Discover the Canton of Saint-Sever-Calvados

If you are planning a stay in the Canton of Saint-Sever-Calvados, you can organise your excursions around a clear focus: ecclesiastical history, forest and waterways, or a tour through the Bocage. The sights and routes offer different ways to explore the area, from listed buildings to an educational trail and an arboretum.

Cultural history in Saint-Sever-Calvados

The church of Saint-Sever-Calvados is protected as a historic monument in its entirety; it was designated on 3 February 1881. The Benedictine Abbey of Saint-Sever-Calvados was founded around 1050 by Richard Goz, Viscount of Avranches, and his son Hugues le Loup at the site of the tomb of Saint Sever. The church and abbey therefore offer different historical points of interest: the protected church and the abbey’s founding story.

The Carmel de l'Hermitage has its own story of origin. It was established in 1214, when hermits cleared a forest glade to build a small monastery there. Services at the chapel of the Carmel de l'Hermitage are open to the public; access may vary depending on the service schedule. Check the times before visiting. The motte castrale of Saint-Sever was also designated a historic monument, on 11 March 1983. It lies in the heart of the state-owned Forêt de Saint-Sever and overlooks the Etang du Vieux Château.

Forest landscape and arboretum

The state-owned Forêt de Saint-Sever covers 1,580 hectares of woodland. Its publicly accessible areas have practical signage, picnic tables and car parks for forest outings. An educational treetop trail shares information about the forest’s fauna and flora, as well as the water cycle. Fishing is possible at the Etang du Vieux Château in the Forêt de Saint-Sever. As facilities and conditions may change, check the latest information before your forest outing.

If you are particularly interested in tree species, the Hauts Vents Arboretum, established in 1975, offers a dedicated focus. Admission is free, and more than 100 tree and shrub species can be seen. A path passes native tree species as well as deciduous and coniferous trees from around the world. The two forest destinations therefore offer different themes: the Forêt de Saint-Sever also focuses on fauna, flora and the water cycle, while the arboretum showcases the diversity of woody plants.

Planning walks and excursions

The tourist route La Pierre Percée, also known as the Route du granit, is a circular route of about 50 kilometres along the minor roads of the Bocage. It passes Lac du Gast and the Chapelle de l'Hermitage in the Forêt de Saint-Sever. The approximate distance gives you a useful guide for planning; as route conditions may change, check the latest information before setting off.

For a historical walk in Saint-Sever-Calvados, you can use a downloadable brochure or explore the walk as an audio-guided tour through the izi.TRAVEL app. These formats offer different ways to learn about the town’s history. Check which options are currently available before your trip.

The abbey also offers a dedicated way to visit: a daily 3D augmented reality tour, which you can access with an Android phone or a tablet borrowed free of charge. Check the latest usage and borrowing options before your trip. This lets you choose between a historical walk, the abbey’s digital offering and the nature-focused attractions of the forest destinations.

Discover more destinations: Le Mesnil-Benoist, Giberville, Cheffreville-Tonnencourt, Amfreville, Saint-Vaast-En-Auge, Culey-le-Patry, Lasson, Litteau.

Go to the regional travel overview: Calvados.