Must-see 

"Norman Switzerland" may not be very alpine, with its 600-foot summits, but it owes its name more to its wooded countryside, shaped and brought to life by its rivers. Its deep valleys with their steep slopes and the turbulent water of the gorges which run through it have created landscapes which are as impressive as they are surprising in this part of France. To complete the picture, picturesque villages are to be found, hidden deep in the valleys or clinging to the hillsides. Here time is the artist, and for 800 million years the winding Orne River has played with the rocks of the Armorican massif. Man settled in this idyllic setting, and lived in respectful harmony with this unique environment. The winding course of the River Orne is a paradise for water-borne exploration, where canoeing fans or anglers taking pike, trout or perch are in their element.  The pleasures of La Suisse Normande extend a long way beyond its rivers... hikers, horse riders and mountain bikers enjoy its high ground, while rock-climbing experts head for the rocks in the Clécy Parks.

Worth a visit 

• Château de la Motte : This magnificent building, classed as a historic monument, was built between 1598 and 1614, and as such it is an example of early French classical architecture. The gardens are also well worth seeing, as is the fine Romanesque church in nearby Acqueville.
• Clécy : The 15th century Church of Saint-Pierre is distinguished by its 19th century choir and transept. This little town, dominated by the great Lande Viaduct, has interesting houses and imposing manor-houses which reflect its importance in the Suisse Normande region.
• Thury-Harcourt : as a gateway to the Suisse Normande, Thury-Harcourt had a rich industrial history, with its tanneries and enamelling factories. The old castle is well-known for its parks and gardens. Following the battle of Normandy, when it was the seat of the provisional government, it was destroyed by the German army. All that now remains is the 17th century chapel, classified as a historical monument.
• Roche d'Oëtre : the Oëtre Rock in the Orne region is one of the finest natural viewpoints in Western France. A wild place where the shapes of the rock ledges appeal to the imagination.
• Saint-Rémy-sur-Orne : The "Pits of Hell" of Saint-Rémy, rich in iron ore, were worked from 1460 until 1968, but since 1993, Normandy Geological Resource Centre relates the story of Normandy's sub-soil. The Notre-Dame Chapel, whose altar stands on a mining truck, was built by miners in the 20th century.
• Saint-Martin de Sallen : Saint-Martin's Church, Saint-Joseph's Chapel and graves of British soldiers.
• Saint-Omer : As well as its Romanesque church, refurbished between the 18th and 19th centuries, Saint-Omer is known for the remains of the Abbey of the Val, a former establishment of the canons of Saint Augustine's order. The site of Saint-Clair's Chapel offers a fine view over the plains of Falaise and Caen to the sea, the estuary of the Seine and the hills of the Pays d'Auge.
• Hom Cutting : The rock was cut here in 1883 to allow a road to be built between Thury-Harcourt and Aunay-sur-Odon.
• The Park Rocks : Popular with hikers, these mute witnesses to the millions of years that have shaped the region are surrounded by fine moorland.

Events

• International Kayak-Polo Competition in Thury-Harcourt
• La Suisse Normande by moonlight

Nearby

• Falaise