Norman Switzerland
South of Caen, straddling the Orne and the Calvados, Norman Switzerland rolls out steep valleys and sharp rocks carved by the Orne river. The Roche d’Oëtre, nicknamed the balcony of Norman Switzerland, offers a panorama more than 100 metres above the gorges. You picnic together facing the drop, try a via ferrata or come back down through the forest trails. A real change of scene, just a few kilometres from classic Normandy.
The Perche, land of manor houses
To the east, the Perche is among the gentlest regions in France, with its wooded hills, Percheron horses and manor houses of pale stone. Mortagne-au-Perche, home of black pudding and many antique dealers, is explored on foot. Around it, the villages of Bellême, La Perrière or Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei are among the finest in France. People come as a couple for a weekend in the country, far from the crowds.
Écouves Forest and the Orne valley
At the heart of the département, the tall deep Écouves Forest hides the Mont des Avaloirs, highest point of western France at 416 metres. Its trails welcome hikers and cyclists. Lower down, the Orne valley offers gentle walks along the water. On Lyad, members from the Orne share their favourite paths; it is up to you to find someone to put on your boots for the next weekend.
Date ideas
- Norman Switzerland
- Roche d’Oëtre viewpoint
- Perche
- Mortagne-au-Perche
- Écouves Forest
- River Orne
- Mont des Avaloirs
