Gonneville-en-Auge: Church, Equestrian History & Cycling Route

Gonneville-en-Auge gives travelers several specific points of reference for planning their stay: the Église Sainte-Croix, the equestrian history of the Haras de Retz, and a cycling route with a stop at the information board in the village. There are also views of nearby sights and communities, as well as local vegetable farming.

Église Sainte-Croix: construction, pulpit and exterior details

The Église Sainte-Croix was built at the end of the 16th century by the lords of Servan de Gonneville. Its pulpit dates from the 17th century and comes from the Abbey of Saint-Martin de Troarn. The pulpit is listed as a French Monument historique. This designation applies specifically to the pulpit. There are several graffiti on the church’s exterior walls.

The construction and furnishings can also be distinguished chronologically: the church was built at the end of the 16th century, followed by the pulpit from the 17th century. The church was completely restored inside and out in 2003. A municipal webpage, updated in 2021, also notes that it has been illuminated at night since 2019. The history of the Église Sainte-Croix thus brings together its construction, the origin of one furnishing, its restoration and details on the exterior walls.

Equestrian history at the Haras de Retz

Another historical thread leads to the Haras de Retz, located within the municipality of Gonneville-en-Auge. The stud farm is particularly known for having housed the racehorse «Idéal du Gazeau». «Idéal du Gazeau» won the Prix d’Amérique twice and became world champion three times. The connection to the village is through the stud farm; the victories describe the horse’s sporting career. For travelers interested in equestrian sports, this focus adds another chapter to the local history alongside that of the Église Sainte-Croix.

Cycling route and information board

The «Entre l’Orne et la Dives» route is an easy, 16 km circular road-cycling route that starts in Merville-Franceville-Plage. Gonneville-en-Auge is named as a midway stop with an information board. The route description also offers a downloadable route map. The details answer different questions when choosing a ride: 16 km is the route length, «easy» is the difficulty level, and road cycling is the type of route.

The board is in the town hall garden and offers views of nearby sights and communities. As a midway stop, it connects the circular route with a viewpoint that looks beyond the village. The starting point and the stop are two different details about the route: it starts in Merville-Franceville-Plage, while the named stop is in Gonneville-en-Auge.

Surroundings and regional produce

Merville-Franceville-Plage and Cabourg are near Gonneville-en-Auge. The village is home to numerous vegetable growers who offer seasonal vegetables and other regional products. If you are planning to buy something specific, check what is available locally, as the produce is seasonal.

You can use these topics as a starting point when choosing a hotel. Decide whether cultural history, equestrian sports or the cycling loop will shape your stay, then compare hotels according to your personal requirements.

Discover more destinations: Gonneville-Sur-Honfleur, Cordebugle, Amayé-Sur-Orne, Douvres-la-Délivrande, Cricqueville-En-Bessin, Longraye, Fleury-sur-Orne, Castillon-En-Auge.

For the broader travel overview: Calvados.