Discover Roncey through its buildings and a walk: the Letenneur Mausoleum combines unusual architecture with the idea of a family tomb; the Chapelle des Costils stands in a striking landscape above the Vanne. An 11-kilometre circular route passes both. A historical walking tour also recounts the liberation of the commune on 29 July 1944. You can explore the area with a focus on history, architecture or walking.
The Letenneur Mausoleum and its architecture
The Letenneur Mausoleum consists of a crypt and a terraced tower above it, about 30 metres high. The monument combines features of a castle and an ancient tomb; it was intended to house the graves of Letenneur, his wife and their two children. Its intended function as a family burial place and its castle-like form are two distinct aspects of the same building. Those interested in architecture can focus on this combination of monumentality and intended purpose when viewing the mausoleum.
On an adjacent meadow beside the mausoleum, the Fontaine du Pucelage adds to the ensemble. The fountain is made of concrete and was built by Letenneur himself.
The church and its reconstruction
The Church of Saint-Côme and Saint-Damien in Roncey was rebuilt from 1957 to 1960 using stone from Roncey. The materials also included stone from quarries in Saint-Denis-le-Vêtu. The building’s history thus brings together a clearly specified period of reconstruction and two specific sources of materials.
The Chapelle des Costils above the Vanne
The Chapelle des Costils is located on a former quarry site above the Vanne River. It is dedicated to Notre-Dame de Lourdes. Construction began in March 1873; it was blessed on 21 October 1875. These dates mark different stages in its history: the start of construction and the later blessing. The chapel was restored in 2013, and a service is held there every year. Its historic construction, a later restoration and a recurring religious tradition therefore sit alongside one another. For a culturally focused stay, the chapel offers more than an architectural point of interest: its location above the Vanne and on the former quarry site is also part of the character of the place.
Walking the Circuit de la chapelle des Costils
The 11-kilometre “Circuit de la chapelle des Costils” starts in Roncey. Its route follows wooded bocage paths and passes the Chapelle des Costils and the Letenneur Mausoleum. This means two very different buildings lie along the same walk: the chapel, situated on the former quarry site above the Vanne, and the mausoleum, with its crypt and tall terraced tower. The route’s length gives you a concrete basis for fitting the walk into your day’s plans. The tour combines exercise on wooded paths with a visit to two named buildings, rather than focusing on just one monument.
A walking tour of regional history
The “Opération Cobra – la poche de Roncey” walking tour uses photographs and explanatory texts to tell the story of the commune’s liberation on 29 July 1944. Those interested in this historical perspective can explore it through a focused theme distinct from the architecture and walking route.
Discover more destinations: Brouains, Bricqueville-Sur-Mer, Biville, Marchésieux, Querqueville, Montbray, Donville-Les-Bains, Saint-Michel-De-Montjoie
For the broader travel overview: Manche.
