Are you an expert on the territory?

Normans and Norman women of the territory or by adoption, test your knowledge! From heritage to architecture, here are 12 questions, sometimes simple, sometimes difficult. Will you be able to avoid the traps and answer correctly? Only those who have 10 correct answers will be true Normans!

Summary:

• The 12 questions
• The answers
• Guided tours

Norman architecture and heritage in 12 questions

1. What are the names of these faces that can be found on villas, houses or mansions in the area?

• Macaroon 
• Marascon 
• masked 

2. What are these grotesque figures that adorn certain villas called? 

• Marmoset 
• whipper-snapper 
• Skinny 

3. What is a pinion? (multiple answers possible) 

• A gear wheel located on the axle of the rear wheel of a bicycle 
• The triangular upper part of the facade of a Belle Époque villa, located between two wooden sections of a roof 
• The name given to the seed of the umbrella pine and other pines in general. 

4. What is a bow window?

• Black Widow's Younger Sister 
• A skylight through which soldiers shot bows 
• A corbelled window that projects from a facade wall 

5. What is a watchtower? 

• The name given to a small shop in medieval times 
• A place where washerwomen scalded (poured hot water on) linen 
• A small turret placed at the corner of a dwelling house 

6. What is this object called and what is it used for? 

It’s a party spikeEach ear of corn is the symbol of a celebration celebrated in the villa or manor (birth, birthday, etc.) 

It’s a flattening spike, used to dry halibut after fishing
 
It’s a finial. It was used to ensure the waterproofing of a frame. Later, it took on a decorative function.

7. In this image you can admire:

(Many possible responses) 

• A truncated pyramidal roof topped with a lantern (or skylight), accompanied by arched dormer windows 
• The roof of the Dives-sur-Mer Post Office 
• The bell tower of the church located next to the Town Hall of Putot-en-Auge 

8. What is cob? 

• A clayey soil mixed with chopped straw and used in construction 
• The plural of torchon, in Italian 
• A type of torch used in the medieval era of William the Conqueror 

9. Can we see half-timbering in the area? 

(Many possible responses) 

• Rectilinear 
• In ears 
• In a scarf 
• In complex cross 
• In the cross of Saint Andrew 

10. What is the shape of La Redoute, the small military fortress near the beach at Merville-Franceville-Plage? 

• Iron shaped 
• Horseshoe shaped 
• Curling iron shaped  

11. Where can we easily observe this type of mosaic?

(Many possible responses) 

• Gaudi's Casa Batlló, Barcelona 
• Blue House of da Costa, in Dives-sur-Mer 
• Adam's house in Angers 

12. Belle Époque villas are often characterized by an architectural style 

• Eclectic, because it consists of mixing elements borrowed from different styles or periods of architecture 
• Electric, because it clashes with the times 

Answers to 12 questions on Norman architecture and heritage

1. masked 
2. Marmoset 
3. All proposals
4. A corbelled window that projects from a facade wall 
5. A small turret placed at the corner of a dwelling house 
6. It is a ridge spike. It was used to ensure the waterproofing of a frame. Later, it took on a decorative function. 
7. A truncated pyramidal roof topped with a lantern (or skylight), accompanied by arched dormer windows and The roof of La Poste de Dives-sur-Mer 
8. A clayey soil mixed with chopped straw and used in construction 
9. All proposals
10. Horseshoe shaped 
11. Casa Batlló by Gaudi, in Barcelona and the Blue House by da Costa, in Dives-sur-Mer 
12. Eclectic, because it consists of mixing elements borrowed from different styles or periods of architecture 

Find the guided tours of the office and those of our partners below and do not hesitate to consult our online ticketing to reserve your places for our next sessions!

If you are a solo adventurer, the discovery tours to follow independently are made for you! To download or collect directly from our tourist offices in Houlgate, Dives-sur-Mer, Merville-Franceville-Plage and Beuvron-en-Auge.