William the Conqueror's Route

1 Press contact: Katia DEHAYE – Tourist office of Bayeux Intercom +33(0)2 31 51 28 24 – [email protected] - www.bessin-normandie.com PRESS RELEASE William the Conqueror’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 Valognes 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 (Calvados), 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 Ryes, 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 Normandy. 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 Bessin, 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 Middle Ages 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 Normandy Landings 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 Caen. 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 Orne 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.

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