Discover Le Mesnil-Tôve

Le Mesnil-Tôve brings together several distinctive themes: the Le Petit Auney wool mill, nature and opportunities for outings, as well as historical sites in the village. If you are looking for a hotel in Le Mesnil-Tôve, these highlights can help you tailor your stay to your interests. The history of technology, insights into wool processing, outdoor activities and local history each offer a different focus.

Textile history at the Filature du Petit Auney

The Filature du Petit Auney preserves carding machines, a spinning mule, twisting and winding machines, as well as a Francis hydraulic turbine. This collection has remained intact since the factory ceased operations in 1974. The filature is one of the last examples of 19th-century textile mechanical engineering. The combination of textile machinery and a turbine gives the site a clearly defined profile in the history of technology.

Farm, animal breeds and wool workshop

The Le Petit Auney educational farm and wool mill is a family-friendly destination for an outing. Tours focus on historic Norman animal breeds; farm products can optionally be sampled. A wool workshop introduces visitors to sorting, washing, carding, spinning, felting and weaving. The project's training sessions and workshops are also open to everyone; check the current workshop schedule before you travel. The two options have different focuses: tours center on the animal breeds, while the wool workshop focuses on the individual stages of wool processing.

The Sée Valley and outings

Le Petit Auney lies at the end of the Sée Valley and is designated a Natura 2000 site, with a remarkable variety of animal and plant species. The GR 22 passes near Le Petit Auney. The greenway near Le Petit Auney offers outings by bicycle, on horseback and on foot. The greenway also makes cycling trips in the direction of Mont-Saint-Michel possible. This gives you several options to consider when planning: the proximity of the GR 22, the ways of getting around mentioned for the greenway, and Mont-Saint-Michel as a cycling destination.

Farm products and local activities

Le Petit Auney offers a farm snack bar serving crêpes, rice pudding made with farm milk, organic apple juice or organic farm cider. Another activity combines discovering the water channel, the islands and the mill with a tasting of wild plants. These culinary offerings and a themed walk complement the focus on textile processing and animal breeds.

Church and local history

The present-day Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Le Mesnil-Tôve was rebuilt after the fighting in 1944, completed in 1960 and consecrated on 8 September 1960. The church contains a 15th-century statue of John the Baptist, which is protected as a historic object. The windows are adorned with stained glass by Robine and Lecomte; the baptismal font comes from the former church.

Another historical landmark is the Château du Mesnil-Tôve. In the autumn of 1795, during the Chouan revolt, a royalist column of several hundred men set up camp around the château. This takes the historical perspective from the late 18th century to the rebuilding of the church after the fighting in 1944.

Discover more destinations: Omonville-La-Rogue, Aumeville-Lestre, Gourfaleur, Carnet, Le Plessis-Lastelle, Équilly, Champcervon, Sainte-Mère-Église.

For the overview of the wider region: Manche.