Protected countryside, a garden with more than 400 plant species and a longer hiking route offer different perspectives on Sourdeval-les-Bois. The listed site “Abords de l’abbaye d’Hambye” includes Sourdeval-les-Bois and covers 92 ha. Historic churches and the Moulin de Sourdeval are also part of the picture. This offers several ways to plan your visit: a seasonal garden visit, time for a hike or a look at the area’s architectural and local history.
Garden Visits and Cultural Programme
The Jardin de la Chevallerie is located at 23 route de la Chevallerie in Sourdeval-les-Bois, 50450 Gavray-sur-Sienne. Visiting hours are seasonal; plan your visit during the relevant season and check the dates in advance. The garden features more than 400 plant species. This number may change over time, but it gives an impression of the site’s botanical range.
The 2026 visitor programme includes live performances by musicians, singers, slam poets, storytellers and painters, as well as introductory watercolour and drawing workshops. These programme events are specifically for 2026; they may change in later seasons. Visitors interested in plants and culture can explore both themes at the same named location. Visiting hours still need to be planned around the season.
Hiking: Route No. 11
Hiking route No. 11 is 13 km long and takes about 3 hours and 45 minutes. It is marked in blue and classified as an easy route. The classification and markings complement the specific distance and time details; for day planning, the key point is that the hike requires a dedicated time slot. The duration is an approximate guide, not an exact time requirement.
The recommended starting point is the car park at the community hall, heading towards the church. This makes route planning more specific without reducing the hike to a short detour: at around three hours and 45 minutes, it is the option with the clearest time commitment. If you want to include several activities during your stay, you can compare this duration with the garden’s seasonal visiting hours and the dates for the 2026 cultural programme.
Churches and River History
The present-day church of Saint-Pierre de La Haye-Comtesse was built in 1845 and has an openwork lantern tower. The term “openwork” refers to the tower’s open design and describes a specific architectural detail of the church. This gives you a distinctive feature to look for when viewing the building, rather than just its year of construction.
The first church of Notre-Dame de La Haye-Comtesse has its own historical context: it was given to Lessay Abbey about a millennium ago. This approximate date sits alongside the later-built church of Saint-Pierre, without conflating their histories. The Moulin de Sourdeval adds a river-related dimension to the historical picture: the mill bears witness to the river’s historically important use by people. Church construction and river use are therefore distinct, but concrete, ways of exploring local history.
Plan a Break and Choose Your Focus
Sourdeval-les-Bois has a picnic area with a boules court near a tennis court. If you plan to use these facilities, it is worth checking their current condition in advance, as such amenities can change. The hike has a clear time frame, with its approximate duration; the garden has seasonal visiting hours, while the listed performances and workshops are part of the 2026 programme. The churches and mill offer historical and architectural themes. These differences can help you organise your stay around your preferred focus, without combining the activities into a fixed itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Le Dézert, Auderville, Sottevast, Bourguenolles, Tourlaville, Camprond, Saint-Symphorien-Des-Monts, Trelly.
For the overview of the wider area: Manche.
