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Origin and history

The chapel of the Saint-Jacques Hospice of Cesny-Bois-Halbout, located in Calvados in Normandy, dates from the 12th and 13th centuries. It was part of a former leprosy founded around 1165 by the Tesson family, under the patronage of the Val Abbey. This site, integrated into the diocese of Bayeux, reflects the importance of medieval hospitals in the care of marginalized patients, especially lepers.

The present building preserves a chapel of the late twelfth century, while later additions, like two spans built in 1876, testify to its architectural evolution. The main building dates back to the 17th century. The chapel was inscribed in the Historic Monuments on October 4, 1932, highlighting its heritage value and its role in local history.

Today, the chapel belongs to the municipality of Cesny-Bois-Halbout. Its location at 0 Rue de l'Hospice and its state of conservation make it a rare vestige of medieval hospital structures in Normandy. Historical sources, such as the works of Arcisse de Caumont (1850), document its link with the monastic and charitable networks of the period, including the abbey of Val, which established its religious and administrative patronage.

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