Saint-Georges-De-Bohon: Nature and Architectural Heritage

Saint-Georges-De-Bohon brings together nature, hiking and architectural heritage as different themes to consider when planning your trip. The Les Bohons nature reserve, the official “The Bohons” route, and the historic churches and manor houses appeal to different interests. If you are looking for a hotel, you can plan your stay around which of these themes you would like to explore further.

The Les Bohons natural area

The Les Bohons wildlife sanctuary and nature reserve covers 265 hectares of protected peat meadows, designed to provide a habitat for wildlife. Access is only possible as part of a guided tour. Plan your visit around a tour and check the park administration’s current visitor information in advance.

Hiking to suit the time available

The official “The Bohons” hiking route has two options. The 10-kilometre route is listed as taking about three hours, while the 8-kilometre option takes about two hours. The shorter option is 2 kilometres less and is estimated to take approximately one hour less. This lets you weigh up distance and time together before deciding which option suits your day’s plans. The trail passes through hamlets with traditional earth-built houses, offering a glimpse of local building methods too. Check trail conditions before setting out.

Saint-Georges Church: a history of construction in stages

The façade of Saint-Georges Church features a reused Gothic stone relief from the 15th century, depicting an angel with an inscribed plaque. The angel relief with a funerary inscription has been listed as a protected cultural object since 11 December 1980. The priory was transferred to Marmoutier Abbey near Tours around 1060. The former priory church was built around the 13th century on the foundations of an older building and served as the parish church until its destruction in 1944. The rebuilding of Saint-Georges Church to the plans of architect Clermont was approved in 1962.

The surviving parts of the former church include the bases of the nave pillars, several courses of the portal, the simple Neo-Romanesque altar table, and the choir floor paved with Caen tiles. Inside the rebuilt Saint-Georges Church are a 16th-century polychrome wooden crucifix and two keystones from the former church. The altar table is the top slab of the altar; polychrome means decorated in multiple colours. This helps distinguish the altar table, wooden crucifix and keystones as different surviving features of the church interior.

Manor houses and traditional earth-built homes

The area’s other architectural heritage also offers a variety of examples. Manoir de Bohon is a 16th-century manor house built using the traditional “masse” earth-building technique. La Grairie is a traditional earth-built farm in a style typical of the marshland. La Meslerie is a heavily wooded hamlet with two 19th-century manor houses. L’Émonderie is listed as a remarkable example of 16th-century architectural heritage.

Discover more destinations: Besneville, Heugueville-Sur-Sienne, Hauteville-la-Guichard, Montreuil-sur-Lozon, Le Hommet-d'Arthenay, Le Mesnilbus, Boisroger, Quettreville-Sur-Sienne

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