Discover Fontenay-sur-Mer: Golf and Heritage

Fontenay-sur-Mer can be explored through several clearly distinct interests: golf, religious heritage, the Parc du Château de Courcy and a section of the GR®223. If you are looking for a hotel, this selection can help you decide what to focus on during your trip. The local attractions range from an 18-hole links course and historic architecture to a walking route through the Cotentin bocage landscape.

Golf between the dune coast and the Marais du Cotentin

Golf Utah Beach Normandie is an 18-hole links course on a preserved 60-hectare site in Fontenay-sur-Mer. The course lies between the dune coast and the Marais du Cotentin, in an exceptional natural setting. Both the specific type of course and its landscape are therefore highlights. For planning purposes, golf is distinct from the town’s cultural and walking attractions: golf takes you to the course, while the church and Château de Courcy offer other points of interest. You can make this activity the main focus and add historic sites or a walking section according to your interests.

Church and movable heritage

The church in Fontenay-sur-Mer was built in the 13th century. Its porch has three arches and is considered unique in the region. At the entrance to the choir is the “poutre de gloire dite perque et sa statue: Christ en croix” (rood beam, known as a perque, and its statue: Christ on the Cross); this movable heritage object was protected on 8 February 1990. The church’s architectural history and a specific, protected object are therefore both highlights. There is also a dovecote opposite the church. It is a distinct feature of the townscape and should not be confused with the dovecote in the Parc du Château de Courcy.

Gardens and grounds of Château de Courcy

At the Parc du Château de Courcy, visitors can explore the gardens and grounds of the 17th-century château. The gardens and grounds are listed in the supplementary register of historic monuments. The park includes a rose garden, a dovecote, a pond, moats and a French-style parterre. Together, these features give the visit a garden and landscape dimension alongside the historic exterior architecture. If you include the château in your travel plans, it offers a different focus from the church: here, the emphasis is on the park’s design and the grounds of a château, rather than a building with protected movable heritage.

Walking section and discovery route

The GR®223 includes a 14-kilometre walking section to Fontenay-sur-Mer. The section to Fontenay passes through Le Plain, a bocage landscape in the Cotentin; part of the route follows unpaved tracks known locally as “chasse.” The distance, landscape and type of path give you specific details to consider if walking is a reason for your trip. In addition, the Clos du Cotentin discovery tour runs along the D14 to Fontenay-sur-Mer and Château de Courcy. The two routes can be distinguished by their stated destinations: the GR®223 section leads to Fontenay-sur-Mer, while the discovery tour includes Château de Courcy.

Regional landscape context

Fontenay-sur-Mer is one of the municipalities in the Baie de Seine occidentale area (SPA/SAC). This context complements the landscape features mentioned above with a regional perspective. For your trip, there are several themes to choose from: the golf course between the dune coast and the Marais du Cotentin, the walking section through Le Plain, and the historic sites in Fontenay-sur-Mer.

Discover more destinations: Plomb, Saint-Fromond, Notre-Dame-De-Cenilly, Saint-Samson-de-Bonfossé, Gourfaleur, Moulines, Benoîtville, Montbray

For the main travel overview: Manche.