Airel: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

The Manoir de Mesnil-Vitey is a fortified residence built at the end of the 15th century on the banks of the Vieille Vire in Airel. It is partially listed as a historic monument. This listing protects the façades, roofs and remains of the surrounding wall; it was made by decree on 22 November 1949.

Culture

The Neo-Romanesque Church of Saint George in Airel preserves an older portal with a flattened surround and double billet ornamentation. The stele for Thomas Pethick in Airel commemorates a Royal Canadian Air Force pilot whose aircraft was shot down there by German anti-aircraft defences on 2 June 1943.

The Vieux pont de La Hoderie spans the Elle on the border between Manche and Calvados. Between its arches, the coats of arms of the Bishop of Bayeux, the Baron of Airel, and those of Crépion, Lison (Calvados) and Neuilly-la-Forêt can be seen.

Nature

The Vire forms the western boundary of Airel. Airel is also part of the Natura 2000 site “Coteaux calcaires et anciennes carrières de la Meauffe, Cavigny, Airel”. The most important ecological feature of this area is the overwintering of various bat species.

The limestone landscape of the Natura 2000 site lies in a geological environment dominated by shales and sandstones. The area also includes industrial remains representing the development of limestone-working techniques in the 18th and 19th centuries. These industrial remains are listed in the supplementary inventory of historic monuments.

Things to Do

The towpath along the Vire forms a continuous greenway from Saint-Fromond/Airel to Pont-Farcy in the Calvados département, covering 51 km.

The wish to rent a holiday apartment in Airel can be included in your travel plans.

More local pages: La Chapelle-Cécelin, Joganville, Sainte-Suzanne-sur-Vire, Remilly-Sur-Lozon, Cretteville, Saint-Georges-De-La-Rivière, Moulines, Houesville

To the higher-level travel overview: Manche.