Saint-Jores: Crosses, Church and Cycling Route

Saint-Jores brings together historic buildings and a clearly defined cycling loop. The town’s history spans the 13th-century Church of Saint-Georges, the statue of “Saint Clair céphalophore” and the present-day “Les Belles Croix” from 1861. The 26 km “Les Promontoirs du Bauptois” loop offers a different focus. Saint-Jores can thus be explored through its history and a specific cycling route.

The “Les Belles Croix” group of crosses

At the edge of town on Route D24 near Saint-Jores stands the “Les Belles Croix” double roadside cross group. It consists of two twin crosses made of Orglandes stone. The present-day crosses date from 1861 and replaced an earlier double cross, which was already marked on the Cassini map. The map entry therefore refers to the predecessor, not the current group of crosses. “Les Belles Croix” was listed as a protected object on 9 March 1994. The dates answer different questions: 1861 marks the creation of the present-day crosses, while 1994 marks the start of their protected status.

The church and its historical periods

The Church of Saint-Georges in Saint-Jores was built in the 13th century. It has two bell towers, but only one is fitted with bells. Its architectural classification therefore depends not only on the number of towers, but also on their different fittings. The church sustained considerable damage during the Second World War and was restored from 1949 to 1957. Its history thus includes both the medieval building and its later restoration after the war damage. The period from 1949 to 1957 refers to the restoration, not the construction period.

The statue of “Saint Clair céphalophore” also has its own date: it is from the first quarter of the 14th century. This places it somewhat later than the construction of the church in the 13th century. Together with the crosses from 1861, these landmarks span the Middle Ages through the 19th century. Those interested in the history of Saint-Jores can distinguish these different periods rather than assigning the buildings to a single era.

The “Les Promontoirs du Bauptois” cycling loop

The “Les Promontoirs du Bauptois” cycling loop is 26 km long and starts and ends in front of Saint-Jores Town Hall. This gives it a specific start and finish point, making it easy to plan as a dedicated cycling activity for the day. Its length provides a clear reference point when planning a bike ride as part of your stay. This sets it apart from the historical attractions: the loop is a specific route, while the church, statue and group of crosses represent different historical periods.

Saint-Jores as a destination for a stay

If you are looking for a hotel in Saint-Jores, your plans for the day can be a good starting point when choosing your destination. Would you like the 26 km loop to be the focus of your cycling day, or are you mainly interested in the history of the buildings and the town?

Discover more destinations: Hérenguerville, Moyon, Hocquigny, Saint-Marcouf, Condé, Margueray, Montviron, Airel.

For the wider travel overview: Manche.