Bréville-les-Monts is located 14 km from Caen and 5 km from the sea. The town is located on the edge of the plateau overlooking the Orne Valley. You will appreciate the views over the estuary, as well as the proximity to the beaches of the Côte Fleurie. Excavations in 1987 attested to the presence of a village from the Gallo-Roman era. But it is above all an immersion in more recent history: the end of the Second World War.
The plain of Bréville-les-Monts
Bréville-les-Monts is spread over several districts: the top of Bréville, the bottom of Breville and the Mesnil. The centre of the village is a large area which hosts the town hall and the church. It is called the Plain like the neighboring town ofAmfreville. This place has been set up so that children can play and adults sweat: climbing wall, ping-pong table, basketball court, etc. An informative panel looks back on the great history of France. Bréville-les-Monts was, in fact, at the centre of the armed conflicts at the time of the XNUMX Landing.
Bréville and the D-Day
On the night of 5 to June 6, 1944, the British soldiers of the 5th brigade of the 6th airborne division are parachuted between Ranville and Bréville. They are ordered to join Major Howard who has seized the Pegasus bridge and the Ranville bridge. However, Bréville-les-Monts is located 60 meters above sea level, which allows the Germans to have visibility and to repel the Allied forces. The village was taken on June 12 after 7 days of intense fighting. The front will hardly progress in the area for more than 2 months.
War remembrance
The village suffered greatly during this Battle of Brevilleand Bois des Monts. When the inhabitants of Brévillereturned home at the end of the conflict, they discovered a village in ruins. There only remains a sculpture of the Virgin and Child, from St. Peter's Church of the XIVth century. The new church was built right next to it in 1960. A commemorative monument is installed in the adjoining cemetery, 2 English soldiers are buried there, but most of the men killed during this battle rest in the Ranville cemetery.
The Saint-Come castle, a former seigniorial residence, was also the scene of violent clashes in June 1944, unlike the houses at the bottom of Bréville which were more spared. As for the Amphernet castle, it has become a very lively holiday centre.
A hike in Bréville-les-Monts
After paying homage to the men who fought to liberate France, it's time to appreciate peace and the surrounding nature. A hiking from Bréville-les-Monts takes you to the majestic Bay of Sallenelles. The loop descends along Orne and goes back up by Amfreville. It will take about 3 hours and 40 minutes to walk the 12 km and explore the surrounding countryside. The views over the bay are superb.
