Discovery rally Following in the footsteps of the dukes and barons of Normandy in Cotentin

A one-day touring route, designed as a rally and treasure hunt, allows for the discovery of the architectural heritage from the ducal period. The itinerary highlights the residential spaces of the 11th and 12th centuries in Cotentin, through the main typologies of remains: motte castrales, keeps, castles, and palaces. Each site is connected to an event or a figure related to William: ancestors, companions, adversaries, or descendants. The links and similarities with the architecture across the Manche during the same period are also put into perspective. The visits are commented on by the guides from the Pays d’Art et d’Histoire du Clos du Cotentin, as well as by local historians. **The tour begins at the Abbey of Lessay**, the meeting point for the presentation of the rally, followed by a visit to the abbey church and its gardens. Founded between 1056 and 1064 by Baron Richard Turstin Haldup, lord of La Haye-du-Puits and du Plessis, and his wife Emma, the abbey is set in the context of re-establishing peace and justice in Cotentin by William, Duke of Normandy, in a territory that was then highly independent. At each stage, a puzzle is proposed, allowing progress to the next stage, for a total of five stages. Organized by the association Vieilles Maisons Françaises (VMF) **Practical information:** Registration is mandatory, and places are limited. Paid event Travel is done in teams organized as carpooling. Moments of conviviality punctuate the day: welcome coffee at the start, "packed lunch" lunch, closing cocktail, and presentation of gifts to the winning teams. **Partnership**: Pays d'art et d'histoire du Clos du Cotentin