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Press contact: Katia DEHAYE – Tourist office of Intercom +33(0)2 31 51 28 24 – [email protected] - www.bessin-normandie.com

PRESS RELEASE ’s Route A historical ride in 8 stages

The 130 miles historical trail, stretching from Géfosse-Fontenay to Falaise is a trail much appreciated by horse riding enthusiasts. It follows in part the itinerary which William the Conqueror took in 1047 when fleeing and the treacherous Norman Barons to take refuge in Falaise. The six resident tourist offices have created a trail information sheet, which has just been updated.

William’s wild ride In January 1047, William – not yet ‘the Conqueror’ – escaped an assassination attempt fomented by rebel barons who refused to acknowledge him as their new duke. Aged only 19, William hastily left Valognes (Manche) in the middle of the night, fleeing the Norman Lords who sought his death. The future king of England mounted his horse and rode through the night to reach his castle in Falaise (), where he arrived the next day, in the late afternoon. Along the journey, he crossed the Baie des Veys, which today marks the boundary between the departments of la Manche and Calvados. In the early morning, (probably around 8 am), William reached the village of , a few miles from Bayeux. He was greeted there by the Lord Hubert de Ryes, who summoned his two sons to escort the duke to Falaise. Safe in his castle, William prepared his riposte against the Norman barons. He led his troops to the plain of Val-ès- Dunes, where he fought victoriously against his enemies, thus asserting his authority in . The touristic equestrian trail “William the Conqueror’s Route” partly follows the duke’s wild ride to Falaise.

Wiliam the Conqueror’s Route: a ride from natural sites to historical monuments From the Baie des Veys (Géfosse-Fontenay) to Falaise, the trail leads horse-riders through the landscapes of the , of the Bocage and the Suisse Normande. Marshes, forests and plains unveil in turn their scenery before the grand finale, the arrival at the castle of Falaise. The itinerary is punctuated with exceptional natural sites and historic monuments, such as the estuary of the Baie des Veys, the village and the church of Ryes, the Chapel Saint-Clair in Banneville-sur-Ajon, the priory of Plessis-Grimoult, the site of Château-Ganne in la Pommeraye and finally the castle of Falaise. Broken down into eight stages ranging from 13 km to 32 km, “William the Conqueror’s Route” is accessible to all levels of riders.

All that riders may need listed in a trail information sheet Inaugurated in 2015 and enriching the regional network of equestrian routes, William the Conqueror’s Route comes with a trail information sheet that lists everything that riders and their horses may need during their journey: accommodation, list of vets and blacksmiths, practical information and remarkable sites. The information sheet which accompanies the route is piloted by the Tourist Office of Bayeux Intercom, and is a 2 collective achievement by the six resident tourist offices.

Press contact: Katia DEHAYE – Tourist office of Bayeux Intercom +33(0)2 31 51 28 24 – [email protected] - www.bessin-normandie.com

CONTENTS

“William the Conqueror’s Route” an equestrian trail in 8 stages ...... p. 4-5

In the footsteps of William, future King of England ...... p. 6

Walk, trot, and canter… from natural sites to historic monuments ...... p. 7

The financial and touristic partners of “William the Conqueror’s Route” ...... p. 8

Practical information ...... p. 9

Contacts ...... p. 9

Photos : A.CHEVREAU / Gauthier JONET / Anissa MESTOUR / G.WAIT – OT Bayeux Intercom / Jacques Basile / Ville de Bayeux / 3 CG – OT Bayeux Intercom / OT Collines Normandes / Partenaires

Press contact: Katia DEHAYE – Tourist office of Bayeux Intercom +33(0)2 31 51 28 24 – [email protected] - www.bessin-normandie.com

« WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR’S ROUTE » AN EQUESTRIAN TRAIL IN 8 STAGES

Divided into 8 stages ranging from 13 km to 32 km, “William the Conqueror’s Route” is a horseback trail to be enjoyed over several days, from the Baie des Veys to the Castle of Falaise. The different stages of the trail are described in a trail information sheet accompanied by 22 maps offering details of the route. Accommodation, points of interest, useful information and contacts are given to optimise the experience on this touristic itinerary.

STAGE N°1 // Baie des Veys  Formigny Maps 1-2-3-4 21 km

The Baie des Veys, on the border between the Cotentin and the Bessin, is the first stage of the itinerary. In the past, the bay formed a marshy delta which was almost impenetrable and stretched out as far as Neuilly-la-Forêt. Between the and the 18th century, there were only three passages enabling the crossing of the bay; these were called “veys” meaning fords. When he fled in 1047, William most probably used the Grand Vey, a ford which linked Bucheville to Saint-Clément. The Baie des Veys was modified over the centuries and is nowadays well known for its production of oyster; it has also The Baie des Veys become an ornithological reserve of European importance.

STAGE N°2 // Formigny  Tracy-sur-Mer Maps 4-5 26,5 km

Riders will discover the splendid landscapes of the Bocage countryside and the marshland of the Bessin. For some 2000 years, man shaped the insalubrious and almost impassable bogland into rich pastures. This part of the itinerary is particularly laden with history: the American military cemetery in Colleville-sur- Mer, the German battery of Longues-sur-Mer and the artificial harbour in Arromanches-les-Bains are reminders of the fighting that took place there during the in June 1944. View on Port-en-Bessin from the cliff

STAGE N°3 // Tracy-sur-Mer  Martragny Maps 6-7-8 30 km

From the coast, and after a visit to the famous church of Ryes, where William made an early morning halt on his flight, riders will head south, entering a land where Orival stone is extracted – limestone with a beautiful golden tinge which was used in the construction of numerous castles, manor houses and mansions, some of them visible along the route. Prieuré Saint-Gabriel in Saint-Gabriel-Brécy STAGE N°4 // Martragny  Noyers-Bocage Maps 9-10-11-12 29,3 km

Having travelled along the winding paths of the Seulles Valley, riders will then enter a completely different scenery: the plain of . An ideal terrain for cantering, the plain precedes the entry into Bocage countryside, which in turn offers a variety of landscapes with extensive cereal fields, green valleys and rich meadows. 4

View of the plain before entering the Bocage Normand

Press contact: Katia DEHAYE – Tourist office of Bayeux Intercom +33(0)2 31 51 28 24 – [email protected] - www.bessin-normandie.com

STAGE N°5 // Noyers-Bocage  Roucamps Maps 12-13-14-15-16 31,9 km

The route continues its descent towards the south of the Calvados. With the limestone plateau surrounding the Ajon valley and the Armorican Massif on the heights of the Valcongrain forest, this stage of the route offers open views and a diversity in scenery. The vegetation of hedgerows becomes more diverse approaching Aunay-sur-Odon, which was the first town to be rebuilt after the Second World War.

Arrival on the site of the Chapelle Saint Clair

STAGE N°6 // Roucamps  Clécy Maps 16-17-18-19 30,9 km

Starting in Roucamps, which takes its name after the red iron-rich fields (champs rouges in French), and passing Mont Pinçon, the highest point in Calvados, this part of the itinerary offers many historic sites along the way. Riders will see the fountain of Saint-Célerin, where William is thought to have flayed the rebel Baron Grimoult and the village of Plessis- Grimoult, named after the Lord who retreated here after his defeat against the Duke.

Stone of Mont Pinçon

STAGE N°7 // Clécy  Pont d’Ouilly Maps 19-20 13,4 km

At this stage, riders will be heading East towards Falaise, the final destination on this epic ride. They will enter the Suisse Normande, a region of the Calvados carved by the meanderings of the river which has cut through the Armorican Massif, the oldest rock formation on Earth (800 million years !). Shaped through time, the Suisse Normande offers beautiful views made of deep valleys, steep slopes and white waters. Breathtaking!

Nautical activities in Suisse normande

STAGE N°8 // Pont d’Ouilly  Falaise Maps 20-21-22 24,7 km

Leaving behind the typical vegetation and paths of the Suisse Normande, riders will see in the distance the castle of Falaise - William the Conqueror’s fortress. This is where William took refuge after his wild ride, escorted by the sons of Lord Hubert de Ryes, who had greeted him that morning. William plotted his revenge against the Norman Barons from the castle, where he stayed until his victory at the battle of Val-ès-Dunes. Appart from the castle, the town of Falaise has preserved a remarkable medieval heritage.

Falaise Castle 5 Le Château de Falaise

Press contact: Katia DEHAYE – Tourist office of Bayeux Intercom +33(0)2 31 51 28 24 – [email protected] - www.bessin-normandie.com

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF WILLIAM, FUTURE KING OF ENGLAND

Between Valognes (Manche) and Falaise (Calvados) where he arrived in the late afternoon of the next day, the Duke of Normandy stopped at certain points of his itinerary and these historic places are of note in William’s legendary ride…

In the trail information sheet, sites of interest marked by this pictogram are sites which William visited during his flight from Valognes in 1047

The church of Saint-Clément – Baie des Veys Probably in January 1047, William crosses the bay at night to arrive at 4am in the Church of Saint Clement where he stays for a moment before continuing his way to Falaise.

The church of Ryes Left around midnight from Valognes, William arrives around 8am at the Church of Ryes where the lord of the place, his vassal Hubert de Ryes, helps him to reach Falaise. His two sons escort William.

Bayeux (8 km detour) The medieval city of Bayeux did not suffer from the bombings of 1944; It is the guardian of two jewels: the majestic Cathedral and the famous . The latter, registered Memory of the World by UNESCO, narrates the conquest of England in 1066 by William the Conqueror. A precious testimony.

The Fountain Saint-Célerin The Duke of Normandy would have flayed, in this place Baron Grimoult, who is thought to have rebelled against him. Washing his bloody hands in the fountain, William dropped his knife, leaving in the water the red color of the blood of his enemy. In fact, the water of the fountain is colored by the iron present in large quantities in the soil of the region. This is where the name of the village Roucamps comes from, which means "red fields".

The castle of William the Conqueror – Falaise Birthplace of William the Conqueror, this castle was one of the main residences of the Dukes of Normandy. Completely restored, this castral ensemble dominates the city with its three dungeons and its rampart flanked by fifteen towers. William took shelter in Falaise, his native town, after fleeing Valognes. He was safely escorted there by the two sons of his faithful vassal Hubert de Ryes. From the castle, William prepared his riposte which lead to his victory at Val-ès-Dune against the rebellious Barons in 1047. 6

Press contact: Katia DEHAYE – Tourist office of Bayeux Intercom +33(0)2 31 51 28 24 – [email protected] - www.bessin-normandie.com

WALK, TROT, AND CANTER… FROM NATURAL SITES TO HISTORIC MONUMENTS

Beyond the story of William’s wild ride through the night and the historic sites where he stopped, the eponym equestrian trail is a fantastic way to discover the many beautiful natural sites and remarkable monuments in the Calvados. From the Baie des Veys to the Suisse Normande, with the D-day beaches and the many chateaux, the trail offers a multitude of points of interest to be seen along the way.

A ride through the most beautiful natural sites of the Calvados The itinerary starts at in the north-west of the department, in the heart of the Baie des Veys, an exceptional natural site which marks the border between the departments of la Manche and the Calvados. The bay is particularly famous for the production of a deliciously sweet and fleshy oyster. At the end of their journey, riders will travel through the rugged landscapes of the Suisse normande, a land modelled by time and the meanderings of the river Orne. Many leisure activities are on offer - climbing, kayaking and canoeing – in Clécy, in Pont d’Ouilly and at La Roche d’Oëtre. Mont Pinçon, the highest point in the Calvados (363 metres above sea level), offers breathtaking views over the surrounding region.

The Landings and the Battle of Normandy, a modern epic story Riders will also follow in the footsteps of heroes of a different genre on this historical trail: it will be the opportunity to visit along the coast many sites in relation with the Landings and the Battle of Normandy: the D-Day beaches, the American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, the German Battery in Longues-sur- Mer and the Artificial Harbour in Arromanches. Further inland, the British cemetery of Fontenay-le-Pesnel is situated only a few yards from the riders’ route. Finally, before arriving in Falaise – which is home to the Memorial to Wartime Civilians, inaugurated in 2014 and the first museum dedicated to civilian victims – riders will pass through Aunay- sur-Odon, the first town in to be rebuilt after the war.

Châteaux, manor houses and abbeys By the roadside, in the heart of the plain or nestled in the countryside, the castles, manor houses and abbeys of the Calvados are worth a visit along the way. In the Bessin, the Priory of Saint-Gabriel, with its high walls protecting the monastic complex founded in the 11th century is well worth a detour. Further down the route are the châteaux of Vaussieux, of Vaux and of , all gems of architecture. As they approach the Suisse Normande, riders can admire the estate of Pontécoulant and the Château Ganne la Pommeraye, a fortification dating back from the 10th-11th centuries, the Chapel Saint-Clair, built in the 13th century and the 15th century private estate of Château de Ragny.

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Press contact: Katia DEHAYE – Tourist office of Bayeux Intercom +33(0)2 31 51 28 24 – [email protected] - www.bessin-normandie.com

THE FINANCIAL AND TOURISTIC PARTNERS OF “WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR’S ROUTE”

This initiative in equestrian tourism “William the Conqueror’s Route” is a joint development by the tourist offices along the itinerary: Isigny-Omaha, Bayeux Intercom, Seulles Terre et Mer, Bocage Normand, Suisse Normande and Pays de Falaise. The initiative was created with the support of Normandie Tourisme, Calvados Tourisme and the Regional Committee for Equestrian Tourism.

Office de tourisme Office de tourisme Office de tourisme d’Isigny-Omaha de Bayeux Intercom Seulles Terre et Mer 02 31 21 46 00 02 31 51 28 28 02 31 80 67 08 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.isigny-omaha-tourisme.com www.bayeux-bessin-tourisme.com www.tourisme-creully.fr

Office de tourisme Office de tourisme Office de tourisme du Bocage Normand de la Suisse Normande du Pays de Falaise 02 31 77 16 14 02 31 79 70 45 02 31 90 17 26 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.bocage-normand.com www.suisse-normande-tourisme.com www.falaise-tourisme.com

Comité Régional Calvados Comité Régional du Tourisme Tourisme du Tourisme Equestre [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.normandie-tourisme.fr www.calvados-tourisme.com www.chevalnormandie.com

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Press contact: Katia DEHAYE – Tourist office of Bayeux Intercom +33(0)2 31 51 28 24 – [email protected] - www.bessin-normandie.com

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Additional information tools are available to individuals keen to organise their riding holiday on their own or as a group.

Trail information sheet  Details of the 8 stages with details on accommodation, transfer of luggage, unmissable sites…  List of equestrian centres  List of blacksmiths  List horse clinics and vets

Maps The 22 maps of the route can be downloaded on www.williamconquerorsroute.com

CONTACTS Katia DEHAYE Tourist office of Bayeux Intercom 4 place Gauquelin Despallières +33(0)2 31 51 28 24 [email protected] www.bessin-normandie.com 9

Press contact: Katia DEHAYE – Tourist office of Bayeux Intercom +33(0)2 31 51 28 24 – [email protected] - www.bessin-normandie.com