Free Walking Sightseeing Tour #1 in Avranches, France

Legend

Churches & Art
Nature
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Historical
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Tour Facts

Number of sights 10 sights
Distance 2.5 km
Ascend 59 m
Descend 83 m

Explore Avranches in France with this free self-guided walking tour. The map shows the route of the tour. Below is a list of attractions, including their details.

Individual Sights in Avranches

Sight 1: The american breakthrough of Avranches

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The american breakthrough of Avranches

Operation Cobra was an offensive launched by the First United States Army under Lieutenant General Omar Bradley seven weeks after the D-Day landings, during the Normandy campaign of World War II. The intention was to take advantage of the distraction of the Germans by the British and Canadian attacks around Caen in Operation Goodwood, and thereby break through the German defenses that were penning in their forces, while the Germans were unbalanced. Once a corridor had been created, the First Army would then be able to advance into Brittany, rolling up the German flanks once free of the constraints of the bocage country. After a slow start, the offensive gathered momentum and German resistance collapsed as scattered remnants of broken units fought to escape to the Seine. Lacking the resources to cope with the situation, the German response was ineffectual and the entire Normandy front soon collapsed. Operation Cobra, together with concurrent offensives by the British Second Army and the Canadian First Army, was decisive in securing an Allied victory in the Normandy campaign.

Wikipedia: Operation Cobra (EN)

0 meters / 0 minutes

Sight 2: Creighton Abrams’ Sherman

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Creighton Abrams’ Sherman

Creighton Williams Abrams Jr. was a United States Army general who commanded military operations in the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1972. He was then Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1972 until his death in 1974.

Wikipedia: Creighton Abrams (EN)

3 meters / 0 minutes

Sight 3: Sherman Thunderbolt V

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The M4 Sherman, officially Medium Tank, M4, was the most widely used medium tank by the United States and Western Allies in World War II. The M4 Sherman proved to be reliable, relatively cheap to produce, and available in great numbers. It was also the basis of several other armored fighting vehicles including self-propelled artillery, tank destroyers, and armored recovery vehicles. Tens of thousands were distributed through the Lend-Lease program to the British Commonwealth and Soviet Union. The tank was named by the British after the American Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman.

Wikipedia: M4 Sherman (EN)

681 meters / 8 minutes

Sight 4: Basilique Saint-Gervais et Saint-Protais

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The Basilica of Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais d'Avranches is a neoclassical Catholic building that stands on the territory of the commune of Avranches, in the Manche department, in the Normandy region, France.

Wikipedia: Basilique Saint-Gervais d'Avranches (FR)

187 meters / 2 minutes

Sight 5: Maison des Trois Marchands

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The Maison des Trois Marchands, also called the Maison de la Sirène, is a 15th century house located in Avranches in the French department of the Manche in Normandy.

Wikipedia: Maison des Trois Marchands (FR)

268 meters / 3 minutes

Sight 6: Tour de l'Arsenal

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The fortifications of Avranches are a defensive work located in the city center of Avranches, France intended to protect the city in the Middle Ages.

Wikipedia: Fortifications d'Avranches (FR)

172 meters / 2 minutes

Sight 7: Statue de Valhubert

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The statue of Valhubert is a marble statue, located in Avranches, department of Manche, France. She represents Jean-Marie Valhubert. It is the work of the French sculptor Pierre Cartellier.

Wikipedia: Statue de Valhubert (FR)

328 meters / 4 minutes

Sight 8: Église Notre-Dame des Champs

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The Church of Notre-Dame-des-Champs is a Roman Catholic building in the commune of Avranches, in the Manche department in Normandy, France.

Wikipedia: Église Notre-Dame-des-Champs d'Avranches (FR)

437 meters / 5 minutes

Sight 9: Ancienne abbaye de Moutons

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The Abbey of Sainte-Anne de Moutons is a former monastery of Benedictine nuns that stands on the territory of the French commune of Avranches, in the department of Manche, in the Normandy region.

Wikipedia: Abbaye Sainte-Anne de Moutons (FR)

384 meters / 5 minutes

Sight 10: Square Thomas Becket

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Square Thomas Becket

Thomas Becket, also known as Saint Thomas of Canterbury, Thomas of London and later Thomas à Becket, served as Lord Chancellor from 1155 to 1162, and then notably as Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his death in 1170. He engaged in conflict with Henry II, King of England, over the rights and privileges of the Church and was murdered by followers of the King in Canterbury Cathedral. Soon after his death, he was canonised by Pope Alexander III. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion.

Wikipedia: Thomas Becket (EN)

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Disclaimer Please be aware of your surroundings and do not enter private property. We are not liable for any damages that occur during the tours.

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