Fontaine-Henry: Castle History in the Mue Valley

Fontaine-Henry combines architectural history with a landscape shaped by the Mue Valley and Creully limestone. The château, church, chapel and park each offer a different focus. If you are looking for a hotel in Fontaine-Henry, these features can help you choose how to explore the village based on your interests.

The Château and the Church

The present-day Château de Fontaine-Henry was built largely during construction phases commissioned by Jean and Pierre d’Harcourt. Work began around 1480 and was completed by the middle of the 16th century. Its construction therefore spanned several decades.

The Église Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité has been classified as a Monument historique since 1862; the protection covers the church, with the exception of the nave. Inside are oak neo-Gothic choir stalls, which have been protected as movable cultural heritage since 23 November 1978. The protection designations therefore apply to different objects: the church building, subject to the stated exception, and the movable choir stalls.

The Notre-Dame du Val Busnel Chapel adds an earlier historical date to the architectural story. It was built in the 13th century at the beginning of the Gothic period and redesigned in the 16th century under the reign of Francis I by the architect Blaise Le Prestre. The chapel is freely accessible to all visitors to the château park. As access arrangements may change, it is advisable to check them before your visit.

Limestone and the Mue Valley

Fontaine-Henry lies in the heart of the Mue Valley. The village has numerous historic buildings made of Creully limestone. The stone was extracted from numerous underground chambers, many of which are still visible in the embankments on the edge of the village. This makes it possible to trace the link between the historic building material and the visible traces of its extraction.

Park and Walking Route

The grounds of the Château de Fontaine-Henry are an English landscape park where visitors can discover the local flora and fauna. They feature a plant maze, with a route suitable for the whole family. These offer two different nature experiences: observing nature and walking through the planted maze. As the maze’s availability may change, check before your visit whether the route is currently open.

The “Sur les rives de la Mue” walking route follows the Mue and runs at the foot of limestone cliffs with former quarries that have been converted into mushroom farms. The route offers the opportunity to visit the old church in Thaon and the Renaissance Château de Fontaine-Henry.

The practical difference is the format: the park focuses on observing nature and exploring the plant maze; the walking route combines a stretch along the Mue with opportunities to visit the church and château. You can therefore choose between a visit to the park and a walking route featuring the river and cultural heritage.

Free parking is available at the Château de Fontaine-Henry visitor site.

Discover more destinations: Fresné-La-Mère, Canapville, Balleroy, Chicheboville, Cambes-En-Plaine, Colombelles, Tournay-Sur-Odon and Colombières.

For the regional travel guide: Calvados.