Beauchamps

Beauchamps brings together hiking, landscape and architectural history as concrete themes for visitors. The routes offer different points of reference, while the church, chapel and local stone provide a distinctive way to explore the town’s history. When planning a stay, you can first decide whether to focus on paths and natural features or on historic buildings.

Hiking and landscape

Beauchamps is a stop on the 84-kilometre Chiffonniers Route, which connects Saint-Pair-sur-Mer with the Sée Valley. Its length and endpoints give the route a broad regional scope, with Beauchamps as one stop along the way. The Les rives de l’Airou walking trail passes through the sunken lanes of Beauchamps and a Natura 2000 area. The two trails can be compared by different features: the Chiffonniers Route by its overall length and endpoints, and Les rives de l’Airou by its sunken lanes and Natura 2000 area. For planning, it may be useful to distinguish between a regional route and specific features of the trail landscape.

The Airou is also part of the natural landscape. As a river flowing over the Armorican basement, it has remarkable natural potential for the reproduction of migratory salmonids. This adds an ecological dimension to the river, distinct from route length and sunken lanes.

Church, chapel and local history

The present-day church in Beauchamps was built in the Neo-Gothic style and has a flat-roofed bell tower. The Sainte-Vierge Chapel still stands in the cemetery. The former church was destroyed by fire in the 19th century. The present-day church and the former church destroyed in the 19th century therefore represent two different periods; the chapel still stands in the cemetery. Beauchamps is also one of the “Villages Patrimoine” (Heritage Villages).

Local stone and historic sites

The “pierre de Beauchamps” is a local stone with red, brown and blue hues. It was quarried from the late 18th century and used in construction throughout the Sud-Manche area; its heyday came at the beginning of the 20th century. The start of quarrying and the stone’s heyday mark different periods. While the stone’s name is linked to Beauchamps, its use in construction extended throughout Sud-Manche. Its range of colours, history and use in construction offer different perspectives on the material.

At Val d’Airou, the Pont Neuf is highlighted as a place of interest; it is a former watermill. This site, too, offers a tangible link to earlier building use.

Guided walk and festival

Local guides offer a guided walk with commentary through Beauchamps. The Saint-Georges festival is organised every year by the local festival committee. A guided walk and an annual festival are different occasions to take into account when planning your trip. If Saint-Georges is relevant to your trip, check the specific dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Tamerville, Fleury, Saint-Quentin-Sur-Le-Homme, Bion, Le Mesnilbus, La Lande-D'airou, Moyon, Maupertuis

For the main travel overview: Manche.