With its washhouses, its famous bell foundry, its copperworks, its narrow cobbled streets and its typical houses of the south of the Manche, a visit to Villedieu is like stepping back in time.
Not far from the Mont-Saint-Michel, this former commandery, which flourished in the Middle Ages, has become a copper-producing town, earning it the title of “Ville et Métiers d’Art”. The architecture of the town, which survived the bombing of 1944, bears witness to the craftsmanship that has been present here since the 13th century.
For history buffs, Villedieu was the first French commandery of the Knights of Malta. For almost 500 years, the town enjoyed temporal independence, which meant that no king, lord or bishop could interfere in the life of the town or question the decisions of the commander, with the exception of the Pope.
For the record, the inhabitants of Villedieu-les-Poêles are known as Théopolitains or Sourdins. “Sourdin” refers to the old trade of coppersmith and pewterer. The incessant hammering of copper eventually deafened the workers.
Must-sees in Villedieu
- The bell foundry of Cornille Havard: Villedieu’s love affair with bell making goes back to the Middle Ages. Every year, around a hundred monumental bells are cast here. Renowned for its excellence, the foundry even made the bells for Notre-Dame de Paris in 2013!
- The copper workshop: come and admire the precision of the craftsmen and women who work here. This is the last copper workshop in France. As an added bonus, you’ll learn how to use copper in the kitchen.
- Market day in Villedieu-les-Poêles: there is a large weekly market on Tuesday mornings and a smaller one on Friday mornings. Try the galette saucisse, a gastronomic speciality of the markets in the south of the Manche.
