Vire, ancient walled city, built in the 12th century by Henry 1 Beauclerc, Duke of Normandy, son of William the Conqueror. The city was dismantled in 1630 by Richelieu in the 1944 bombings, which structured the fortifications of the medieval town were partially spared and are still visible today in the city rebuilt.
Many specialty foods are like: Andouille Vire handcrafted from pig intestines and smoked over beech wood; the Teurgoule, long rice cooked in milk baked in a clay bowl, not forgetting cider, knob (apple-based aperitif) and calvados.
Holder Clock: main gateway to the city, it represents the image of the city overcome the two circular towers of the gate, the square tower was raised in the late 15th century to house a clock, restored after 1944.
Dungeon: proudly camped on a rock at the end of a promontory overlooking the Vire, the ruins of the 12th century square tower are still impressive. One of its facades remain with its flat buttresses and three levels with its bays, fireplaces and traces of the defenses.
Church of St. Anne: St. Louis founded the Chapel of St. Anne in front of the Hotel-Dieu, replaced in 1866 by the present church, built in Romanesque Revival style by Canon Robert Norman building on the Saint -Georges-de-Boscherville.
Notre-Dame, the nave and aisles dating from the 13th century, the transepts of the 14th and 15th centuries and the chorus of the first half of the 16th century.
Hotel-Dieu: it was founded by Henry Beauclerc first pilgrims to the attention of the Mont-Saint-Michel before being reformed in 1209 by Hugh de Morville, bishop of Coutances. Hotel-Dieu and its chapel were rebuilt in the 18th century. It now houses the Museum Vire.
The Lock: This impoundment, known as "King's Mill," is known since the 10th century, its presence has contributed to the economic development of the city. Many mills wheat, linen and paper used the driving force Vire and Virenne.
Lake of the Dathée: around the lake (6.1 km), its pedal boats, small boats.
9 hole golf course open all year.
Every Friday morning, the market drives the city.
At Ascension Rogation Fair. Carousel, fair and flea market invade the city and give a festive air. The festivities end with a magnificent fireworks display.
In July: Festival Virevolte. Between circus, theater and music but also dance or any other form of artistic expression. These shows are free and last 15 days in July.
In October: Andouille is honored and has its own fair. At nightfall, a device for highlighting the main historic buildings unveils heritage for residents and tourists.
Fête Foraine : Foire des Rogations à Vire Normandie
- From 9 to 20 may 2024
- Place du Château, VIRE
- It is the return of the rogations fair on the Castle square, about thirty attractions and stands, for the happiness of the amateurs of sensation and the most classic rides.
Foire des Rogations : Braderie et Animations à Vire Normandie
- On 12 may 2024
- Place du 6 juin 1944, Vire
- Find the shopkeepers' braderie in the city center of Vire all day long. Then from 3:30 pm to 5 pm, passage of the giant stuffed animals.
En Musique et en Lumières !
- On 18 may 2024
- 2 Place Sainte-Anne, Musée de Vire
- In Vire Normandie, the Conservatoire joins forces with the Museum to bring you a magical evening of music and light for the collections, the building and the garden…
Conférence sur l'Histoire de l'Église de Coulonces
- On 18 may 2024
- 4 Rue de la Cour de Coulonces, Vire
- Discover the history of Coulonces church, from the bombings to its reconstruction. - Program : - 4pm : History of Coulonces church (bombing and reconstruction) - projection and presentation by M.Chevereau (historian) - 5:30pm : Testimonies of the bombing and reconstruction of Coulonces church in the presence of the godmothers of the bells
Nuit des Musées au Musée de Vire Normandie
- On 18 may 2024
- Musée, Square Chanoine-Jean-Héroult, Vire
- This Saturday, the Conservatoire de Vire takes over the misée from 7pm for a moment of magic ! Free admission.
Eglise de Coulonces en Lumières
- On 18 may 2024
- Eglise Saint-Gilles de Coulonces
- 4:00 pm : history of Coulonces church (bombing and reconstruction) - projection and presentation by M.Chevereau (historian) at Coulonces church. - 5:30pm : testimonies of the bombing and reconstruction of Coulonces church in the presence of the godmothers of the bells.
Festival à vif à Vire Normandie
- From 21 to 28 may 2024
- Place Castel
- After a 2021 edition in a format reserved for schools, we are eager to develop the festival as we have dreamed it : a place to meet around adolescence through theater ; a place of dialogue, listening, and celebration between teenagers but also open to adults, where one speaks to the other through the theater. We think this festival each year with a red thread of reading. The first season was the Age of Possibilities, the second Matière à Vivre. Throughout the 20/21 season, which was disrupted by the health crisis, we listened to and questioned high school students about their feelings about what we were going through. It is above all of humanity that they spoke to us. With the title "Among His Own", this new edition will attempt to translate these issues - Each of the chosen projects questions in its own way family ties, inheritance, transmission, rites of passage and social rules. Landmarks that help us to build ourselves and on which we refocus in times of crisis, but which can also hinder us, lock us in, and sometimes require us to free ourselves from them in order to find our identity. - Around the shows, each of which will evoke this theme in its own way, we will propose a number of moments of meeting, reflection, and restitution of work undertaken throughout the season by the young people we work with. We will multiply the places of conviviality which we missed so much last season. So reserve the time to meet us, to meet your friends, to meet each other.
La Mémoire Bafouée à Vire Normandie
- On 22 may 2024
- 1 Rue des Halles
- The story of a second-generation Chilean political exile, La Mémoire bafouée moves back and forth between personal and historical memory. - A testimony at the crossroads of artistic languages, theater, video and music, with the presence on stage of an electro-cello musician. - Ages 15 and up.
Témoignage au Préau à Vire Normandie
- On 22 may 2024
- 1 Rue des Halles
- The show is the result of a bilingual writing process initiated by Chilean director Paula Gonzalez Seguel and artist Violeta Gal-Rodriguez, who, in this autofiction, questions her tug-of-war between France and Chile, which was plunged into the Pinochet dictatorship at the time. - The story of a second-generation political exile, auscultation of the traces left in the body by oppression, La Mémoire bafouée moves back and forth between personal and historical memory, not hesitating to use the "we" to achieve a form of universality and questioning. This testimony, which questions a dual identity, Chilean culture and love for a country in social upheaval, is at the crossroads of languages and artistic languages, theater, video and music, with the presence on stage of an electro-cello musician.
Stage de Chant, Conte et Musique Traditionnels Avec la Loure à Vire Normandie
- From 25 to 26 may 2024
- Lieu-dit La Florie, MFR La Florie
- Les stages de chant et de musique organisés par La Loure sont destinés à tous ceux qui souhaitent développer leur pratique instrumentale et vocale, et acquérir un "bagage" qui leur permette d'avoir davantage d'assurance et d'autonomie dans leur jeu, au travers de la découverte et l'apprentissage de répertoires traditionnels recueillis en Normandie… ou ailleurs ! Au menu de cette édition 2014 : chant traditionnel avec Sylvie Berger, accordéon diatonique avec Nadège Queuniet, violon avec Etienne Lagrange
An exceptional location: the Viaduct Souleuvre. In 1990 the New Zealander Alan John Hackett has created viaduct Souleuvre the first European site for bungee jumping, which has added over the years the scable. The majestic viaduct, built in 1889 according to plans of Gustave Eiffel, linked by rail to Caen via Granville Vire. Between two steep slopes, foot overpass bathed in the soft Souleuvre and green surrounding grove, which was also a technical feat in itself. It is from one of the piles of the viaduct a bridge was built 140 meters, and a platform to jump to 61 m above the ground.
Horse at Mesnil-Clinchamps and Carville.