Coutances

Visit Coutances, Normandy

Coutances is found in the Manche department of Normandy, to the south of the Cotentin peninsula, 45 kilometres north of Mont-Saint-Michel and 65 kilometres south of Cherbourg.

Exploring Coutances

The town suffered severe damage during the Second World War, but has recovered remarkably well and is an interesting town to explore. While the cathedral is the principal attraction in Coutances allow time to discover the other attractions.

Coutances cathedral

There is one principal attraction, that has dominated the town for more than 1000 years - the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Towering above both Coutances town and the surrounding countryside, the original cathedral was built in the 11th century in the roman style - although the current cathedral is predominantly a 13th century rebuild in the gothic style.

In design, the cathedral has a elaborately decorated facade with two substantial towers to the front, a separate lantern tower above the transept, and the sides of the cathedral feature extensive buttresses - typical of the gothic style, these buttresses are structural elements that allowed the walls to be much higher than in earlier churches, and also enabled the side walls to include windows.

Inside Coutances Cathedral the highlight is the view into the inside of the lantern tower, with a dome above the octagonal structure that features 16 decorative stone arches. There are also some notable stained glass windows, dating from as early as the 13th century.

If possible visit the cathedral during summer evenings when a sound and light show makes the most of this dramatic building.

Elsewhere in Coutances

There are various other sights of interest in the town that you will discover during your explorations of Coutances.

There are two important churches in Coutances - the Church of Saint Peter (14th century) and the Church of Saint Nicholas. The church of Saint-Nicholas is a simple roman style church (now featuring exhibitions) that provides an interesting contrast to the grandeur of the cathedral.

Take a stroll in the streets around the Hotel-Dieu (ancient hospital) which include the 17th century brick cloisters of the augustines.

If you visit during spring or summer be sure to visit the public botanical gardens in Coutances. These date back to the 17th century and each year numerous flower beds are planted in the gardens.

The Museum Quesnel-Morinière is in an attractive 18th century building, and features many paintings and objects of art, mostly 'realist' type paintings from the 17th - 19th centuries.

Coutances is twinned with Ilkley (Yorkshire, England)

See Normandy and Manche (the region and department for Coutances) for more travel ideas...

Tourist classifications for Coutances: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 3*;

Suggested places to visit near Coutances, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

Coutances tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Argences - remarkable garden (4km) : Domjean - ville fleurie 4* (32km) : Marais du Cotentin et du Bessin - regional natural parc (32km) : Abbaye de Cerisy-la-Forêt (Cerisy-la-Foret) - religious monument (43km) : Abbaye du Mont-Saint-Michel (Mont-Saint-Michel) - religious monument (45km) : Pointe du Grouin - site of natural beauty (46km) :

See more places and a map at places near Coutances