Villons-Les-Buissons offers several distinct points of interest to consider when planning a trip: a partially protected church in the hamlet of Les Buissons, memorial sites commemorating the Normandy landings, rural paths and an art installation. One focus is the history of the Second World War; local history, art and outdoor activities also feature. When choosing your destination, you can consider which of these themes you would like to shape your stay.
Church and Local History
The Église is in the hamlet of Les Buissons and is partially protected as a historic monument. The choir and bell tower were listed as historic monuments by a decree dated 12 April 1927. The protection therefore applies to these two parts of the building.
A place name also carries a specific historical meaning: Place Helland is named after Lieutenant Johannes Helland. He is considered the first Norwegian pilot to land in France after the Allied invasion. This personal commemoration differs from monuments that commemorate soldiers or military units.
Memorial Sites Commemorating the Normandy Landings
The stele commemorating Advanced Landing Ground B-16 recalls the forward airfield in Villons-Les-Buissons and shows its layout. None of the airfield’s original structural remains survive today. The history of the landings there gives a precise date for its use at the time: Supermarine Spitfires of the Royal Air Force’s 132nd Wing began landing at B-16 airfield on 20 July 1944. The layout and the date offer two different points of reference for understanding the airfield’s significance.
The monument to Norwegian Second World War fighters stands east of the village at the intersection of the D79. A plaque on it bears the names of 52 Norwegian soldiers who were killed during the Normandy landings. Here, both the location of the monument and the names on the plaque are central.
Another memorial site is the monument to the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade. It commemorates the brigade’s fighting in Villons-Les-Buissons and stands beside the D220 at the southern exit from the village. Together with the Norwegian monument and the B-16 stele, it highlights different military connections in the area’s history, without suggesting that these memorial sites tell the same story.
Art and Rural Paths
Not every cultural point of interest is about wartime history. L’écho des légendes by Raphaël Garnier brings together words, forms and texts in installations that lead visitors into a wondrous world. For your trip planning, this offers a different perspective on the area: alongside monuments and historical references, there is an artistic work exploring language and design.
Outside the built-up area, there are numerous rural paths used by pedestrians and cyclists. They offer a different way to engage with the surroundings than visiting the memorial sites. As the condition of individual paths may have changed, it is worth checking current trail conditions before setting out.
If you are considering Villons-Les-Buissons as a destination, you can choose your focus based on these differences: the church and Place Helland offer connections to local history, while B-16 and the monuments address specific chapters of the Normandy landings. Art and rural paths add further ways to shape your stay.
Discover more destinations: Lisieux, Equemauville, Lessard-Et-Le-Chêne, Bourgeauville, Versainville, Saint-Germain-du-Crioult, Saint-Loup-Hors, Trévières.
For the wider travel overview: Calvados.
