Description:

As its name suggests the Normandie-Maine Regional Park crosses the boundary between the Departments of Orne and Manche in Lower Normandy and Mayenne and Sarthe in Maine.

 

From Argentan in the North and Sillé-le-Guillaume in the south, the Park extends over almost 235,000 hectares.  Over 50,000 hectares of this are covered by deciduous forest, notably the forests of Ecouves, Perseigne and Sillé - almost one quarter of the total surface area.  Outside the forests, the Park is a varied mixture of high ground in the north, farmland and pear orchards and marshes, rivers and lakes in the south and the west.

 

For the visitor, the park offers many attractions, kayaking, walking, riding, climbing, cross-country trails, orienteering bird watching and fishing. Further information on the activities available in the park can be obtained from the Maison du Parc in Carrouges (Telephone: 02 33 81 13 33,   http://www.parc-naturel-normandie-maine.fr/).

 

The Massif Armorcain to the north offers several picuresque rock climbing sites. Among these are the rocher de l'aiguille at Mortain, the Alpes Mancelles, the Fosse Arthour and the rocks of the forest of Andaines.

 

The park is located on the watershed between the Loire and the English Channel and is fed by the waters of the Orne, Egrenne, Varenne, Gourbe, Vée and the Sarthe rivers and their tributaries.  This has created a variety of top class fishing both in the rivers and the surrounding lakes.  

 

The park provides exellent opportunities for walking. Notably the forest of Andaines (5,400 hectares), the forest of Perseigne (5,102 hectares) and the Alpes Mancelles .