Le Sentier des ArtsA free open-air exhibition, all summer long, six kilometres away
From late May to the end of August, Douvres-la-Délivrande hangs the works of local artists, amateur and professional alike, along a waymarked trail: from Place des Marronniers to the Baronnie estate, by way of the Thomas-de-Douvre walk.
This is an exhibition that never closes: for almost three months, large-format reproductions of works by local artists mark out a trail through Douvres-la-Délivrande, from Place des Marronniers to the Baronnie estate. You follow it on foot, freely, at whatever hour you like, and the opening weekend in late May is a chance to meet the artists and watch them work — painting, drawing, wood turning, sculpture. From Camping La Capricieuse it is six kilometres, ten minutes by car or half an hour by bike.
The dates
Every year- Late Mayopening weekend
- 3 monthsuntil the end of August
- At any houroutdoor trail
The trail is in place from the end of May to the end of August. The opening weekend, with meetings and demonstrations, is announced in spring by the town council.
Getting there
From the campsite- 6 kmto Douvres
- 10 minby car
- By bikealong the greenway
Douvres-la-Délivrande is the first town inland from Luc-sur-Mer. Parking is easy: leave the car near Place des Marronniers and continue on foot.
Useful to know
Before you go- Freefreely accessible
- 1 to 2 hoursfor the whole trail
- Three sectionslinked on foot
Nothing to book, nothing to pay: the trail is in the public space. It is divided into three sections, which can be visited separately if you have young children.
The trail, seen from the campsite
Local artists, exhibited outdoors
The principle is simple: artists from the area, amateur and professional, submit a work, and a large-format reproduction of it is installed outdoors along the trail. Painting, drawing, photography, sculpture — the selection changes every year.
On the opening weekend in late May the artists are there, working in front of the public: the best time to come if you want to talk to them, though the trail stays on view all summer.
The Baronnie and the basilica, while you are there
The trail ends at the Baronnie estate, once the residence of the bishops of Bayeux, whose restored park is open to the public and has a playground. It is also where the town’s medieval festival is held in mid-September.
A few steps away stands the basilica of Notre-Dame-de-la-Délivrande, one of the great pilgrimage sites of Normandy, with its startling interior decoration. Allow half a day for the whole outing from the campsite.
An outing for a day off the beach
Le Sentier des Arts has a rare advantage: it is on view all summer, at any hour, and depends on no opening times. It is the fallback outing for grey mornings and for late afternoons that are too hot.
From the campsite the round trip takes half a day, including by bike. The rest of the time, the beach is fifty metres from the cottages.
Frequently asked questions about Le Sentier des Arts
What is Le Sentier des Arts?+
When can you see Le Sentier des Arts?+
Is there a charge to visit it?+
How long should you allow?+
Illustrative photograph: Nezdek — Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).
The other events
Jardifoliz
D-Day Festival Normandy
Les Grandes Mêlées d’Ornavik
The Whale Rafts
The Tribute Fest
Festival Beauregard
Bayeux Medieval Festival
The XSMOZ Festival
The Acadian Week
The Sea Festival
The Langrune float parade
The Sâoticot festival
Rétro Festival in Caen
The Baronnie Festival
The Normandy Beach Race
Les Équidays
Halloween at the campsite
All the events
Your base camp in Normandy
Five-star cottages, a heated water park and the beach fifty metres away, in Luc-sur-Mer.
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