Saint-Lô is just under an hour away from our office here based in Sourdeval, Manche 50 and we do, occasionally, have houses for sale in and around this area. Its location means that you can be close to the enviable coastline beaches of Gouville Sur Mer, Blainville-sur-Mer – where you will find a delightful rustic beachside restaurant nestled in the dunes, where in other regions of France you would probably pay for entry! And not to mention the seaside resort of Agon-Coutainville, also famed for its oysters and tours whereby you can take a trip out to source and taste them, washed down with some local wine. It also has good train links to Caen and Rennes.
This city is relatively small with just under 20,000 inhabitants in the surrounding commune and whilst is second in size compared to that of Cherbourg, it is still where the préfecture is based for the Manche region. This is the place where you will go if you are looking to obtain your residency permit and any other official business. It is fairly easy to negotiate and you will always need to arrange an appointment.
It is also home to various language tests sites dotted around. So, if you need to prove your level of French you can sit an exam here to do so. This is required if you wish to obtain French nationality.
What else is Saint-Lô famed for? Like most of Normandy, it is steeped in rich history and this city is no different. For those that are interested in military history, Saint-Lô was subject to fierce fighting from 7 – 19 July 1944 in which 95% of the city was destroyed by American bombers trying to regain the city from the German army. The Battle of Normandy Tours website says (link below):-
“The countryside the American forces had to attack through was a patchwork of small fields surrounded by thick earthen embankments with large hedgerows growing on top, all of which made defence easier and attack more difficult.”
Did you know that this city was hailed as a martyr city of World War II and was decorated with the Legion of Honour in 1948. It is for this reason it was given the nickname “Capital of Ruins”.
You can also visit the famous ramparts, which you cannot fail to miss, aided by the use of an app to take in a guided walk of approximately 45 minutes. Here you will be able to learn about the Viking invasion in 889. They travelled up from Vire (only 10 minutes from our office) but as the city was protected by these very ramparts, the city did not surrender. It was only when their water supply was cut off that they finally had to do so.
In modern day terms, Saint-Lô is also well know for its excellent educational facilities. It is home to the sought after Institut Saint-Lô known for its excellent results and students can start and finish their education from primary all the way through to Lycée and post Lycée.
Normandy as a region is famous for its horse breeding and competition events. This is no surprise given the lush green fields that make up the Normandy countryside. The Haras National du Pin (stud farm), is world known and is considered the ‘Versailles for horses’. It was built upon orders from King Louis XIV on a 1,000-hectare estate full of greenery.
Today, the Haras du Pin is an exceptional place in Normandy and every year, more than 200 days of world-renowned equestrian competitions take place here. Saint-Lô is also home to these excellent facilities.
You may also notice that in the centre of the main town, there are references to horses everywhere from brass street furniture to statutes.
There is also fun family day entertainment just outside this city – a Viking park for younger children, Adventure Park for the whole family, Escape rooms and museums to visit.
We hope you enjoyed this little insight on the history and modern day importance of this wonderful city. You will find all relevant links below.
