Castilly: Château history and commemorative stained glass

Castilly brings together several travel interests: the architectural history of Château de Castilly, commemorative stained glass in the parish church of Nativité-Notre-Dame, and agricultural experiences involving cider. The details below can help you decide which interests matter when choosing a hotel in Castilly.

Château de Castilly and its protected ensemble

In 1683, Philippe de Boran decided to build a new Château de Castilly near the former manor house. Château de Castilly is partly listed as a historic monument. The protected ensemble includes the façades and roofs of all the buildings, as well as the garden area with its moats and ha-has (sauts-de-loup). It also includes the kitchen garden walls and the approach avenue, along with the meadows on either side. The listed elements thus range from the buildings to the garden and landscape along the approach. The château’s history and the scope of the ensemble offer two ways to explore the site: the decision to build anew near the former manor house, and the connection between the buildings and their surroundings.

Commemorative stained glass in the parish church

Another point of interest is the parish church of Nativité-Notre-Dame. A commemorative stained-glass window is located in window bay 4 of the south transept chapel. It depicts the Sacred Heart of Jesus above a wartime scene featuring a cannon, burning ruins, and soldiers from the First World War. The window was created by the stained-glass artist Henri Mazuet. Its precise location identifies its place within the church; its imagery combines a religious motif with explicitly war-related elements. While the château brings together protected architectural features and outdoor areas, here the focus is on a single work and its visual language. This makes it possible to distinguish between the history of an ensemble and commemorative art.

Farm visits, cider, and guest rooms

At Ferme Saint-Blaise, you can visit the farm and taste cider made from organically grown produce. You can buy farmhouse cider there, made from organically farmed apples. Check the visitor arrangements and product selection before your trip.

Ferme Sainte-Blaise is an 18th-century farm. It offers farmhouse cider made exclusively from organically farmed apples and has guest rooms. Check the visitor arrangements if you plan to visit, and check guest-room availability before your trip. The information offers different points of interest: cider, a farm visit, and the option of staying overnight at the farm. The similarly spelled farm names can be distinguished by what they offer: Saint-Blaise is associated with farm visits, tastings, and the sale of farmhouse cider; Sainte-Blaise is an 18th-century farm offering farmhouse cider and guest rooms. For a tasting, look for Ferme Saint-Blaise; for guest rooms, look for Ferme Sainte-Blaise.

Discover more destinations: Condé-sur-Seulles, Saint-Marcouf, Montchamp, Les Loges-Saulces, Brucourt, Curcy-Sur-Orne, Vire, Saint-Germain-La-Blanche-Herbe

For the broader travel overview: Calvados.