Updated on 19 October 2020
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Discovery tour of Colomby Anguerny
Discover the commune of Colomby-Anguerny, a commune born from the merger of Colomby sur Thaon and Anguerny. A rural commune, it has a rich heritage and will take you back in time to the 11th century.
IGN MAP
OPEN STREET MAP
Starting point
14610 Colomby-Anguerny
Waypoints
Go to points of interest2 Go to the church
3 Take the rue du Bout Maçon
4 At the corner of Rue du Régiment de la Chaudière and Bout Maçon
5 Go down Rue du Bout Maçon and cross the roundabout. Take the rue de l'Église.
6 Place Poulbot and then continue along Rue de l'Église de Colomby.
7 Turn around and walk down to the corner of Rue de l'Eglise and Grand Rue.
8 Turn right onto Grand Rue.
10 Continue straight on along the Chemin du Grand Ruet until you reach the Rue de Coursanne.
In the 19th century, many spinners, embroiderers and lacemakers worked in their homes and sold their work there.
11 At the end of the street, turn left and go up rue de l'église d'Anguerny
12 Turn right onto Chemin de la Cachette, then left onto Chemin Vert and Chemin du Pressoir. Then join the roundabout on your right.
Points of interest
Go to waypointsStele of the Queen's own Riffles of Canada
Canadian regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division which contributed to the liberation of Anguerny after having liberated the commune of Bernières-sur-mer and the famous house known as the House of the Canadians.
The Inukshuk: a pile of stones that symbolises for the Inuit a link between the temporal and spiritual world. Tribute to the Canadian soldiers.
Fort Garry Horse Regiment Stele
Another Canadian regiment that landed in the Juno sector with amphibious tanks. Helped at the liberation of Anguerny.
The Manor house and the tithe barn (16th century)
The barns in which the tithes - the tax levied on farm produce - were stored, are located around the manor house. The tithe barn probably used to be fortified as evidenced by the buttresses that can still be seen on the exterior wall of the buildings.
Old limestone well
There are many wells in the commune, mainly in private homes (due to the direct proximity of the water table, of which the Anguerny pond is the visible mark).
Saint-Martin Church
Dating back to the 11th and 14th centuries, it comprises a Romanesque nave and a choir characterised by ogival arches. The steeple is one of the oldest ones in Calvados. It has a unique feature: the visible recess of each level, the last level was used as a lookout. The high altar is made of marble from Vieux (17th century and 1760).
Old farmhouse built in the mid-19th century (no. 8) PRIVATE
On the roofs: so-called "cat-stepped" or "sparrow-stepped" railings. These gable wall slopes are called "à redents" and form small steps. This is only an aesthetic architectural element.
18th and 19th century houses (n°12 and 14) PRIVATE
These two houses were once one and the same estate.
Former boys' and girls' school of the commune of Anguerny
Building constructed in 1850-1860. On the top floor: beautiful windows with triangular pediments and a bull's eye decorated with volutes. In the courtyard: a magnificent water pump. Nowadays the town hall of Colomby-Anguerny.
Monument to the soldiers of the Régiment de la Chaudière
Regiment of French Canadians.
Louis Valmont School
Named after the youngest of the four soldiers killed in the night of 06/07 June 1944 during a battle in the commune.
18th century house (no. 9) PRIVATE
On the facades: old sink stones and bolt holes with a flight stone for pigeons.
Colomby House
The first town hall in the commune of Colomby. A small building in neo-classical style, the present bay with its pediment was once the entrance door. It still has a magnificent fireplace.
The old barn (19th century)
On the right; beautiful original carriage entrance. Today it is used as a multi-purpose hall.
The church of Saint-Vigor de Colomby (12th century)
Consisting of a Romanesque nave (flanked by buttresses decorated with columns) with 3 bays and a choir with 2 bays. The choir was rebuilt in the 15th century.
Colomby Manor - PRIVATE
Beautiful 18th century manor house. Classical style, composed of a central body surmounted by a triangular pediment and framed by two asymmetrical front bodies. The refined decoration highlights the beautiful stone dormer windows. During the German occupation it was the seat of a Kommandantur. The Germans converted it into a small fortress surrounded by a system of trenches, controlling the road to Thaon. Today, through the gates, one can make out a very pretty well (a copy of the Renaissance-style well at Fontaine-Henry Castle). The original is in the garden of the annex opposite the manor.
Manor House Annex - PRIVATE
This building was once part of the manor's outbuildings, with the feed troughs on the ground floor and the living quarters on the first floor. It is now a gîte.
Former stables - PRIVATE
These stables belong to the estate located at 2 Grand Rue.
Former farmhouse and its outbuildings (late 18th century) (n°2) - PRIVATE
In the middle, beautiful manor house.
The Poulbot House and Workshop (no. 14) - PRIVATE
Former house and studio of the Parisian artist Poulbot. Illustrator and poster artist famous for his drawings of the life of the kids of Montmartre: the Poulbots. This joyful marmaille from the poor districts of Paris for whom he will never stop fighting by offering them legitimacy through his drawings. He bought this property, which he named "le petit château" in 1920, to use as a holiday home. He stayed there with his family during the occupation. Then he left with his family to Montmartre and sold the property in 1943.
Monument erected on the 100th anniversary of the end of the Great War in honour of French soldiers.
Former manor house (18th century) (n°17) - PRIVATE
Beautiful old portal.