Suisse Normande

Falaise

Located close to Suisse normande, the town of Falaise has two reasons for fame: it is William the Conqueror's birthplace and the town was largely destroyed during the June 44 bombings.
This means that the visitors very often go to visit William's castle and do not pay attention to the town. This is a shame: Falaise has still got wonderful relics from its glorious past and is well worth a full visit.
Built on a huge rock, the castle is an outstanding example of mediaeval architecture. Erected between the XIth and the XIIIth centuries, it includes a very impressive dungeon. This is where William the Conqueror was born in 1027.
The castle was subjected to a massive lift-up in the 1990's. This is a real success inside the buildings, where some modern fittings enhance the traditional architecture. Unfortunately, the works conducted outside, with the erection of a little "fort" in concrete, are highly disputable.

 

 



Falaise has kept large parts of its original outside walls, including the magnificent Porte des Cordeliers (XIIIth century).


 

Two large churches, La Trinité and Saint-Gervais, are well worth a visit.

 

 

In spite of the 1944 bombings, the town is still graced by many old buildings, simple town houses as well as beautiful mansions.

 

 

 

 

Two suburbs of Falaise should not be missed either:

Guibray, where a very big fair used to be held, has got beautiful houses and the impressive Notre-Dame de Guibray church.

 

 


Saint-Laurent, which was left largely untouched by the bombings. It is accessed by a steep road going downhill, leading to a lovely XIth century church.

 

 

Apart from its architectural wonders, Falaise is also a very lively town. The market held each Saturday morning is the place to buy excellent food coming from the countryside. During summertime, free concerts are given on the town main square on Saturday evenings.

 

 

Office du Tourisme de Falaise:
Boulevard de la Libération - 14700 Falaise
33 2 31 90 17 26 - info@otsifalaise.com et www.otsifalaise.com

See Towns and Villages, Thury-Harcourt, Clécy, Pont d'Ouilly.