building phases are thus complemented by a listed work and a historic function of the crypt. These references concern different parts and aspects of Saint-Georges, from its architecture to its history of use.
The château and the former castle
It is worth distinguishing between the different references to castles: today’s Château de Villers-Bocage is a large 19th-century manor house built for M. Bénézy, a justice of the peace and mayor of Villers-Bocage. Remains of the perimeter wall of the former castle can also be seen near the church. The manor house and the wall remains relate to different periods; the remains are part of the perimeter wall of the former castle.
The Muches and their history
The Muches offer another way to explore the town’s history. They are underground places of refuge that were expanded over the centuries. During destructive incursions by the Spanish army, they were used to protect crops and livestock. Their story is therefore one of shelter and the protection of essential supplies and animals—a different focus from the church’s architectural history or the references to the castle.
Sandstone and the Gresserie
Sandstone is also part of Villers-Bocage’s history. In the Middle Ages, the town was one of the centres of the Gresserie; by around 1900, the sandstone-block deposits were largely depleted. This timeline adds another theme in the town’s history to the building history of Saint-Georges and the 19th-century manor house. The town’s history is therefore not limited to individual buildings.
Friday market and pond
The farmers’ market takes place on Fridays from 3:00 to 6:30 p.m. in Place de l'Église. If you plan to visit, check the details again before your trip.
The pond adds a landscape feature to the town’s historic highlights. It lies sheltered behind gnarled willows, elder trees and roses; there is a wooded island in the water, and ducks are part of the scene too. Alongside its church, castle and craft history, Villers-Bocage also offers a specific place to visit and the landscape features described here.
Discover more destinations: Roisel, Gamaches, Courcelles-Au-Bois, Ailly-Sur-Noye, Drucat, Fontaine-Sur-Somme, Aigneville, Cayeux-Sur-Mer
For the broader travel overview: Somme.
