Vire

Visit Vire, Normandy

The town of Vire is on a rocky promontory above the Vire River, situated in the south-west of the Calvados department of Lower Normandy, about half way between Caen (north-east of Vire) and Mont-Saint-Michel (to the south-west).

The town suffered quite heavily during bombardments at the end of the Second World War, and much reconstruction and renovation took place in the decade that followed the end of the war.

Exploring Vire

The most important historical monument in Vire is the 'porte horloge' - a substantial 13th century medieval gateway (and once the main entrance through the defences of the town), surmounted by a 15th century clocktower that dominates the centre of the town.

Another important remnant from the days when the town was fortified can be seen at the remains of the original castle donjon, and there are also a couple of other towers that remain from the original fortifications (Tour Saint-Sauveur, Tour aux Raines, Tour de Coulonces...)

See also the Vire Church of Notre-Dame that dates from the 13th - 16th centuries and includes elements from different periods, mostly in the gothic style.

Attractions nearby

The region around Vire is known as the 'bocage-virois', and includes the scenic waymarked tourist route called the 'Route des Gorges de la Vire', an attractive route through wooded valleys and granite cliffs along the valley of the River Vire a little to the north of the town.

Various attractive villages and hamlets warrant a visit near Vire - including Vassy, Le Bény-Bocage, and the historical pilgrimage site at Saint-Sever. Be sure to pop into Vire Tourist Information office for details of these, and some nice walks through the bocage countryside, with quiet paths through the low wooded hills and alongside quiet waterways.

Note: Vire photo is copyright

See Normandy and Calvados (the region and department for Vire) for more travel ideas...

Tourist classifications for Vire: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 1*;

Suggested places to visit near Vire, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

Vire tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Domjean - ville fleurie 4* (20km) : Abbaye de Cerisy-la-Forêt (Cerisy-la-Foret) - religious monument (40km) : Plantbessin - remarkable garden (41km) : Saint-Fraimbault - ville fleurie 4* (42km) : Argences - remarkable garden (44km) :

See more places and a map at places near Vire