Norrey-En-Auge: Discover Churches and Cultural Heritage

Norrey-En-Auge lies on the edge of the Falaise plain and on the border of the Pays d’Auge. The village’s cultural character is reflected in the Romanesque architecture of Sainte-Anne Church, its medieval wall paintings and stained glass, and other visible historical remains. The parish church of Notre-Dame adds another focus with its own collection of figurative windows. If you would like to plan your stay around architecture and religious art, the village offers specific themes that differ in date and subject matter.

Architecture and Artwork at Sainte-Anne

Sainte-Anne Church brings together several clearly distinguishable architectural features. Its herringbone masonry dates from the 11th century; it also has Romanesque round arches and nave walls. Herringbone masonry describes the arrangement of stones in a pattern resembling a herringbone. In round arches, “round arch” describes the shape of the arch. At Sainte-Anne, wall structure and arch shape can therefore be distinguished as two different architectural details. The square tower with its slate spire adds another building element with a clear geometric form.

The 12th-century wall paintings depict two different biblical scenes: the Virgin presenting her child to the Three Magi for their adoration, and Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. One scene focuses on the Virgin, Child and Magi, while the other depicts Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem; the events shown thus differ, although they date from the same period.

The choir also contains a remarkable stained-glass window dating from the 1240s. It depicts the Visitation and Saint Margaret of Antioch emerging from the dragon’s belly. In 1874, the window was reassembled from various pieces; on February 9, 1925, it was classified as a protected historic object. The dates refer to different milestones: its creation, its later reassembly and its protected status.

Notre-Dame and Other Historical Remains

The parish church of Notre-Dame in Norrey-En-Auge offers another focus on stained glass. Its collection comprises four figurative windows depicting Saint Augustine, Saint George, Saint Louis, Saint Henry and Saint Evroult. One window shows Evroult founding his monastery. In addition to depictions of saints, the group of windows thus includes a specific founding motif.

Among Norrey-En-Auge’s visible historical remains is a manor house built in the 17th century. The Motte cadastrale de la Baronnie is a visible monument in the village. Among the last remains of the abbey is the Grange aux Dîmes, a tithe barn dating from the 16th century. It adds a remnant of the abbey to the churches and manor house.

Historical Periods

The dates place the works in their historical context: the collection includes 11th-century herringbone masonry, 12th-century wall paintings and a stained-glass window dating from the 1240s. The 16th-century Grange aux Dîmes and the 17th-century manor house extend this historical timeline. For the window, the date of its creation, its reassembly in 1874 and its classification in 1925 remain separate dates. When planning a cultural trip, these different periods and motifs can help you choose the focus of your stay in Norrey-En-Auge.

Discover more destinations: Magny-En-Bessin, Clécy, Saint-Jouin, Fresné-La-Mère, Bourgeauville, Mosles, Fleury-sur-Orne, Tourgéville.

Go to the main travel overview: Calvados.