Annoville: Dunes and Cultural Heritage

Annoville can be explored through two distinct themes: its dune landscape and its cultural heritage, reflected in the Église Notre-Dame and the Château. There is also the “À l’ombre des dunes” route, which runs through several municipalities. In Annoville, landscape and architectural history sit side by side, while the route takes you beyond the village itself.

Dune Landscape and Route

The 22-kilometre “À l’ombre des dunes” route passes through Lingreville, Annoville, Hauteville and Montmartin. It combines coastal and bocage landscapes. For orientation, it is useful to consider the route and the dune area separately: the route’s length describes a path through four municipalities, while the measurements of the Dunes d’Annoville describe a natural area. The route thus brings different landscape types together along a course that spans several municipalities.

The Dunes d’Annoville are classified as a sensitive natural area and are home to remarkable biodiversity. They are located in Tourneville-sur-Mer, the merged municipality formed from Annoville and Lingreville. The area covers around 100 hectares and extends approximately two kilometres in length and 500 metres in width. The area figure describes its overall size, while the length and width convey its scale in a different way.

It is useful to distinguish between the different scales: 22 kilometres is the total length of the route, whereas around 100 hectares, approximately two kilometres in length and 500 metres in width, describe the dune area. The route follows a course across several municipalities; the measurements indicate the natural area’s spatial extent.

The Dunes et marais d’Annoville area has been part of the Natura 2000 network since 2007 through its inclusion in the “Littoral Ouest du Cotentin de Bréhal à Pirou” site. The ecological importance of the dune massif has been recognised since 1966, when the state classified this municipal area under the 1930 law. The two dates refer to different milestones: the state classification in 1966 and inclusion in the Natura 2000 network since 2007.

Church and Château

The Église Notre-Dame d’Annoville features architectural elements dating from the 11th century. Its bell tower was built using leftover granite that had been cut for the Château d’Annoville. The church also contains two reliquaries from the first half of the 18th century; a large Christ in the transept dates from the 15th century. The dates therefore range from the church’s 11th-century architectural elements, through the 15th-century Christ, to the reliquaries from the first half of the 18th century. The bell tower also links the church’s construction history directly to the Château: it was built using granite offcuts prepared for the château.

The Château d’Annoville was built in the 18th century from Chausey granite. It belonged to the Michel d’Annoville-Tourneville family for a long time, until the beginning of the 20th century. In the past, it hosted lavish parties attended by the Norman nobility, including the Tourville family. Chausey granite is named as the château’s building material; the bell tower, by contrast, was built using granite offcuts prepared for the château. A description updated in 2021 identifies the Château as private property. Check whether access is possible before visiting.

Discover more destinations: Vergoncey, Carolles, Brillevast, Auxais, Cretteville, Joganville, Querqueville, Picauville.

Go to the main travel overview: Manche.