Places to Visit
With many attractions in the area, from walking to visiting historic sites - cycling and motorcycling , you are certain to have a memorable holiday.
Walking and Hiking
Beautiful scenery to enjoy
There are a multitude of walks through woodland, along paths and around lakes and villages or even the coast and beaches. The extent of the walk, whether an amble or hike is up to you!
There are walks within metres of the house and many more a short distance away.
The scenery can change from rocky gorges, hill tops with magnificent views, wooded paths and village scenes.
Gardens to Visit
If you enjoy flowers and plants, you will find there are some lovely gardens in the region to visit. Some of them are quite small and compact but impressive in their choice of plants and their layout/design.
More details of specific gardens to visit are given in the Gardens to Visit page.
Towns and Villages
Landmarks you could visit, rich in history and tradition
Lonlay L'Abbaye is our closest village with it's medieval abbey at the centre and stone buildings is only a few kms away and well worth a visit. In the village you will find the closest shops for your everyday needs or to stop and have a coffee.
Domfront en Poiraie is a larger medieval town with a Norman castle to visit. The views are superb from the old cite. Much of the old city wall is still visible.
Vire: a larger town about 3/4 of an hour away by car is a good shopping destination with many intersting buildings.
Bagnols de l'Orne with its casino, lake and 1920's style architecture is only about 30 minutes away by car.
La Ferte Mace is a town about 35 minutes away by car and has a lake there with a small beach. You can swim in the lake or walk around it. There are play areas for children and a sandy beach to play on. A cafe close to the beach.
Villedieu les Poeles is about 45 minutes away by car and as well as being an attractive town to visit, it is renowned for its copper pans and bell making. Copper pans are still made there and re-tinned. La Musee du Cuivre and the Bell Museum are worth a visit.
The area has a lot of interesting buildings and chateaux to visit. Some of them are rural and others in towns and of various types of design. Old buildings have survived well in Normandy.
Chateau de Carrouges, pictured to the right.
Chateau de Pontecoulant
Chateau de Falaise
Chateau de Lassay (pictured to the right)
Chateau de Vire
Chateau de Flers
Chateau de Domfront
The list is extensive and many of them not very far away.
Churches and Cathedrals are built in different centuries, in different styles. They are always seem so impressive.
Chateaux, Churches and Other Buildings
Wildlife - Nature
Le Marais du Grand-Hazé
In the heart of the Normandy Bocage, you will be surprised by the unusual countryside of Grand Hazé the largest wetland in the Orne departement; a mixture of land and water, sprinkled with tall grasses. In this 500 acre area of marsh and woodland you can watch the dragonflies and butterflies, frogs and grasshoppers, and the varied birdlife as well as all the unusual plants that grow there. In this place steeped in history and legends, you will also come across Camargue horses and Highland cattle.
Wildlife in the area
Animals seen in the garden
This female deer wandered into the garden earlier this year.
I have also seen rabbits and hares, hedgehogs, numerous birds, lizards, salamander, frogs, grasshoppers, red squirrels, butterflies and moths. There is a more detailed list of wildlife in the area in the Blog section.
More information available
Don't hesitate to ask, if you need any information
We will do our best to ensure you have a holiday to remember. There is a lot of information about local amenities and places to visit in the gite and we will always give you any guidance or assitance you may need.
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