The Old Sea Wall at Brévands

Set off to explore Brévands, a picturesque little village in the Baie des Veys at the heart of the polders, rich in built and natural heritage. Walk along the dirt tracks, follow the Douve river and admire the typical buildings of the area.

Details

7993643
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.90 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 23 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 25 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 28 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the church car park in Brévands.

(S/E) With your back to the church, turn right. At the right-hand bend, leave the road and take the dirt track, following it until you reach Rue du Port. Cross this road and continue straight ahead until you reach Rue du Phare, which leads to the port of Brévands.

(1) Turn left and join the Carentan Canal.

(2) Turn right to follow the canal before turning slightly right onto the old dyke. A few metres further on, you will see the Brèche de la Vierge. Continue on your way to the crossroads.

(3) Take the dirt track opposite.

(4) At the end of the path, turn sharply right onto Rue de la Grève, towards a place called La Coquerie.

(5) At the crossroads in Bucaille, follow the road on the right and take the first dirt track on the right about 200 metres further on. Turn left onto this track and at the crossroads, go straight on to join the tarmac road (Rue de Beauche).

(6) Turn left, reach the intersection with Rue du Colombier and turn left again. Pass in front of the Château du Colombier and continue on this road for about 400 metres.

(7) Take a small road on your right a few metres before a fork. At the crossroads, turn right and join the D89. Cross the road, continue straight ahead and leave the path leading to Villodon on your left.

(8) Take another side road opposite, turn right at a 90° angle and return to Rue de l'Église (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 27 m - Rue de l'Église
  2. 1 : km 0.63 - alt. 3 m - Rue du Phare
  3. 2 : km 0.81 - alt. 4 m - Port of Brévands - Douve (fleuve)
  4. 3 : km 1.96 - alt. 3 m - Crossroads
  5. 4 : km 3.39 - alt. 3 m - Rue de la Grève
  6. 5 : km 4.42 - alt. 3 m - Bucaille
  7. 6 : km 5.41 - alt. 4 m - Rue de Beauche
  8. 7 : km 6.02 - alt. 5 m - Hunting on the right
  9. 8 : km 7.33 - alt. 27 m - Hunting opposite
  10. S/E : km 7.89 - alt. 25 m - Rue de l'Église

Notes

This hike is part of a guidebook featuring 13 walking and hiking routes ranging from 8 to 30 km, marked in yellow in the Cotentin Bay area.

Worth a visit

  • Brévands Church (S/E): the originality of this church lies in its vaulted crypt beneath the current choir, with its 13th-14th century frescoes of the Virgin and Child. Romanesque transept. Altar and altarpiece in polychrome stone and wood from the 17th-18th centuries, 17th-century oak stalls, striking recumbent effigy of a woman and her child who died in 1632. Listed as a Historic Monument in 1954. It was badly damaged during the fighting in 1944. Viewpoint over the Baie des Veys.
  • Port de Brévands (2): a former small port where merchant ships travelling from the sea to the port of Carentan via the canal linking the Douve and Taute rivers used to dock. Viewpoint overlooking the arrival of the tidal bore.
  • La Brèche à la Vierge: at this spot, by the sea, a 13th-century statue of the Virgin and Child was miraculously discovered in the mud, or so they say. You will now take one of the many earthen dykes, which provide essential protection for the polders against the sea.
  • Le Chalet: near the Breach at the Virgin, you will find the Ferme du Chalet. This was the site of one of the four guardhouses in Baie des Veys, built in 1757 by Napoleon to strengthen coastal surveillance, with the harbour master's office located at a place called "Les Vettards", where the customs brigade was housed. Today it is a superb stud farm.

Château Le Colombier: typical of farmhouses, it is organised around a large square courtyard, enclosed by the large white limestone buildings of the main house, outbuildings and a high fence. Dovecote. The complex is accessed through a characteristic monumental gate comprising pedestrian and carriage gates.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Mymy1006
Mymy1006

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Bring good shoes as it can be slippery towards the end depending on the weather due to animal traffic.

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basquin
basquin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

perfect and pleasant walk

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Souricier
Souricier

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant short route, no elevation gain, well signposted
No particularly wet sections.
I put "very busy" because we came across two couples. But it's not the Champs-Elysées, after all 😊.
At the end of the route, we pass by a beekeeper whom I recommend for his kindness and the quality of his products.

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muriel jm
muriel jm

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very good, I recommend it.

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Brigitte69*
Brigitte69*

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 25, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk between marshes and meadows; very easy to follow with the app.

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jean-louisetedirh38
jean-louisetedirh38

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent.

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Coubert
Coubert

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Leaving the church, the car is in the shade.

We walk along the canal, with an unobstructed view.

There are many shaded passages.

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DaDoRando14
DaDoRando14

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

For motorhome owners, you can park at the port of Brévands and also have a picnic there (table available), otherwise there is little space at the church. A short, varied and pleasant walk.

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Vivrenature19
Vivrenature19

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 31, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike combining marine, terrestrial and historical environments. At the start of the hike, the church is worth visiting, but unfortunately the crypt is not accessible. If anyone can provide me with information about this visit, I would be grateful.

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Claude-Meignen
Claude-Meignen

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk through the Carentan marshes and meadows.
The village of Brévands is very pleasant, and arriving at the canal adds a bit of variety to the walk!
We extended our walk along the canal to the very end!
An easy walk with no difficulties.

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