The canton of Ducey, from the Sélune to the bay

The eleven villages of the former canton, between hedgerows and marshes of the bay: their stones, their legends.

A river winding between meadows bordered by hedges, in a lush Norman bocage
Along the Sélune

11

villages of the former canton

Enter the history

The facade of a granite castle with tall chimneys and slate roofs, by the edge of a town
In the town

Why the canton?

At the bottom of the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel, in the Avranchin: the Sélune flows down to the sea, through hedges and pastures.

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An old granite manor flanked by a round tower, in the middle of the fields
In the countryside

A canton between land and sea

Annick, resident and writer

Around Ducey, eleven villages, from Juilley to Courtils, share the bocage, its hedges and the marshes at the bottom of the bay. The Sélune crosses several before reaching the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel.

Here, we tell what this canton has preserved: a castle from the early 17th century, an abbey founded in 1160, churches rich in statues and a few tenacious legends.

A volunteer page to promote the former canton

Three residences, eight centuries

From the abbey to the castle, three places that shaped the canton.

The stone buildings of an ancient abbey surrounded by meadows
Abbey walls

Montmorel, the Abbey of Poilley

Founded in 1160, confirmed by Henry II in 1162, and then protected by Richard the Lionheart in 1195, this former Augustinian abbey is partially classified.

The façade of a granite castle with tall chimneys and slate roofs, on the edge of a village
A granite façade with tall chimneys

The Castle of Montgommery, Ducey

Started around 1600 in Ducey, classified in 1923, it retains a monumental staircase and a Renaissance ceiling.

An old granite manor flanked by a round tower, amidst fields
A round tower in the middle of the fields

The Manor of la Cour

In Marcilly, this 16th-century manor retains a round tower from the 13th-14th centuries.

Five details that tell the story of the canton

From a church to a wood, from a place name to an old revolt, these five details each have their story, to read here before going to seek them out on site.

Stone

Saint Martin on the wall of Juilley

On the south wall of the nave, a bas-relief from the first half of the 16th century shows the charity of Saint Martin. It has been classified since 1905; the church also retains a funerary slab from the 14th century.

Where to look? In Juilley, on the south exterior wall of Saint Martin’s church.

Legend

A ton of gold hidden in Précey

According to a village legend, a ton of gold is said to be buried somewhere in Précey. Its location would be revealed by a magpie, on Candlemas day. The legend does not specify the year.

Where to look? Everywhere in Précey, as long as you follow a magpie on February 2.

Forest

The Ardennes Wood, in Ducey

To the south of Ducey, along the Sélune, its approximately 80 hectares are considered the last remnant of the Scissy forest, and one of the few woods open to the public in Manche.

Where to search? South of the village of Ducey, on the banks of the Sélune.

Water

A name from the river

“Sur-le-Homme” recalls the lords of Homme in the 15th century. Their name came from the Norse word holm, meaning a piece of land surrounded by fresh water. Saint-Quentin also retains a Romanesque church from the 12th century, completed in the 13th.

Where to search? In Saint-Quentin-sur-le-Homme, by the Sélune.

History

The Nu-pieds revolt of 1639

In 1639, the Nu-pieds revolt broke out in Avranches and shook the entire Avranchin region. Bertrand Olivier from Juilley, an active member of the revolt, was hanged on December 1st by order of Gassion.

Where to remember? In Juilley, where Bertrand Olivier came from, and throughout the Avranchin.

Did we miss a detail?

A wayside cross, a carved lintel, a fountain: each municipality has others. If you know their stories, tell us, and we will add them to this page.

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Latest news

The latest articles published about the canton of Ducey.

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What our readers write

Some messages received since the opening.

Gérard Reader from Poilley

I have passed by Montmorel forever without knowing its history. Founded in 1160! I would have never believed it.

Claire and Hugo Readers from Précey

From your page about the legend, the children look at each magpie in the village with a funny expression, especially on Candlemas.

Monique Reader from Juilley

Thank you for the bas-relief of Saint Martin: I had never noticed it on the church wall.