La Suisse Normande - Calvados
Suisse Normande – an outdoor adventure playground !
Suisse Normande is deep in the countryside south of Caen on the Massif Armoricain. Its scenery of lush forests and craggy hills is just like Switzerland - hence its name ! The valley of the River Orne and its tributaries set the tone of the area with their gorges and meanders. The views from the top of the Pain de Sucre (sugarloaf) rocky ridge are simply breath taking. The ever-changing countryside is a marvellous place for walks and sporting activities. When you visit Suisse Normande, don’t forget your walking boots, paragliding sail, kayak paddle or rock climbing boots ! It is a paradise for outdoor pursuits like river fishing, pedaloes, swimming in the Orne, rail-biking, not forgetting plenty of fun activities for youngsters.
Suisse Normande is a great place for group activities and get-togethers with family and friends. There are plenty of large gites and reception halls and the icing on the cake is that there is always a group activity close-by. Peaceful Mother Nature will make sure you have an unforgettable, thrilling time in Suisse Normande !
Have a fun day out with all the family at Lac de Rabodanges (lake) or the outdoor leisure centres at Clécy and Pont d’Ouilly. Have a picnic on the banks of the Orne then go rail-biking or hire a pedalo. Enjoy an ice cream beside the water and the friendly atmosphere of the ‘guinguette’ riverside bar at Pont d’Ouilly where dances are held every Sunday.
The villages of Suisse Normande have distinctive overhanging, mountain-style slate roofs. You find them perched on the banks of the Orne and at the heart of forests. These friendly, bustling communities have local shops and markets selling delicious regional specialities. Among the most noteworthy are the typical villages of Saint-Rémy-sur-Orne and Saint Omer. Don’t miss the fortified, medieval town of Falaise, birthplace of William the Conqueror, with its many heritage treasures : Musée Mémorial des Civils dans la Guerre (museum of civilian life during WW2 and the Normandy landings), medieval castle of William the Conqueror, Musée des Automates (museum of automated figures). Suisse Normande has a rich architectural heritage of country manor houses and châteaux including the famous Château de Pontécoulant, old mills and the archaeological site of Vieux la Romaine.
La Route des Crêtes
The tourist route through Suisse Normande, known as the Route des Crêtes, is an excellent way to explore the area. The views from the top of Roche d’Oëtre or Mont Pinçon (345m) are sure to take you breath away.
If the weather is not so good, there are still plenty of things to do in Suisse Normande : indoor pool complexes at Falaise and Thury-Harcourt, gourmet visits to farms producing goat’s cheese, honey, biscuits and dairy produce, beer and of course local cider and perry made from apples and pears from Normandy orchards. Enjoy a meal in the warmth of an open fire at a friendly ‘auberge’. Taste typical Norman dishes featuring Andouille de Vire (chitterling sausage), cider sauce, camembert cheese sauce, tarte tatin and crème fraîche. Welcome to Gourmandie !
Suisse Normande is 20 minutes from the tranquil town of Caen in Calvados, a great place to spend a day sight-seeing and window-shopping. Have a meal at one of the many restaurants in the charming Vaugueux district with its cobbled streets and half-timbered house fronts. The fine sandy beaches of the coast are not far away - those of Ouistreham and Merville-Franceville are under 40 minutes. Another attractive idea for a day out is to visit Pays d’Auge via Saint Pierre sur Dives and its Monday morning market.
A few kilometres from my home, on the border between Suisse Normande and Pays d’Auge, there’s a magical place called La Brèche au Diable in a little forest between Falaise and Caen. The River Laizon runs through the forest and Mont Joly towers above it. I won’t say any more except that it’s full of history and almost enchanted… I go for a walk there whenever I can. My guests often go there too and always come back delighted. Brigitte, owner of Le Logis gite, Rouvres.
How to get to Suisse Normande
Suisse Normande straddles the départements of Calvados and Orne. From the Caen southern ring road, take exit for Suisse Normande. Clécy and Pont d’Ouilly are 30 minutes from the Caen ring road (périphérique).
To get to Falaise from Caen, leave the southern ring road at exit ‘Porte d’Espagne’ and take N158 towards Le Mans and Falaise. Falaise is 20 minutes from the Caen ring road (périphérique).
Caen Carpiquet airport is 30 minutes from Falaise and Suisse Normande.
Brittany Ferries terminal at the port of Ouistreham is 40 minutes from Falaise and Suisse Normande.
Caen railway station is 30 minutes from Falaise and Suisse Normande."
