Of the castle that once belonged to the Harcourt family, hitherto known as the Versailles of Normandy, all that remains today are the park and the scorched facade of the former entrance vestibule, the chapel and the outbuildings. It was once one of the finest buildings in Normandy. The castle, which once boasted a total of 264 windows, was comprised of a vast gallery overlooking the River Orne below, and of ten aligned lounges which led to the chapel. On the 12th of August 1944, as the British 59th Infantry Division reached the outskirts of Thury-Harcourt, the infamous SS Das Reich division that occupied the town set fire to the castle, reducing its precious furnishings to cinders, along with over 150 old paintings and a library with over 15,000 books.

With our bike hire service, you can explore the Suisse Normande region on mountain bikes, VTCs, electric bikes and adapted bikes on the greenway towards Caen or Clécy, and on the mountain bike trails accessible from the entrance to the open-air base.

Small-scale traditional Normandy beer making by two master brewers. Bottled and draught beers: white, lager, amber, dark ale.

The Suisse Normande Route takes you on a journey through rugged and steep landscapes as you meander your way along the winding banks of the Orne. From Saint-Omer, a number of breathtaking viewpoints offer you panoramic views from the ‘Pain de Sucre’ and the ‘Rochers des Parcs’ that comprise the Crest Route.

These steep rocks, known as the 'sugar bread', cover a 171 metre height difference through heaths, woodland, acidophilic grassland and meadows.

The River Orne runs alongside the abrupt crags, dominated by a rock referred to as the Pain de Sucre (literally sugar bread), at the extremity of the La Houle rocks with which it forms the "Route des Crêtes" (the Crest Route).

This emblematic Suisse Normande site is well known for its rocky escarpments and can be visited from below, along the banks of the Orne, or from above, along the pathway that overlooks the cliff. It is a particularly popular site among climbing enthusiasts. The wealth and the originality of its natural environment (heath, dry grassland, wooded hills...) render the site a remarkable natural area.

Rental of power-assisted bikes and standard bikes at the épicerie du Coing (Grocery Store), located in the heart of the village of Pont-d'Ouilly, an ideal starting point for discovering Suisse Normande