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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Church of Notre-Dame d'Ouville-la-Bien-Tournée is a Catholic religious monument located in the municipality of the same name, in the department of Calvados, Normandy. Built in the 13th century, it is distinguished by its unusual orientation, aligned on a north-south axis, contrary to the tradition of Christian churches oriented east (east). This particularity gave birth to the original name Ouville-la-Bétournée, meaning "the bad tour" in former French, before being euphemized in Ouville-la-Bien-Tournée.

The classification of the building as historic monuments by order of 5 June 1896 bears witness to its heritage importance. Its architecture and history reflect medieval constructive practices, while illustrating a notable exception to the liturgical rules of the time. The church is now owned by the commune and remains a local symbol of the country of Auge.

The location of the church, specified by official sources (base Mérimée), is located at the administrative address: 14140 Ouville-la-Bien-Tournée, in Calvados. An approximate GPS address (73 Chemin du Tronquet) is also mentioned, although less precise. These details highlight its territorial anchor and its role in the Norman historical landscape.

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