The Thue Valley

Parking is available at Place de l'Église in Secqueville-en-Bessin.

(S/E) Walk past the church, take Chemin Saint-Sulpice on the left and follow it for about 1.2 km until you reach the D158 road.

(1) Turn right onto Rue Largerie towards the village of Cully, walk carefully along the D158 road for about 50 m, cross the road with extreme caution and take the small path on the left. Follow the path for about 300 metres. At the three-way intersection, turn right onto the tree-lined path with the remains of an old, half-demolished stone wall and continue for about 250 metres. At the crossroads, ignore the street coming from the left, keep to the right, follow the bend to the left, ignore Rue des Beaux-Jardins which descends to the right and take Rue du Vieux Couvent until you reach Rue Saint-Martin (D126).

(2) Carefully cross Rue Saint-Martin (D126), take Rue de Québec opposite, leave the village, and continue straight ahead for about 600 m on the road that extends it until you reach a crossroads.

(3) Turn right and follow the path downhill for about 800 m until you reach La Fontenelle and the D93.

(4) Cross the D93 with caution and take the small wooded path that descends to La Thue. Cross a small stream via a small wooden footbridge (logs and planks), then cross the river via the wooden bridge with handrails and climb back up to the crossroads about 150 m further on.

(5) Turn right, continue straight ahead at the first crossroads, leaving Le Petit Vey on your right, and walk along the river on your right, keeping a fair distance from it. Continue straight ahead at the following intersections until you reach the place called Le Grand Vey. Leave Rue du Grand Vey on your right, continue to follow the Thue river on your right and take Rue de la Vallée until you reach Rue Cacharat (D93).

(6) Optionally, take a detour of about 100 metres to the right to admire the gate, courtyard and buildings of the Cachara farmstead.
Turn left onto Rue des Grisons and follow it, keeping to the right, until you reach Rue du Bout Cachard (D 217).

(7) Cross Rue du Bout Cachard (D 217) carefully, take the path opposite and follow it for about 400 metres until you reach a crossroads. Turn right towards the British military cemetery.

(8) Military cemetery. Continue to Rue de la Dîme (D126).

(9) Cross this road carefully, take the path opposite, walk for about 200 m and turn into the first path on the right. Follow the path for about 700 m until you reach Rue de Bretteville (D 93).

(10) Cross this street carefully, then take the path that cuts across to Impasse des Perrelles. Turn left into the cul-de-sac to return to Rue de Bretteville (D 93), then turn right to walk along Rue de Bretteville (D 93) with extreme caution, keeping well to the hard shoulder. Walk along the retention basins on the right and descend to the bottom of the basin. At the wooden sign marked Les Hauts, take the grassy path on the right, negotiate the left-hand bend and continue until you reach Rue de Guerville.

(11) Turn right onto this street and follow it straight ahead to Place de l'Église and the car park (S/E).

Saint-Sulpice Church

From the 11th century and from the 15th to the 18th century. Creully limestone. The central tower of this Romanesque church, decorated with three floors of arcades, is visible from afar. Its pyramid has certainly been restored several times, particularly after the storm of 16 June 1610. The four pinnacles that adorned the corners have disappeared. The 13th-century spire was repaired after the Second World War. The interior of the building has undergone numerous alterations over the centuries: the nave with side aisles dates from the 11th century, the choir was rebuilt in the 17th century and the stone pulpit is from the 18th century. The church is best known for having been the refuge in 1105 of Robert Fitz-Hamo, a supporter of Henry^I, King of England.

British Military Cemetery

This military cemetery contains 125 graves of young soldiers, 107 English and 18 German, who died during the Battle of Normandy. The graves are arranged around the war memorial honouring their memory.
The land for this cemetery was donated by the French people so that the remains of the sailors, soldiers and airmen whose memory is honoured here could rest in peace.