This Cotentin commune has two historical information supports

Two historical information signage were achieved thanks to a collaboration tripartite between the commune of Rocheville (Manche), the urban community of Cotentin and the Land of Art and History of Clos du Cotentin.

Ces panels implanted, one on the protected site of the wood of the rocks and the other on the Town Hall square facing the churchprovide details on the heritage and cultural wealth places.

The “legendary stones” site

Who better than the art historian Julien Deshayes, project manager of the land of art and history of the Clos du Cotentin to present to us the two historical information signage supports placed, as here, at the “stones” site to legends » From the Bois des Roches.

Arriving at the Neolithic site, strongly imbued with local legends, would the small delegation follow in the footsteps of the fairies, meet the werewolves or even come face to face with the satanic sow or the headless man?

“There are very few sites in Cotentin that have given rise to so many legends”

Undoubtedly attracted by the particular aura of the place, men have long since invested the site for ritual and funerary purposes by planting several megaliths around it. We can still see the covered path which was once the internal framework of a collective burial. Also, there are very few sites in Cotentin that have given rise to so many legends. This is why, with the help of the municipality of Rocheville, we wanted to highlight this rich historical and cultural heritage through heritage signage masterfully illustrated by the artist Christophe Rouil. On this panel, we depict the fantastic and legendary creatures of the place through the graphics of the painter.

The attraction of the site is so strong that it determined the choice of the name of the town of Rocheville, so named when it was created in 1895.

Local history

The other historical information signage is in a good place, located on the square in front of the Town Hall, opposite the neo-Gothic church of Rocheville. It refers to local history and municipal heritage.

Rocheville is a young town. Grouped around the large hamlet, it was created in 1895 by dismemberment of a portion of the Bricquebec territory. For a long time, the inhabitants had a place of worship, which has now disappeared. It was between 1859 and 1867 that the current church was built by the inhabitants following the plans of the baptizer Abbot Godefroy.

Historical support tells us that the main road was only a dirt road. In 1884, the railway passed through Rocheville. The town did not have a station, but a stopover for travelers.

The bodies of 10 airmen found near the church

More recently, it is mentioned on the support that in April 1944, the American B17 hit by DCA exploded in flight above Rocheville, scattering its debris around the town. The bodies of the 10 airmen were found near the church.

These are the 19th and 20th historical information signage supports that we are installing in the territory of the land of art and history of Clos du Cotentin. An operation started in 2016 and which continues entirely financed by the country of art and history. The brushed stainless steel support and desk, the illustration work and the graphics represent a total cost of €2,200 per panel.

By our correspondent Jean-Jacques BACZYNSKI

Follow all the news from your favorite cities and media by subscribing to Mon Actu.