THE CITY OF FALAISE

1- SAINTE-TRINITE CHURCH (Holy Trinity Church)
Place Guillaume le Conquérant, Falaise.
Next to the castle.
This church is in the heart of the city on a square dedicated to William the Conqueror in the middle of which stands his 7-meter high bronze statue dating from 1851. The six other small statues around the base were added in 1875 and represent the Dukes of Normandy who preceded William.
A first church had been built in the 9th century, destroyed in the early 13th century and replaced by a Romanesque building. Of this church, only the transept remains because it was heavily damaged in 1417 during the Hundred Years War. The current church was mainly built between the 15th and the 16th centuries and we can easily notice its Gothic aspect : many sculptures and decorations and great clarity thanks to the architecture.
Note outside the passage under the arch which is something quite rare : it was created in the 16th century to allow the passage of the street when the existing church was enlarged.
Inside, I find the choir very beautiful with its renovated wooden vault.
No stained glass windows remain because of a German air attack in August 1944.

Two miracles occurred in this church in 1944 :
– The night of the liberation of Falaise on August 17, 1944, 300 civilians who had taken refuge in the church thinking it would not be bombed, survived the attacks of two German bomber.
– And a baby was even born during the assault !

2- CHURCH OF SAINT-GERVAIS SAINT-PROTAIS
6 Rue de Brebisson, Falaise.
11 minutes walk from the castle.
The construction of the original Romanesque church started shortly after the Conquest of England by William the Conqueror in 1066 and was completed under the reign of his son Henry I Beauclerc at the beginning of the 12th century. The church was dedicated to Saint Gervais and Saint Protais in 1124. The original building was inspired by the Trinity Church of the Ladies’ Abbey in Caen, on which it depended. From this period, remain the south wall of the nave, the lantern tower and the western facade. 
The church was damaged several times because of religious wars and conflicts and therefore modified between the 13th and the 18th centuries. This is why you can see a mixture of different architectural styles.
The choir was also badly damaged in 1944 and restored until 1980. Admire the beautiful wooden vault.

3- CHURCH OF SAINT-LAURENT
Route de Versainville, Falaise.
17 minutes walk from the castle.
Located outside the medieval city in a district of Falaise that took its name from the church, it’s a fine example of Romanesque Art : the nave, the facade and the portal date from the late 11th century.
It looks like a small country church. It’s simple but very pretty and charming. And on the way, you will pass by the Lecomte Gate where you can see the remains of the fortifications.

4- CHURCH OF NOTRE-DAME-DE-GUIBRAY
21 Rue Notre Dame, Falaise.
15 minutes walk from the castle, a little away from the other sites of interest of the city.
This is one of the main Romanesque churches in Normandy. And above all, you can admire a magnificent organ of Parisot built between 1743 and 1747 by Claude Parisot. Its sound is perfectly adapted to the excellent acoustics of the building and it is the ideal instrument to play baroque music of the 17th and the 18th centuries in the respect of traditions. Concerts and festivals are regularly held in the church. This organ is classified as a Historic Monument.