L'Aigle and the Country of Ouche

Pays d’Ouche straddles Orne and Eure at the heart of Normandy and has the reputation of being harsh but, above all, very discreet. It takes some time to really get the feel of the area.
The area is a plateau partly covered with forests and rich in streams. Conifers grow well here including the famous Silver Fir which had its heyday when pitch pine furniture was fashionable.

The pretty town of L’Aigle is at the heart of Pays d’Ouche and has some very fine heritage buildings. The River Risles runs through the bustling town which has a maze of little streets of shops and bourgeois houses, mostly of brick. A hotel-restaurant, Le Dauphin, an old coaching inn, has been in existence for over 400 years. The Tuesday market was one of the largest in France for a very long time with kilometres of stalls. The Château in the centre of the town is now the ‘mairie (town hall). Before leaving the town, don’t forget to try the delicious local speciality, a type of smoked sausage called « cervelas de l’Aigle ».
On the outskirts of L’Aigle, at Saint-Sulpice sur Risles, stands Manufacture Bohin, the last factory in France to manufacture needles using a production method unchanged for a century. Some of its machines are listed monuments. The staff possess a unique savoir-faire and its extremely high quality production has long been appreciated by great names from the world of haute couture. You can tour the Manufacture Bohin to see the workshops in operation, a museum, exhibition halls and a shop.