Villers-sur-Mer: 1-hour discovery tour
Pedestrian Circuit
The seaside town is famous for its beautiful villas, its pretty town center, the Greenwich Meridian and its paleontological site. A visit to discover the architecture, the history and the treasures of Villers-sur-Mer.
Distance:
3 kmVisit of Villers-sur-Mer - The church of Saint-Martin
The church of Saint-Martin is a remarkable example of the neo-Gothic style that flourished in Normandy at the end of the 19th century. Thanks to donations, it replaced the old church in 1874, which had become too small.
Inside, the sculptures by the Jacquier brothers and the stained glass windows by the Duhamel Marette workshop are classified as historical monuments. The Duhamel Marette workshop, based in Evreux, delivered to Villers-sur-Mer for this church, an exceptional set of 51 colored stained glass windows dedicated to Saint Joseph and completed in 1878. It is considered as one of the masterpieces of the art of Bas-Normandie at the end of the 19th century.
There is also a painting (also listed) by Jean-Joseph Benjamin-Constant representing "Saint Joseph, the foster father of Christ", hanging on the west wall of the south transept.
Inside, the sculptures by the Jacquier brothers and the stained glass windows by the Duhamel Marette workshop are classified as historical monuments. The Duhamel Marette workshop, based in Evreux, delivered to Villers-sur-Mer for this church, an exceptional set of 51 colored stained glass windows dedicated to Saint Joseph and completed in 1878. It is considered as one of the masterpieces of the art of Bas-Normandie at the end of the 19th century.
There is also a painting (also listed) by Jean-Joseph Benjamin-Constant representing "Saint Joseph, the foster father of Christ", hanging on the west wall of the south transept.
Place de l'Eglise
VILLERS-SUR-MER
Visit of Villers-sur-Mer - The presbyteral manor
Dating from 1750, this presbytery is typical of Norman and Pays d'Auge architecture.
It was threatened with destruction twice at the end of the 19th century before becoming communal property in 1904. Thanks to renovations between 1977 and 1979, the presbytery regained its original appearance.
The original half-timbering was rediscovered, and above the entrance door of the presbytery, the crosses of Saint Andrew, a rare feature in the Pays d'Auge. Finally, a glazed transom with small woodwork and half-arches tops the door, in harmony with the crosses.
The building located to the west of the presbytery is a former sheepfold from the second half of the 19th century which was located in the Villers marsh. This building was moved piece by piece from the marsh to its present location.
It was threatened with destruction twice at the end of the 19th century before becoming communal property in 1904. Thanks to renovations between 1977 and 1979, the presbytery regained its original appearance.
The original half-timbering was rediscovered, and above the entrance door of the presbytery, the crosses of Saint Andrew, a rare feature in the Pays d'Auge. Finally, a glazed transom with small woodwork and half-arches tops the door, in harmony with the crosses.
The building located to the west of the presbytery is a former sheepfold from the second half of the 19th century which was located in the Villers marsh. This building was moved piece by piece from the marsh to its present location.
24 Rue du Général de Gaulle
VILLERS-SUR-MER
Visit of Villers-sur-Mer - La Villa d'Eaux
The street facade has retained a remarkable decoration of bricks and decorative panels in enameled lava and colored ceramics, on which is inscribed "hot baths, hydrotherapy". In 2018, the Villa d'Eaux guest house took over the former shower baths of Villers-sur-Mer, a historical heritage from 1903. Deteriorated and partly broken to allow the opening of shops in front, after five years of work, this exceptional place full of history has now recovered its original state. Its facade, witness of its past activity, its interior patio, its art deco treasures and the frescos of Charles Catteau have been preserved.
12 Rue Michel d'Ornano
VILLERS-SUR-MER
Visit Villers-sur-Mer - The green dinosaur
Every year, a giant green dinosaur is installed in the heart of the city in the gardens in front of the Tourist Information Office, in reference to the cliffs Falaises des Vaches Noires, a paleontological site of great scientific renown where the fossils of a 10-meter long pliosaur, an ichthyosaur, a marine "crocodile", but also ammonites, sea urchins, and sponges have been discovered.
This green dinosaur has become over the years a real emblem of the station. The 12 m long and 7 m high colossus is made of an iron frame filled with 6 tons of earth where 9,000 plants grow: 7,000 green pyrethes for the top of the body and 2,000 alternantheras or rubras for the bottom.
It is put in place in June, so that these plants grow sufficiently, by the city's green spaces department, which removes it in November. Its return and installation gives rise to a much-anticipated celebration that announces the beginning of summer!
It should be noted that for some time now, the dinosaur daddy has been accompanied by his little one. A real landmark in the resort, he is admired by visitors who have made him their main target for their souvenir photos.
This green dinosaur has become over the years a real emblem of the station. The 12 m long and 7 m high colossus is made of an iron frame filled with 6 tons of earth where 9,000 plants grow: 7,000 green pyrethes for the top of the body and 2,000 alternantheras or rubras for the bottom.
It is put in place in June, so that these plants grow sufficiently, by the city's green spaces department, which removes it in November. Its return and installation gives rise to a much-anticipated celebration that announces the beginning of summer!
It should be noted that for some time now, the dinosaur daddy has been accompanied by his little one. A real landmark in the resort, he is admired by visitors who have made him their main target for their souvenir photos.
Place Jean Mermoz
VILLERS-SUR-MER
Visit Villers-sur-Mer - Walk along the dike
The walk along the dike offers two beautiful views. On one side, the sea as far as the eye can see, on the other side a string of seaside villas built in the second half of the 19th century.
The Villers-sur-Mer seawall extends over 800 meters between the Cercle Nautique and the Greenwich Meridian.
On the east side of the seawall (towards Blonville-sur-Mer), a small esplanade indicates the Greenwich Meridian, symbolized on the ground by a line and an advance, the longitude at this point is exactly 0!
At the end of the promenade, on the Cercle Nautique side, you can admire the Vaches Noires cliffs, a geological and paleontological treasure. They are 100 meters high and extend over nearly 4.5 km between Villers-sur-Mer and Houlgate. They come from the accumulation of marine sediment deposits from the Jurassic (about 160 million years ago) and the Cretaceous (about 100 million years ago). In these different geological layers, numerous marine and dinosaur fossils have been discovered.
The Villers-sur-Mer seawall extends over 800 meters between the Cercle Nautique and the Greenwich Meridian.
On the east side of the seawall (towards Blonville-sur-Mer), a small esplanade indicates the Greenwich Meridian, symbolized on the ground by a line and an advance, the longitude at this point is exactly 0!
At the end of the promenade, on the Cercle Nautique side, you can admire the Vaches Noires cliffs, a geological and paleontological treasure. They are 100 meters high and extend over nearly 4.5 km between Villers-sur-Mer and Houlgate. They come from the accumulation of marine sediment deposits from the Jurassic (about 160 million years ago) and the Cretaceous (about 100 million years ago). In these different geological layers, numerous marine and dinosaur fossils have been discovered.
Avenue de la République
VILLERS-SUR-MER
Visit Villers-sur-Mer - The Greenwich Meridian
Villers-sur-Mer, the entry point of the Greenwich Meridian in continental Europe, has the distinction of being the only French coastal resort located on this Meridian.
Renovated in 2016, the meridian is materialized by a line on the rounded overhang of the central dike just after the casino and by a luminous ground marking at night.
A simple trick to locate Villers-sur-Mer on any map of the globe: the town is located at the exact intersection of the zero meridian and the French coast.
Renovated in 2016, the meridian is materialized by a line on the rounded overhang of the central dike just after the casino and by a luminous ground marking at night.
A simple trick to locate Villers-sur-Mer on any map of the globe: the town is located at the exact intersection of the zero meridian and the French coast.
Avenue de la République
VILLERS-SUR-MER
Visit Villers-sur-Mer - The iron dinosaur
This steel sculpture of 4.80 m (unique piece), created by the artist Patrice Mesnier, represents a tyrannosaurus. Now installed on the roundabout at the intersection of Avenue de la République and Avenue Jean Moulin, it was previously exhibited at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris shortly after its creation, made an appearance at the Grand Marché de l'Art at the Bastille, and was rented for the filming of Zulawski's "La Fidelité" alongside Dalí's "Rhinocéros".
Avenue de la République
VILLERS-SUR-MER
