Hotspots & tips

Only 5 minutes drive or half an hour walk from our property you will find an historical forest called La Fosse Arthour. Rising to 221 metres, the rock appears suspended. It overlooks the green Saint Georges de Rouelley valley, in the Manche département and the Rouellé woods, in the Orne. Created by millions of years of geological upheaval and erosion by the elements, the Fosse Arthour is today a water gap, a narrow, 70-metre deep gorge, cut through a rocky ridge and littered with huge blocks that have collapsed from the sides.

It’s the perfect spot to do small walks, a big hike all the way up to the rock, or do some climbing (with your own professional gear) for free! And for a drink, lunch or dinner you can go to the Auberge in the middle of the forest.

Footpaths open all year round: trails for pedestrians (GR22), horses and mountain bikes, climbing routes. Guided tours: Contact the Normandie-Maine Regional Natural Park or the Mortain Tourist Office.

Perched on a hill above Varenne valley is the fortified medieval town of Domfront, founded in the 11th century. From our property it is only a 15 minutes drive. It has preserved many reminders of its rich past, making it a delightful place for a stroll: charming squares and narrow streets, a 12th-century Romanesque keep, remains of the old feudal castle, rampart towers, and picturesque half-timbered houses, mansions and interior courtyards. There is also a stunning view across the surrounding hedged farmland from Place du Panorama and the castle garden.

At the foot of the town, on the banks of the Varenne, stands the 11th- and 12th-century Notre-Dame-sur-l’Eau church, a superb example of Norman Romanesque art.

It’s a nice place to wander around and step into the local shops. We would highly recommend the delicious Italian food of L’Echauguette.

The hedged farmland around Domfront is a must-visit area for its two specialities, perry and calvados – alcoholic drinks made using locally-grown pears and apples.

Accessible on foot from the town centre (also 15 minute drive from our place), two bucolic waterfalls roar through the Mortain valley. And when you arrive here, a change of scenery is guaranteed: the bocage gives way, in some places, to low mountain landscapes – we speak of Norman Switzerland not without reason! The small waterfall is fed by the Cançon, which tumbles down the rocks at full speed and forms a narrow, white-water canyon, majestically pouring its waves into a curtain of lace forming a fascinating landscape. Perfect for a picnic or climbing exercises.