Second largest city of the Channel, just after Cherbourg, Saint-Lô is the Prefecture of the Normandy department. City martyrdom of World War II, it was severely affected at this sad time, obtaining the nickname Capital of Ruins.
At the heart of the Cotentin peninsula, a few kilometers from the sea of the Channel, the city of Saint-Lô is now considered the capital of the Horse. Proud of its roots, which date back to Viking times, the city can appreciate a rich heritage and beautiful buildings. Surrounded by ramparts, the prefectural city still allows to realize the former wealth of the city before its destruction.
City Saint-Lô is resolutely turned towards the future city. In the middle of the old stones, modern buildings stand, blending perfectly with past, present and future.
Between walks in Normandy, and tasting a rich and subtle cuisine that blends seafood and local produce such as cream, milk or butter, visitors have plenty to enjoy their stay Saint-Lô.
If Saint-Lô suffered greatly during the Second World War and lost part of its architectural heritage, the town does not have one less beautiful sites to discover.
Built in the late thirteenth century, the church Our Lady of Saint-Lô is a superb gothic monument. Listed historical monument, it is located in the enclosure surrounded the city walls. If the building has suffered bombings, it has retained its beautiful stained glass windows, filed in the Second World War.
Many Saint-Lô sites were listed as Historic Monuments, like the Magdalen Chapel, Castle Vaucelle that greeted the three kings, Edward III, Francis I and Charles IX, or of the Holy Cross Church. The National Stud and its grounds, are also classified. Erected between 1882 and 1890, the current buildings were rebuilt identically after the Second World War. Today the site hosts nearly forty stallions Norman cobs and French stool. Many events are organized in the summer.
Public hospital, the hospital memorial France - United States was classified as an historic monument in 2008. It was built after collecting donations, from 1947, following the horrors of World War II.
The city walls of Saint-Lô remain on three of four sides of the Yard. Their heights, one can enjoy an amazing view over the Vire and the Powder Tower, a military relic.
The Museum of Fine Arts houses since the late 1980s the collections of the city including paintings by Corot and Eugène Boudin to.
Set in a seventeenth-century farmhouse, the Normandy museum aims to trace the history and ethnography of agriculture in Normandy. A workshop, stables, a barn or a butter have been rebuilt there.
Many parks situated throughout Saint-Lô, like green beach, Vire Islands, the towpath, or public garden located in the Yard.
Saint-Lô, despite its painful past, has retained a love of life that permeates all the events offered by the city.
In June, the feast of the Vire and Associations and the opportunity to enjoy numerous festivities. A regional market offers the best products of the area, village associations to discover the different activities of the city, while traditional wooden games or sports activities are offered.
The appointments are an ambitious sonic festival full of originality. In November, the city of Saint-Lô offers concerts of all kinds of music, be it pop, folk, hip-hop or electro.
Many markets Saint-Lô take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays morning in different places of the city. From June to early September Virées offer local regional market and crafts on the green beach, Thursday evening.
Exposition "Postérité" de Jo Reeman, Eutherpe et Romaric M.
- From 2 to 31 may 2024
- 10 Rue Saint-Georges
- The Pavillon des Energies presents an exhibition from May 2 to 31. - At the crossroads of cinephile nostalgia and multiple graphic techniques, three artists come together to revisit cinematographic iconography, whether from Hollywood or elsewhere. - The program includes 18 posters with a nostalgic, surrealist, feminist, fantastical or even Arlesian flavour, using techniques as varied as drawing, collage and computer graphics. - Free admission.
Exposition « Lumières » de Brigitte Claude
- From 6 to 30 may 2024
- Place du Champ de Mars
- Exhibitions in the school are open during workshop hours. - Plastic arts center. - School of Arts.
Théâtre Saint-Lô > "Entre Ciel & Terre"
- On 21 may 2024
- Rue Octave Feuillet
- Join us on May 21 at 8:30 pm at the Saint-Lô theater for the show "Entre ciel & terre" with the Orchestre Régional de Normandie. - If encounters enrich life, so does music ! - The Orchestre Régional de Normandie is well aware of this, and honors Japan and its culture, which, between tradition and modernity, is as fascinating as it is elusive. - The musicians of the Orchestra, led by principal conductor Jean Deroyer, will accompany Nori Kajio, a player of the taiko, a traditional Japanese drum as powerful as it is impressive, and Jean-Marc Larché, a virtuoso saxophonist and improviser. Both the taiko and the saxophone share a warm, vibrant character. Between encounter and fusion, the role of intermediary for this project has been entrusted to composer Pierrick Hardy, who has written an original score for classical orchestra and this original duo. - Composition : Pierrick Hardy taïkos Nori Kajio. - Soprano saxophone : Jean-Marc Larché. - Musical direction Jean Deroyer. - Photos : ©Jérôme Prébois. - Running time 1h10 - All audiences (8 years and up). - Online ticketing or information on 02 33 57 11 49.
Visite Guidée > Saint-Lô, la Renaissance d'une Ville
- On 22 may 2024
- Place du Champ-de-Mars
- As part of the 80th anniversary of D-Day, and in partnership with the town of Saint-Lô, join us at the Musée d'art et d'histoire for a guided tour of the town of Saint-Lô.Discover the prefectural town of La Manche, a major objective of the American armed forces during the Battle of Normandy, which was liberated in ruins on July 18,1944.Limited places - Visit recommended for children aged 12 and over.
Visite Guidée > Saint-Lô, la Renaissance d'une Ville
- On 22 may 2024
- Place du Champ-de-Mars
- As part of the 80th anniversary of D-Day, and in partnership with the town of Saint-Lô, join us at the Musée d'art et d'histoire for a guided tour of the town of Saint-Lô.Discover the prefectural town of La Manche, a major objective of the American armed forces during the Battle of Normandy, which was liberated in ruins on July 18,1944.Limited places - Tour recommended for children aged 6 and over.
Animation Pêche des Carnassiers
- On 22 may 2024
- The federation is offering a carnivore fishing event on the Vire river in Saint-Lô (meet at Plage verte), on Wednesday May 22,2024 (1:30 pm / 4 pm). This activity is open to those aged 12 and over, and a beginner's level is sufficient. - All equipment is provided by the federation. - Reservations and payment (mandatory) : http://www.peche-manche.com/reservation-animations/ - N.B. : The federation reserves the right to cancel the event in the event of bad weather, lack of participants, or for any other justifiable reason.
Fabrication de Guirlandes et de Fanions
- On 22 may 2024
- 10 Rue Saint-Georges
- Join us for a pennant-making workshop. - Recycled fabric and leaves from old magazines will be used to create collective garlands. - The garlands will then be hung in the trees at Lieu-Dix for the annual Nouvelle R ? festival. Don ? T hesitate to bring your old fabrics and magazines. - Open to all. Free admission. - From 2pm to 5pm, in the Lieu-Dix refectory (building B).
Exposition Adolfo Kaminsky
- From 23 may to 18 june 2024
- 7 Rue le Verrier
- Adolfo Kaminsky was arrested in Vire, Calvados, in October 1943, because he was born Jewish. Freed in extremis from Drancy with his family in January 1944, he joined the Resistance and became "the forger of Paris". At the head of a forgery laboratory, he helped save thousands of persecuted Jews until the Liberation… His forgery activities continued until 1971. - This exhibition of 15 main panels created by students pays tribute to this tireless defender of freedom, who died in 2023, and will be held in the gallery of the Lycée Le Verrier. Open to the general public, subject to school safety regulations - School security conditions.
Festival Les Hétéroclites > 27e Édition
- From 24 to 25 may 2024
- 165 Rue du Mesnilcroc
- The 27th edition of the "Les Hétéroclites" festival takes place on May 24th and 25th at the Vallon de la Dollée in Saint-Lô
En Avant la Musique ! Avec Yannick Hervé
- On 25 may 2024
- Place du Champ-de-Mars
- Join us on May 25 at Saint-Lô's "La Source" media library for a musical performance by artist Yannick Hervé. - At 4pm :? Musique des Petits : Monsieur Ya invites little ones and their parents to enjoy an original musical experience. Through his own creations and covers of traditional and contemporary repertoire, he invites you to sing, play and dance. This encounter is also an opportunity to discover the instruments that calm and those that make you dance. Open to children aged 0 to 5 and their parents… ? - At 4:30 pm : Family Music : A truly participatory show, we laugh, sing, move and play our way through repertoires that belong to us all. Young and old, children, parents and grandparents will enjoy a moment spent together in music with a playful Mr. Ya. It will also be an opportunity to discover and perhaps practice instruments.. - Don't forget to book !