Paris1972-Versailles2003

We passed by it so many times over the years and even stop on the N175 highway to our road warrior trails from my beautiful Morbihan to my dear former Versailles, but never into City center until now ! I am glad stop by and have new pictures for my blog of a new town in my world map, The town of Villedieu les Pôeles is located in the Manche dépt 50 in the region of Normandie of my belle France, Therefore, let me tell you on this is Villedieu les Poêles !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

The town of Villedieu-les-Poêles, known as Villedieu until 1962, is located in the Manche department no 50,in the Normandie region of my belle France. On January 1, 2016, it became the new town of Villedieu-les-Poêles-Rouffigny. It is 24 km from Avranches, 28 km from Vire, 29 km from Granville, 33 km from Coutances, 48 km from Saint-Lô, 305 km from Versailles, and 234 km from my current home. The town is served by the A84 autoroute des estuaires exits/sortie 37. Before the autoroute was built, we also, came by the N175, now D975 by here, which provided access to Caen and Rennes. Villedieu is connected to Vire to the east by the D924, which continues towards Granville. In addition the town is connected to La Chapelle-Cécelin by the D 33 road and to La Lande-d’Airou by the D 41 road, I have passed by here both from Versailles and current home but did get in town from Pluvigner along the N24 highway past Rennes continue on the A84 autoroute dir Caen going by Avranches which I stop on the way back, continue to exit/sortie 37 onto the D924 road towards Centre Ville along Rue du Pont Chignon to Place de Chevaliers de Malte and the Church Notre Dame,(see post),

The Rue Carnot, formerly Rue Grande, took its current name in 1905. It connects Place de la République and Rue du Général-Huard at the intersection they form with Rue du Docteur-Havard. It also receives Rue Lucette (in steps), Rue du Four, Rue des Mouliniers, and Rue Jacob.

Coming off the N175 highway into Villedieu les Poêles you come into the Voie de la Liberté in City center that becomes the D999E road in town and it continues as Rue de Caen road This is the center of it all with plenty of sights and shops and restos/bars, It passes in front of the Mairie or City hall, This road has a strong significant in Normandy as on the edge of the D975 road towards Rouffigny, you’ll find the Liberty Road marker, identified as km 23 in Villedieu-les-Poêles. The advance of Patton’s Third Army was so impressive that the French created a marked tourist route in 1947: the Liberty Road. This 1145 km route followed General Patton’s path from Normandy to Bastogne in the Ardennes. On Utah Beach, more precisely in Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, you’ll find marker 00.

Other things to see here are he old streets of the town are lined with numerous historic houses and small courtyards hidden from the street, such as the Cour du Foyer, the Cour des Trois Rois likely a reference to the Three Wise Men, the Cour du Dauphin, the Cour au Lys , the Cour de l’Enfer , and the Cour ès Moines , The town is known for its copperware and stove-making industry. It also houses one of the five bell foundries in France, notably supplying the bells for Notre-Dame de Paris in 2013. These activities inspired one of the town’s two demonyms, the Sourdins (Deaf Ones), which the repetitive hammering of copper might have rendered deaf. Early on, Villedieu’s economy focused on the copperware and stove-making trades, activities that remain vibrant in Villedieu today, hence the addition of the toponymic qualifier “les Poêles” (the Stoves). The Cornille-Havard foundry is one of the five bell foundries in France. The 12C Church of the Holy Trinity in Saultchevreuil houses a 16C statuette of Saint Céneri. The 18C Church of Saint-Pierre-du-Tronchet houses a 15C Virgin and Child and a 16C statue of Saint Venice. The Commandery, an 18C manor house, was built to house the last Hospitallers of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem. The Copper Workshop is one of the oldest workshops in Villedieu. The Pewter House is located in the Cour aux Moines. The Copper and Pottery Museum is located in the Cour du Foyer. The Lacemaker’s House is part of the Normandy Lace Route. The Museum of Norman Furniture houses 150 antique Norman pieces acquired by the town in 1989 from Mr. Hervy, an antique dealer specializing in Norman furniture. The Cornille-Havard Bell Foundry is also located here. Tapestry of Henry I Beauclerc, dedicated to the succession of William the Conqueror.

A bit of history I like tell us that originally belonging to the Abbey of Caen, the parish of Villedieu did not exist before the first third of the 12C. At that time, Villedieu was part of the parish of Saultchevreuil, called Siennestre. In 1130, Henry I Beauclerc, King of England and Duke of Normandy, granted fourteen acres in a place called Siennêtre to the Hospitallers of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, to build their commandery of Villedieu-les-Saultchevreuil (formerly Saucherelle). They founded a village there, Villa Dei, which became Villedieu. The town was long administered directly by the Order and the inhabitants did not pay taxes. In the 16C, foundry workers from Lorraine settled in Villedieu. The town was liberated on July 31, 1944 nearly two months after the start of operations, by the 4th American Infantry Division at the conclusion of Operation Cobra. On January 1, 2016, Villedieu-les-Poêles merged with Rouffigny to form the town of Villedieu-les-Poêles-Rouffigny. The town is a flowered town, having been awarded three flowers in the concours des villes et villages fleuris or competition for flowered towns and villages.

The town of Villedieu les Poêles-Rouffigny on its history/heritage : https://www.villedieu-les-poeles.fr/ma-mairie/commune-nouvelle-villedieu-les-poeles-rouffigny/

The Villedieu les Poêles tourist office on its heritage : https://en.villedieutourisme.com/get-inspired/must-see/

There you go folks, now I feel better given credit to this nice Norman town on the road between my beautiful Morbihan and my dear former Versailles. A wonderful stop for all, we are glad to get to know it now. Again, hope you enjoy this post on this is Villedieu les Poêles !!! as I.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!