Mont Doville, Mountain summit in Doville, France

Mont Doville is a 129-metre summit in the Manche department, on the commune of Doville, built of Armorican sandstone laid over schist. A low grassy ridge forms a broad raised track with a faint worn path along its centre, and a small stone building with a steeply pitched pale grey roof stands near its lower end, with dark green bushes and trees behind it.

The mountain became a battleground in early July 1944 when American forces attacked German defensive positions during the Normandy campaign. The fighting lasted several days and marked a turning point in the liberation of the region.

The chapel Notre-Dame on the summit was abandoned after the new Saint-Martin church was built in the village, then restored in 2011-2012. The ruined mill and the former guardhouse, listed as a monument historique since 1992, stand on the same hill.

The summit is reached on foot from Doville; the chapel of Notre-Dame stands on the slope, restored in 2011-2012, and the old mill nearby is in ruins. The former guardhouse, listed as a monument historique since 1992, is the other structure to look for. Paths cross grass and scrub, so wear suitable shoes.

On clear days, visitors can spot the Channel Islands from the summit, making it one of the few places on the mainland where this distant view is possible. The outlook also sweeps across the flat marshlands and rolling hills surrounding the area.