Church of the Trinity (Eglise de la Trinite)

The Church of the Trinity stands at the foot of William the Conqueror's castle in Falaise, built on a site where worship has taken place since 840 AD. The current Gothic structure dates primarily from the 13th-16th centuries, rebuilt multiple times after sieges and wars. Its most striking feature is the rare Renaissance porch from 1545, designed as a triumphal arch with a unique passageway beneath it allowing carts to pass through - the only such feature in Normandy. Inside, visitors can admire the spectacular wooden vaulted ceiling of carved chestnut in the choir and detailed historiated capitals depicting biblical scenes alongside medieval craftsmen and merchants who funded the reconstruction. The church houses a permanent exhibition about the 1944 Liberation of Falaise, when nearly 300 civilians sheltered here during Allied bombardments. Despite being classified as a historic monument since 1889, the building remains in fragile condition and lacks heating, so dress warmly in winter. Entry is free.