Tournay-Sur-Odon: Art and Cultural Heritage

Several themes come together for a trip to Tournay-Sur-Odon: religious art at the Église Saint-Pierre, artistic work associated with the CDAR Villodon, nature and landscape, and the history of the Fromagerie de Villodon. When choosing the destination for your stay, you can weigh these highlights according to your interests. The connections to art and landscape differ from past program events and the completed history of the Fromagerie.

Art and Cultural Heritage at the Église Saint-Pierre

The Église Saint-Pierre brings together two distinct works of art: a protected wooden statue of Saint Peter from the 15th century and Retout’s 1705 painting “La Resurrection.” The painting is classified as a historic monument and was restored in 2015. Several centuries separate their creation; the restoration also marks a later chapter in the painting’s history. For travelers interested in art, this offers a comparison between the older sculpture and the later painting, with its protected status and restoration providing additional points of reference. The Sainte-Barbe Chapel at Ragny Manor also dates from the 14th century.

Artistic Practice and Cultural Programs

The CDAR Villodon presents monographic works and designs workshops in artistic practice. During the 2025/26 school year, its program for school groups included exhibition visits as part of tailored workshops, as well as meetings with artists. The sixth edition of “Itinéraire en quête d’artistes” included the CDAR Villodon in Tournay-Sur-Odon in 2024; at that time, the event format had been running for six years. A different focus was taken by the artistic trail organized by the Tournay-Sur-Odon festival committee with local artists in 2024, highlighting landscapes and cultural heritage.

A cultural program in 2024 was set to feature Karine Saporta’s photographic work “Rédemptions” in the Chapelle Sainte-Barbe at Château de Ragny in Tournay-Sur-Odon. A series of performances by Saporta was also planned at the entrance to the Château. The planned contributions differed both in format and location: photographic work in the chapel and performances at the Château entrance.

Landscape and Nature

An environmental assessment dated November 3, 2016, described Tournay-Sur-Odon’s natural areas and landscape features such as hedgerows as well preserved. The same assessment identified ecological corridors in the area. The nature perspective therefore encompasses both the described condition of natural areas and hedgerows and the designated corridors. If landscape is important to your travel plans, this perspective adds a distinct focus alongside the art and cultural themes.

Fromagerie de Villodon and Culinary History

The Fromagerie de Villodon is part of the area’s history. Its operations began in 1918 with the registration of two Camembert brands: “le Renard” and “le Villodon.” In 1922, the Camembert “le Villodon” received the honorary award at the competition in Nevers; in 1929, the Fromagerie received a gold medal at the Concours général de Paris. The awards relate to different recipients: the Camembert in 1922 and the Fromagerie in 1929. In September 1944, milk processing was moved to Audrieu. The Fromagerie de Villodon was permanently closed. Another culinary connection comes from local festivities: at the 2024 Fête des Hameaux, pizzas and tarts were baked in a local bread oven. An edition was scheduled for May 30, 2025.

Discover More Destinations

Saint-Manvieu-Bocage, Surville, Culey-le-Patry, Saint-Martin-Des-Entrées, Mézidon-Canon, Hermival-Les-Vaux, Saint-Pierre-Du-Jonquet, Vicques

For the broader travel overview: Calvados.