Neuilly-La-Forêt: Marshland and History

The Château de Neuilly in Neuilly-la-Forêt served as a residence for the bishops of Bayeux from the late 11th century. This history is a concrete starting point for understanding the area. In addition, the marshland, a guided kayaking tour and the history of Saint-Lambert offer different topics to consider when planning your trip.

Château de Neuilly: Residence and Building History

Romanesque and early Gothic architectural elements have been preserved at the château. These include a large lancet window, the arcades of a former residential tower and Gothic window openings in the chapel. The different features offer specific clues for understanding the architecture: the lancet window is one of the narrow, pointed window forms, while the arcades belong to the former residential tower and the other window openings are part of the chapel. The focus is therefore not just on a single architectural style, but on a combination of different architectural features. The grounds themselves are also significant: they are an archaeological reserve of great importance for medieval secular architecture. “Secular” here refers to non-religious, worldly architecture. The former episcopal residence and the site’s significance for medieval secular architecture thus complement each other in providing a historical perspective.

Walking Through the Marshland

The “Les marais de l'Elle” trail is signposted from the town centre and starts at La Bouillotte. It passes through marshland alongside a long avenue of pollarded ash trees and along the dykes of the Vire and the Elle. There are also long, narrow plots separated by drainage ditches. This layout makes the marsh a recognisable, shaped landscape: in addition to trees and dykes, its characteristic features include the narrow plots and ditches. If you would like to explore the area on foot, the trail takes you through a series of these landscape features, rather than presenting the marsh as a uniform expanse. Two details are especially useful for finding your way: the trail is signposted from the town centre, and it starts at La Bouillotte.

A Guided Kayak Tour on the Elle

Another way to experience the marshland is the “Kayak accompagné dans les marais de l'Elle” excursion. The guided kayak tour starts in Neuilly-la-Forêt and explores the marshland ecosystem along the Elle. It follows the river without any slopes or rapids. This gives you two distinct activities to consider when planning your trip: the trail focuses on the avenue, dykes and plots divided by drainage ditches, while the Elle and the marshland ecosystem are the focus of the kayak tour. These activities therefore offer different ways to experience the landscape, and you do not need to plan them as a single route.

Saint-Lambert: Harbour, Boats and Mill

Saint-Lambert is an old harbour and hamlet above the confluence of the Elle and the Vire and the associated salt works. The place offered shelter to gabare barges and fishing boats. In contrast to the former episcopal residence, Saint-Lambert tells a story of a different use of the river area: the focus here is on the harbour, gabare barges and fishing boats. The mill, which is still visible, is also part of the area's history. It required massive weirs known as “vides”. The mill and the “vides” add a technical aspect of the waterscape to the history of the harbour and fishing. The historical themes here therefore encompass medieval architecture, the former use of the rivers and the structures associated with the mill.

Lactic Acid Fermentation at La Mare Mitonne

La Mare Mitonne offers paid tours for individuals and groups. They include a garden tour, an introduction to the principles of lactic acid fermentation and a tasting. La Mare Mitonne also preserves its vegetables through lactic acid fermentation, so the process is not only a topic of the introduction but also part of the vegetable preparation described. For visitors interested in food and how it is made, the experience brings together a garden, an explanation and a tasting. Workshops introducing lactic acid fermentation are available by reservation. If you would like to plan a workshop, ask about an available date before you arrive.

Discover more destinations: Pierrefitte-En-Auge, Combray, Aunay-Sur-Odon, Géfosse-Fontenay, Sainte-Marie-Outre-l'Eau, Saint-Georges-En-Auge, Audrieu, Les Isles-Bardel.

See the regional travel overview: Calvados.