Saint-Gervais is the oldest surviving church in Falaise, its core Romanesque nave dating to the eleventh century — making it a contemporary of William himself. The exterior is plain and slightly battered, a result of the town's partial destruction in 1944, but the interior retains its original proportions and some fine carved capitals on the nave pillars.
The church stands close to the castle, and a walk between the two takes you through the oldest part of Falaise. It is rarely crowded and usually unlocked during daylight hours. The contrast between the raw Norman stonework and the rebuilt town around it is striking.