Touques
Touques
Travel guide and tourist information
Travel guide and tourist information
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A city which comes to past and present. Somewhere in Normandy, Pays d'Auge and close to the Côte Fleurie, is a city in the past unsuspected. Touques once political and economic heart of Pays d'Auge beating to the rhythm of its port, has become an attractive location by delicately colored flowers. Overshadowed by the popularity of its neighbors in the mid 19th century, the village, now city breathes again and communicates through its monuments and its facilities, its rich history. A story that transpires in the Auge last twenty centuries.
Gallo-Roman ... This is the 1st century AD that back the first traces of human occupation on the site Touques. Nineteen fragments of Gallo-Roman pottery, found in 1997, attest to the Romanization of Normandy and particularly the estuary at that time Touques (Diagnostic archaeological front of the church Saint-Pierre said Eric Mare). In this valley?? V??, Dug in the ice age and plugged with soil, which has up to twenty-four meters thick, is then Touques the last village before the estuary. His place name, of Celtic origin, means?? Wood supply, especially forest, clearings between?? He recalls the immense forest that will cover the Auge region until the 17th century. City of contemporary Niger legendary Portus (ancient Roman port of Lisieux), Touques began a long development that will accelerate after the Scandinavian invasion.
... In the early Normans. A severe and bloody battle between the early 10th century the kingdom of France Charles the Simple to the third Northmen led by Rollo (Hrolfs, Scandinavia). The latter, although defeated, received in exchange for his conversion to Christianity and its submission to the king, part of Neustria (Treaty of Saint - Clere - on - Epte, 911). Founder of Normandy, Rollo attaches immediately to ensure the protection of his duchy. He launched a vast program of fortification of its borders. This prevents other Vikings to enter lower Seine. Touques seen rising on the hill, the first wooden fences of the future castle that will command the entire estuary Touques. Before the wanderings of the river and not far from the sea, the city is also the ideal place for a port. In addition to its immediate environment adequate Touques fits perfectly into the system based around the Norman towns of Caen and Rouen. What was once a small village before the arrival of Scandinavian becomes the political heart and the Northern Sea Auge. Next to the city that already has ten centuries Thorulf (Trouville), Thorgisl (Tourgéville) and Knapp (Canapville) only see the day. At the dawn of the reign of William the Conqueror, Touques is already a powerful city ..
William, king of England and Duke of Normandy, born of illegitimate unions between Robert the Magnificent and Herleua (Arlette), William, known as the bastard, will upset the Normandy. Tough, smart, he thwarts the many plots that disturb his youth since he succeeded his father, who died on a crusade (1035). Joined William the Conqueror, he was crowned king of England after his victory at Hastings in 1066. Anxious to maintain order in his duchy, he regularly inspects it, landing in Touques, then went back to England by Barfleur Cotentin. Both Norman towns also become the two major ports of the Channel Anglo-Norman?? When William died in 1087, he left behind him a kingdom strong and well managed Touques which is a major metropolis. His successor and son, William Rufus returned in 1099 to quell the revolt against his authority Mans. In 1112, during the reign of Henry I, Touques is the scene of the trial of one of the most formidable enemies of the king. City coveted Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou, went there in 1119 to lay siege to the castle and seize the fortress that locks the port and the valley. It fails! The prosperity and growth succeeds Touques appears briefly as the first seaport and second largest medieval Auge ...
Living in the court of Henry the second: during the reign of Henry Plantagenet second Touques that reached the pinnacle of his political life. The powerful King of England likes to live: not only can he go hunting through the game-rich forests covering the valley, but it also can effectively control his duchy remained close to major cities in Normandy. It is a very brilliant court between 1176 and 1179 if we are to judge by the expenditure on the docket of the board whose meetings, as the court, traveled to Touques. Richard the Lionheart, his son, decides upon its accession to the throne of England, the reconstruction of the castle so regularly occupied.
The dark night of the Hundred Years War: After more than a century of economic softness and calm political Touques is found deep into the heart of the Hundred Years War. In 1346, Edward III, King of England landed in the Cotentin. He ravaged the Normandy before turning north and Crecy when he won a crushing victory over the French. Meanwhile, its vessels following the coastline and killing all the ports that have participated in the construction of the fleet in the Battle of Lécluse. Touques, which provides five galleys was looted and burned?? The parishes surrounding the castle must then provide men for the watch. The former summer residence of the bishops of Lisieux becomes a powerful fortress. In 1417, Henry V, King of England, landed at Touques: with 10,000 men, he destroyed the town and besieged the castle surrendered after a few days. Touques becomes British until 1449. The end of this long conflict between France and Britain let Touques tired. But if the castle finally fell into disuse, the port, it will now know his finest hour??
A port with an international "know that between Ouistreham and den Saynne, there is a bay and in this bay there is a haven called Touques. Garcia Ferrande; Grand Road and steering, XV.
Since the 11th century, the port is the vector of growth of the city. New trading opportunities created by the Renaissance give it another dimension. The two platforms (St. Peter and St. Thomas), although totaling 12,000 square meters, not enough to store the goods. The shipyards, in turn, build ships of up to 500 tons as the St. Peter! Using extremely strong wood, they enjoy an excellent reputation. A third platform further upstream towards Tourgéville is called the dock at the Cock and shipyards to build yachts up to 120 tons. He disappeared in 1844. Wearing Touques is almost entirely export oriented (98% of its business). The wood and local products (apples, cider, Calvados) represent the majority of output. The remaining 2% was spent on the importation of rare materials in the Pays d'Auge (tiles, slates and stones, among others). The destinations are many. Vessels leaving Touques sail both to Caen, Le Havre, Rouen as to England, Spain, Newfoundland and Brazil (he entered the port on average 250 to 300 ships per year until the late 18th century). Certainly the international impact of the port of Touques justifies that the city is on a map of France drawn in 1576 by Italian Stefano Buonsignori ("La Francia", map display at Palazzo Vecchio in Florence).
A day on the docks: real ant, docks are mingle haulers, drivers, boatsmen, carpenters, sawyers, coopers, customs brokers, and a master dock. What are their functions? The haulers have a difficult and exhausting: they pull the boats back up Touques. They borrow what is called a towpath. Pilots attending the captains to lead the vessels in or outside the estuary Touques. They are for the majority of Trouville.
The boatsmen down those heavy flat-bottomed boats that carry up agricultural production augeronne Touques.
Dependent on the exploitation of the vast surrounding forest, carpenters and sawyers are assigned to the construction and repair of vessels attached to Touques. Coopers (24 in 1804) enjoy export cider and Calvados. Knowing that about 130,000 hectoliters of cider per year pass through Touques, their presence is essential. Customs and Wharfinger depend directly on the Admiralty. The first control the goods while the latter oversees the police dock and collects entrance fees and output port. He is also responsible for lights and beacons and regularly inspects the funds of the river to see if they have not changed. The broker is concerned with finding and negotiating the goods. Hired by the owner, its services are not mandatory. However, they can avoid long hours of research and negotiations with the captains. Character respected the Admiralty, the broker is also useful to settle some conflicts just upstream docks Touques, we find the great drawbridge existed for at least the 11th century. With a central span mobile, it allows ships to go back to the dock at Rooster Tourgéville. To cross it, its users must pay a toll used by its owners, the bishops of Lisieux, to fund maintenance. The decay constant of the bridge suggests a certain neglect of these bishops whose attendance is often questioned.
Nineteenth and twentieth, Recession and Renewal: the disappearance of the port in the mid 19th century Touques plunges into a slow but long economic desertification. The city lost its status as the leading metropolis of the estuary, overtaken by its neighbors, Trouville and Deauville. Deprived of income, the municipality barely meet the maintenance and development of the town without incurring serious debt ... Fortunately, over the 20th century, Touques recovers. The New Town Hall (1914), imposing, symbolizes the will of the city to find a long forgotten importance. From 1970, Touques saw its population increase dramatically. In the early 21st century, the ancient city of 3,800 inhabitants. Today's renewed dynamism is expressed through its various manifestations, numerous shops, restaurants and large capacity that contribute to its tourism and economic development. Touques has now exceeded 4,000 inhabitants.
- The timber-framed houses:
- Touques, between Côte Fleurie and the Pays d'Auge, Auge keeps a very typical architecture. The downtown streets are lined with many houses with wood sides. Some have retained the color of the wood while others were painted in bright colors or pastels.
- The first half-timbered houses appear on the Danube (Hungary and Austria), then this type of construction will gradually migrate from east to west to England. A huge forest covers the Pays d'Auge to the 17th century and therefore justifies the use of this material that was the nearby woods (mostly oak, but sometimes elm or beech chestnut). Initially, all the wooden part which constitutes the skeleton of the house where all loads are carried, is implemented, then the cob (a mixture of clay, sand and straw) is added. Finally the bases that serve as insulators are constructed.
- The Church of St. Thomas:
- Built in the 12th century, the Church of St. Thomas has unfortunately suffered many changes it has undergone. The choir and the base of the bell tower are the only two parts of the church have not been revised. The unit's walls and above the top of the facade is pure romance. The portal with pilasters at the ancient arch lintel semi hexagonal niches for statues and central side is the style of Louis XIV. North Side, the nave has three bays linked by a molding halfway up and supported on four buttresses latest. The windows are placed high, similar to those of the gable of the facade, the beautiful device rubble around them leads us to assume that the 19th century there was the drill bays, closed since the thirteenth of this style nickname. The cornice has corbels head veal. The bell tower, impressive, is dominated by a neo-Gothic spire dating from 1870. This spire was rebuilt in the nineteenth, is based on a drawing of Charles Mozin, a famous painter of the Côte Fleurie. It replaced a low roof square identical to that of Saint-Michel Pont-l'évêque, still visible today. The ship, meanwhile, transformed the fourteenth, 17th and 19th century is an amalgam of Romanesque, Gothic and classical.
- The interior of St. Thomas Church is composed of a nave without aisles and a choir XVI. The nave houses a giant crucifix (late seventeenth) and two wooden polychrome statues in his fourth bay, Saint Gilles north, a Virgin and Child in the south. An imposing St. Thomas painted plaster stands against the north wall. The choir, rebuilt entirely during the Hundred Years War has only span, whose southern flank is monopolized by a semi octagonal sacristy. The unit is coarse but the decoration is clearly blazing late. The walls are thick with a 20 m, the spans are delimited by semi Romanesque columns and capitals taken webbed. That is all that remains of the original vault. The chancel houses the stained glass depicting the murder of Thomas Becket, the patron saint of the church. Besides the window of Thomas Becket was found on the headboard of a former choir opening for lepers; if they can correctly follow the mass could, through this hole, to receive communion from the hand through.
- Listed in the Inventory of Historic Monuments since 1926, the last church is still open for worship in the village of Touques.
- "So the little church Touques takes in the monumental history of Normandy, an unexpectedly high (??.) summarizing alone several major steps of Roman art between 1070 and 1130. Maylis Bayle, senior research C.N.R.S. This Romanesque building from the 11th century is rightly regarded as the architectural jewel of Touques. Unfortunately like the Church of St. Thomas, St. Pierre has suffered greatly from the activity more or less friendly Dukes kings crossing. It is the oldest churches Touques. Its existence was first mentioned in 1026 in an act of Richard II, but the building now preserved, can not go beyond the years 1070-1080. The present church was probably succeeded an earlier building. It depended on the bishops of Lisieux. The history of Saint-Pierre during the Middle Ages did not reach us. It is considered one of the most beautiful Romanesque buildings of the Pays d'Auge. Externally the lantern tower is very impressive. Common Normandy, the construction has to Touques some originality; usually square, the lantern tower of St. Peter church is octagonal. It alternates windows and window blind. The interior, illuminated by the lantern tower, surprised and charmed by its simplicity. Skinner, St. Pierre has outstanding lines that encourage meditation. The choir and apse flanked by two flat semi-circular apses, is not in the axis of the nave. On the roof of the choir, there are still some frescoes whose forms, geometric paintings are typical of the Norman Romanesque. Excavations assessment made in 1997 show that the nave was originally much larger. This is the 17th century it was amputated. This is obviously at the same time that we establish a façade and a portal for classic style. The capitals, exceptional, reflecting the different artistic movements through Normandy to the ducal period. It was only in 1840 that an architect is responsible for restoring the church. In 1843, a new restoration is needed because the bell is struck by lightning. She even used in 1870 to store the oil and filing furniture to churches affected Verdun and equipment for firefighters in 1916. In 1920-1923, it will be converted into a concert hall, bleachers will be well equipped. Shortened in the 17th century and abandoned in 1791, Saint-Pierre is ranked in all, a historic monument since 1840.
- Today, Saint-Pierre has become a cultural space: Throughout the year concerts dedicated to voice a capella, lounges, craft exhibitions and artistic one after another.
- The place Lemercier - Les Halles and the City:
- A modern hall built in 1996 during the redevelopment of the site, we recall that the ancient halls larger (eleven bays and two aisles) have existed in this part of the 15th century until the year 1910. After the revolution, the market fall into the public domain. The sharp slowdown in economic activity in the city in the 19th century to the markets lost their raison d'etre. However, the municipality attempts first to keep them. Thus, when in 1854 the Department request to move or destroy the hall, the Mayor and City Council unanimously refused. However, the prefect of Calvados has because of this history and the halls are destroyed in the early 20th century. They were housed for five centuries the weekly market and three annual fairs Touques, witnessing the strong commercial activity in the city.
- Today, the market welcomed a small market twice a week and various events throughout the year. The construction of the new City Hall (1914) neoclassical style, imposing, symbolizes the will of the city to find a forgotten time importance.
- Style building is classified in the 13th Louis Inventory of Historical Monuments since 1 December 1969 in respect of its facades and roofs and the large fireplace imposing its massiveness in the main room on the ground floor. After the revolution, it is in this room that were held the first municipal council of the municipality. It is likely that the abbot Herault Touques first mayor in 1790 was the first occupant of this title. The apparatus of this building is beautiful and large stones around the openings, the remaining walls being covered with black flint stones. This building was the headquarters of customs officers, clerks of the salt tax, charged to recover the highly unpopular tax imposed on the production of salt in France under the Ancien Regime. The Revolution of 1789 caused its deletion. The customs officers become customs collector and occupies the former Admiralty whose premises are released since 1786. In the Rue des Ecoles, we discover, in the Gills Creek, behind the building housing in the salt. Among the greenery, there are still the old wharf where we landed salt. Upstream product, it was transported by barges through the river and the creek.
- Under the reign of Philippe Auguste (1164-1223), Touques and Mont-Saint-Michel are the two main manufacturing sites in Normandy salt. The first traces of Normandy saunage appear back at least to the Gallo-Roman. It is from the 13th century that they know their maximum development. Touques no exception to this rule with this period, 52 salt! In its manufacturing process as the salt of Normandy, and particularly that of Touques, finds its originality in the first instance, fresh water of the river is channeled to large tanks filled with sand and straw. Soaked in salt content in the sand, water (called Brown) is then poured into a second tank, heated about two hours. Evaporates, the water leaves the salt then appear, which once drained is stored in the attic. At their peak performance, the "salt" of Touques produce up to fifty tons of salt each year. Restricted to the forty parishes surrounding the salt, although remarkably white is poor, retaining very little meat and fish! Heavily taxed by the Gabelle operation declines from the late Middle Ages. It continues until the end of the ancien regime through the establishment of a "quarter broth. It appears that the saline Touques still exist in the early 19th century: the cadastre of 1829 just south of the existing racetrack on Touques. The salt mining has permeated the vocabulary Scandinavian. Thus, "fliot" referred to the ditch where the salt miners drove in salt water while "diki" meant the pipes. (Heritage Normand, "Touques and Bonneville).
- Monitoring, judgments and tax. Founded in 1559, the Admiralty Touques extends its area of surveillance between Villers-sur-Mer and Pennedepie and a league and a half along the course of the Touques. Besides its function as naval court, the agency also receives many rights on behalf of the Admiral of France. Included among the charges levied on those coastal shipping, wharves, transportation of goods, catch and groundings. Losing its importance over the centuries, the Admiralty Touques disappears in 1786 absorbed by that of Honfleur.
- Today, one can always see in the downtown building that has housed. Divided into two buildings, one piece of wood and other stone. The first building was used as a dwelling while the second building was used as a courtroom. The building is classified for its roof and facades, the additional inventory of historic monuments since the June 28, 1967 and February 13, 1975. In carrying out restorations Home owner discovers that, decades ago, documents identifying that as the Admiralty building. Pages torn from the register of the registry were used to recover the clay doves between partitions to allow proper installation of wallpaper. This initiative has little to recommend, in addition to the evidence of its existence Touques to know some of the activities of this important royal administration. The building of the Admiralty falls in private in 1825 and can be visited.
- The Gills Creek: The Gills Creek, once known as "the Douet Montblanc, through downtown Touques. It was the natural frontier between the two parishes of Touques: St. Peter and St. Thomas. The people of St. Thomas More (700) and those of Saint-Pierre (300 people) do not like each. The parish consisted of St. Thomas la gente popular city while the parish of Saint-Pierre was inhabited by wealthy merchants and notables of the city. The Gills Creek has been privileged to witness many clashes that took place between the inhabitants of both parishes. Many laundries that were once places of life and sharing exclusively female resounding laughter, singing and sometimes rants, punctuate the stream.
- The art workshops: It is close to the stud Méautry that are the "art workshops. These are former discounts offered to the city by Baron Guy de Rothschild, owner of the premises. These outbuildings have been restored and converted into an exhibition space craft.
- The Stud Méautry is historic because it is the only breeder in France - dedicated to thoroughbred - still active in the third millennium have ceased to belong to the same family since its inception in 1873. Since the Barons Alphonse and Gustave de Rothschild, son of Baron James Meyer, acquired in the village of Manor Touques Meautry and about twelve hectares of grassland. With his mansion Louis XIII, it is distinguished mainly by the many races that its residents have won.
- The Château de Bonneville Touques:
- It was around the 9th century under the reign of Charlemagne, which was installed the first wooden fortifications. The castle was his responsibility to monitor the coastline in order to prevent an incursion of barbarian. We speak of course of the Vikings. It Rollo, who decided to strengthen the defenses of the castle to protect the estuary Touques. In the late 11th century the castle became a powerful fortress when it was decided to build fortifications in stone. William the Conqueror said by coming to these places: "I go to my hometown of Touques. This shows the strong bond that united throughout the Middle Ages the castle and the city itself. William, king of England and Duke of Normandy, born of illegitimate unions between Robert the Magnificent and Herleua (Arlette), William, known as the bastard, will upset the Normandy. Tough, smart, he thwarts the many plots that disturb his youth since he succeeded his father, who died on a crusade (1035). Joined William the Conqueror, he was crowned king of England after his victory at Hastings in 1066. Anxious to maintain order in his duchy, he regularly inspects it, landing in Touques, then went back to England by Barfleur Cotentin. Both Norman towns also become the two major ports of the Channel Anglo-Norman?? When William died in 1087, he left behind him a kingdom strong and well managed Touques which is a major metropolis. His successor and son, William Rufus returned in 1099 to quell the revolt against his authority Mans. In 1112, during the reign of Henry I, Touques is the scene of the trial of one of the most formidable enemies of the king. City coveted Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou, went there in 1119 to lay siege to the castle and seize the fortress that locks the port and the valley. It fails! The prosperity and growth succeeds Touques appears briefly as the first seaport and second largest medieval Auge ... Living in the court of Henry the second: during the reign of Henry Plantagenet second Touques that reached the pinnacle of his political life. The powerful King of England likes to live: not only can he go hunting through the game-rich forests covering the valley, but it also can effectively control his duchy remained close to major cities in Normandy. It is a very brilliant court between 1176 and 1179 if we are to judge by the expenditure on the docket of the board whose meetings, as the court, traveled to Touques. Richard the Lionheart, his son, decides upon its accession to the throne of England, the reconstruction of the castle so regularly occupied. How is this so the new fortress? Fortified by wide ditches counterscarp protected by the enclosure of 7000 square meters is closed by a curtain. It is reached by crossing a beautiful arched door flanked by columns overlooking the valley. By 1200, John Landless's brother, Richard, built a powerful master tower twelve feet in diameter curtain to defend its most vulnerable point. With walls three meters thick, this tower is a replica of the large cylindrical towers built by Philippe Auguste. Against the curtain, there are residential buildings and the guard room. Until 1204 (date of the annexation of Normandy in France), the Dukes are kings in the castle regularly to administer their dukedom whose population (about 800,000) is half that of England ... Attached to the crown of France, the fortress was ceded to the bishops of Lisieux. They transform into a comfortable country home. It was then that are built towers flanking the archers identical to those of the Porte de Laon Coucy. Vauban, architect of Louis XIV in 17th century thinking to transform the castle. He abandoned the project because the site is already at that time too far from the sea and has therefore lost much of its strategic interest. A garrison is still in the enclosure until the Revolution, but the castle was really no reason to be. During the Second World War, it is the last time used by the Germans built a labor camp, there built coastal defense batteries.
- Classified Historical Monument, the castle of Bonneville is now privately owned and not open to visitors.
- Flea market on the second weekend of each month (up Lemercier).
- April: Frequently Asked attics (downtown).
- In June: Festival of Music.
- In July and August: The Aperitifs Jazz on Friday.
- July 14: National Day: Torchlight, Bal-tavern.
- In July: Antique show.
- In December: Christmas Market.
| Tuesday 14 February | Day
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| | Wednesday 15 February | Day
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| | Thursday 16 February | Day
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All restaurants around Touques
All beds & breakfasts around Touques
 | Charmant Studio à 2 pas de la plage ! Villers-sur-Mer |  | | Studio, in a quiet street, conveniently located at 150 m from the sandy beach and 150 m from the busy streets of Villers with its restaurants, walks along the seafront, shops and typical... | | Located 8.3 km from Touques | From 350 € to 450 € per week |
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 | Ker Pie Frehel Honfleur |  | | Large living room, sitting area with fireplace, kitchen, w c and laundry downstairs. Three bedrooms, bathroom and toilet upstairs. A room with a double bed, a bedroom with a double... | | Located 11.1 km from Touques | From 550 € to 600 € per week |
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 | La Chaumière Gonneville-sur-Honfleur |  | | This pretty cottage dating from the XIIth century has kept all the charm of the typical Auge. At the center of town, opposite the church and the castle, you will discover the exciting... | | Located 11.2 km from Touques | From 450 € to 950 € per week |
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 | Premiere Classe Deauville Touques Touques |  | | This Premiere Class hotel is located near the centres of Deauville and Trouville. It offers practical rooms for an overnight or short stay. All of the rooms have private showers, satellite... | | Located in Touques | Room from 29 € |
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