Saint-Germain-De-Montgommery: Manor Houses and Church Art

If historic architectural styles and local history are among your travel interests, Saint-Germain-De-Montgommery offers several different themes. When looking for a hotel, the cultural focus can help determine your choice of destination: the manor houses showcase different phases of construction and alteration, while the church and cider press add further aspects.

Manor Houses, Half-Timbered Architecture and Building Phases

The Manoir des Champeaux, also known as the Manoir des Tourelles, was built in the second half of the 16th century. At the beginning of the 17th century, it was fortified with two turrets. Its construction and fortification therefore belong to different phases of its architectural history. A later alteration is also documented: in the 19th century, the manor’s dovecote was converted into a half-timbered workshop. The change from dovecote to workshop adds a change of use to the building’s history; the half-timbered structure shapes the appearance of this later phase.

The Manoir de la Plesse reveals a different sequence. Its main house was built around 1530, extended around 1550 and embellished around 1580. The approximate dates mark three different steps: construction, extension and later decoration. The manor is a complete rural ensemble of half-timbered architecture in the Pays d’Auge. The character of the ensemble draws attention beyond a single house to rural architecture as a whole.

The Plesse also includes a cider press built in the 16th century. It still has a wheel for processing apples and a press with a long lever. This equipment adds a different focus from the phases of construction of the main house: the wheel and press relate to apple processing and the pressing process. This connects the half-timbered architecture with a specific area of agricultural work, without conflating the two aspects.

The Church and Its Landscape Setting

The Church of Saint-Germain-de-Montgommery stands at the highest point of a hill, overlooking the Vie Valley. Its location is part of the character of the village, alongside details of its architecture and furnishings. The church’s porch comes from the former church in Vimoutiers. Inside, the church has an 18th-century pulpit, whose back panel is decorated with a painted Assumption of the Virgin. The origin of the porch and the design of the pulpit offer two different starting points for placing the church in its historical context.

The Motte and Its History

A feudal motte is said to lie west of the church. The former fortification had an irregular oval ground plan about 80 metres in diameter, along with a wide ditch and a rampart of piled-up marl. The earthwork has since been substantially damaged.

Cellar Tours and Tastings

At La Cave à Cidre GAUTARD, cellar tours and tastings are available on site. Times and services are not guaranteed. If you would like to include a tour or tasting in your stay, it is best to check the current options in advance.

Discover more destinations: Courseulles-Sur-Mer, Sept-Vents, Culey-le-Patry, Saint-Ouen-Des-Besaces, Le Mesnil-Villement, Commes, Asnelles, Manvieux.

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