Notre-Dame-du-Touchet: Church, Art and Waterways

Sacred Art in Notre-Dame-du-Touchet

Notre-Dame-du-Touchet brings together sacred art, the names of local waterways and a route around the village. This gives you a clear cultural focus for planning your trip: Notre-Dame Church contains several distinct works of art and architectural features, while the Croix Saint-Martin wayside cross stands near the church. Local themes range from stained glass and religious imagery to granite paving and waterways. You can choose which aspects will shape the character of your trip.

Windows and Altarpiece in the Church

The Arbre de Jessé stained-glass window is located in the choir of Notre-Dame Church. At six metres high and 2.50 metres wide, it is considerably taller than it is wide; these measurements convey its dimensions precisely. It is estimated to date from the 16th century. The window is protected as a movable cultural object.

The La Mort de la Vierge altarpiece is also located in the church. It dates from the 16th century and consists of two panels: one depicts the death of the Virgin Mary, the other her burial. Together with the stained-glass window, it offers a comparison of different forms of sacred art: the window is notable for its size and estimated date, while the altarpiece is distinguished by its two-part structure and the two scenes depicted. A single stained-glass window and a multi-panel image, each with its own connection to the 16th century, are thus presented side by side.

The Church Interior and the Wayside Cross

The church interior itself also has a protected feature: the paving of the choir and nave is made of granite and has been protected as a movable cultural object since 7 February 1978. The year 1978 marks the start of its protection; for the window and altarpiece, by contrast, it refers to their estimated or stated date of creation. This distinction is useful when placing the works’ different historical references in context.

The Croix Saint-Martin wayside cross stands near the church. Its bas-reliefs include depictions of the Pietà and the charity of Saint Martin. This adds another named landmark, with its own imagery, to the works inside the church.

Waterways, Route and Getting There

The Sélune is one of the five waterways listed for Notre-Dame-du-Touchet. The others are the Cance, the Mesnelle, the Chevrier and the Marignon, also known as the Poinsonnet. The “Balade dans le bocage autour de Notre-Dame-du-Touchet” route follows the D84 to the village’s central crossroads and crosses the Sélune and the Cance. This makes two of the listed waterways specific features of the route. Check the current route before planning to use it.

For travel to Mortain, the timetable valid from 1 September 2026 lists NOMAD line 3623. According to the timetable, it serves the Le Bourg and La Croix de Pierre stops in Notre-Dame-du-Touchet. Check the connection details before travelling to ensure your plans match the current timetable. A route and a bus line offer different kinds of guidance: the route describes its course along the D84 and its river crossings, while the timetable describes the connection between Notre-Dame-du-Touchet and Mortain, including its stops. If you are looking for a hotel, compare specific offers based on your travel dates and personal requirements.

Discover more destinations: Tocqueville, Agon-Coutainville, Cretteville, Montjoie-Saint-Martin, Ravenoville-Plage, Saint-Martin-De-Bréhal, Champcey, Sainte-Cécile.

For the broader travel overview: Manche.