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Gouffern en Auge

Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Orne

Gouffern en Auge is a village in the Orne, Normandy region, about ten kilometers east of Argentan.

The town was created in January 2017 following the merger of 14 villages (Aubry-en-Exmes, Avernes-sous-Exmes, Bourg-Saint-Leonard, Chambois, La Cochere, Courménil, Exmes, Fel, Omméel, Saint-Pierre -la-Rivière, Silly-en-Gouffern, Survival, Urou-et-Crennes and Villebadin) and has more than 3,800 inhabitants. Its vast territory of 165 km² is located on the edge of the Pays d'Auge and the Plaine d'Argentan, presenting a hilly landscape slightly hilly.

The economic activity, essentially agricultural, is based on the production of apples, cider and dairy products (cheeses), as well as on famous stud farms.

Enthusiasing lovers of green tourism and gourmands, who will also appreciate the preserved historical heritage of these villages yet hard hit by the Battle of Falaise in 1944.

Geographical information

MunicipalityGouffern en Auge
Postcode61310
Latitude48.7536540 (N 48° 45’ 13”)
Longitude0.0701510 (E 0° 4’ 13”)
AltitudeFrom 89m to 289m
Surface area165.79 km²
Population3768 inhabitants
Density22 inhabitants/km²
PrefectureAlençon (50 km, 44 min)
Insee code61474
IntercommunalityCC Argentan Intercom
DepartmentOrne
TerritoryPerche
RegionNormandy

Nearest cities & towns

Sai4.3 km (5 min)
Le Pin-au-Haras6.4 km (6 min)
Juvigny-sur-Orne6.7 km (9 min)
Aunou-le-Faucon7 km (10 min)
Argentan7.5 km (9 min)
Almenêches9.8 km (10 min)
Saint-Lambert-sur-Dive11 km (12 min)
Sévigny11.8 km (14 min)
Sarceaux11.8 km (14 min)
Moulins-sur-Orne12.2 km (14 min)
Le Château-d'Almenêches12.2 km (14 min)
Tournai-sur-Dive12.8 km (15 min)
Médavy12.9 km (15 min)
Bailleul14 km (15 min)

Things to see and do

To initiate a circuit in the form of discovery of the new town, on the former village of Aubry-en-Exmes, a halt is possible at the level of the Gallo-Roman camp, on the heights of the locality Sainte-Eugenie. The name is misleading, since historians now believe that it is an old feudal mound. After a detour around the old quarry of the Turret became a body of water, where flourishes an orchid lawn, we will linger at the Old Castle. The dungeon, listed, dates from the fourteenth century, then was surrounded by a more comfortable residence in the seventeenth. Nearby, in the 19th century, a more modern mansion was built.

In Avernes-sous-Exmes, the Saint-Léger church is worth a look. Built in the 12th century and remodeled in the 18th century, its Romanesque style porch is visible and inside, two 15th century statues representing a Madonna and Child and Saint Roch.

On Bourg-Saint-Léonard, another church of the twelfth century, dedicated to Saint-Gilles de Fougy, was classified. It houses a 16th century statue. However, it is his remarkable castle that is the pride of the village. The building dates from the eighteenth century, built in an English park itself surrounded by 400 hectares of forest. Equipped with an orangery and a stable, this example of classicism has remained in remarkable condition. Most of the furniture (including tableware) and decorative ornaments have been retained. A real dive into the lifestyle of the Enlightenment awaits the visitor who will extend this moment by discovering the park. Entry: 3 to 5 euros. Visit of the park alone: ​​free. Information on +33 2 33 36 68 68.

In Chambois, other testimonies of a rich past with the Romanesque church Saint-Martin, dating from the twelfth century, and the remains of the old seigniorial castle, of the same period, whose dungeon is preserved.

On La Cochère, the heritage is also very rich. We will be interested in the Saint-Sauveur church (13th century), the castle of La Roche (18th century) and the remains of the old Saint-Sauveur priory. It should be noted that the village has no less than seven stud farms, which give the environment a particular glamor and charm.

In Courmenil, the eighteenth century castle, which has an inscription under the title of historical monuments and the Notre-Dame church, which dates from the sixteenth and houses altarpieces from the eighteenth and a remarkable Madonna and Child of the fourteenth, are in see. In the village, the source of the Dives is another point of interest on the occasion of a ride.

On the former town of Exmes, the amazing church of St. Andrew warrants special attention. The oldest part (the large nave), Romanesque style, dates back to 1060. But what was to be a real cathedral is burned during the Hundred Years War. The church was remodeled with a new door and a new choir in the 15th century. At that time, work was done to consolidate the nave, with a vault decorated in a Renaissance style.

In the same village, the priory of Notre-Dame-des-Loges and a salt loft, both of the sixteenth century, are also worth a look.

A heritage of quality still Fel (church of the twelfth century, Renaissance castle and manor of the seventeenth) and especially Silly-en-Gouffern, which gave its name in part to the new town which it is the chief town because of the forest of Gouffern which occupies 80% of the old village. Traversed by the meridian of Greenwich, occupying plateau and small peaks, composed mainly of noble species but also coniferous replanted after a fire and the second war, this forest will delight hikers.

In the same village, to see also, the abbey founded by Premonstratensians in the twelfth century. Although affected by the Revolution, she keeps many works of art. Silly Castle and the Auction, both of the eighteenth, testify to the wealth of the locality which also includes stud farms.

Older, a menhir, said Pierre Levée, dating from the Neolithic, will mark an exploration of the edge of the forest.

The church of Saint-Martin (eighteenth century), a manor of the eighteenth and traces of an old mound castrale are then to be seen on the village of Survie.

On Urou and Crennes, a meeting of two old parishes, the church of Our Lady of the Nativity, in Urou, which dates from the sixteenth century, houses a remarkable altarpiece from the seventeenth century at the sacristy and a statue of Saint Nicolas of the fifteenth. In the church of Our Lady of Crennes, also of the sixteenth century, it is a beautiful Madonna and Child that deserves attention (XIV).

The village is best known for hosting on its territory the racecourse called Argentan, created in 1893. It is one of the most rated of the Hexagon and it symbolizes the vocation of this territory dedicated to the breeding of racehorses.

The racecourse has several tracks (trot, flat, steeple-chase and obstacles), and more than twenty meetings are organized each year. Workouts are held on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. On the morning of the race days, free guided tours are possible of all the facilities (tracks, boxes, seminar rooms). To attend the races, the entrance is 4 euros. Information on +33 2 33 67 08 02.

Villebadin, finally, concludes the circuit of the villages composing Gouffern en Auge. This is not the least rich in terms of heritage, including the manor Argentelles (fifteenth century), whose defensive vocation is well visible (wrought iron grilles on the windows of the ground floor, loopholes, machicolations, watch room surmounting the tower of the staircase). In the park, there is a well preserved dovecote of the seventeenth century.

Another 17th century castle and a 19th century mansion are also erected on the old parish.

Many hiking and mountain biking trails have been designed, including the main historical and natural heritage sites of the new town, as well as forays into the rich forest of Gouffern. Documentation and information on +33 2 33 28 88 71.

For fishing enthusiasts, contact +33 2 33 26 10 66 to find out about the most suitable sites and the details of the regulations.

Places of interest

Information points
Leisure centres
Monuments
Natural sites

Events and festivities

Courses de Trot
Randonnée Nature
Un Printemps a Leipzig : Bach, Mendelssohn, Schumann
Fête de la Nature : Découverte des Orchidées

Photos

Dungeon of Chambois
Dungeon of Chambois
See photo

Weather

Tuesday 19 march
Min. 6°C - Max. 15°C
Day
Night
Wednesday 20 march
Min. 8°C - Max. 18°C
Day
Night
Thursday 21 march
Min. 7°C - Max. 17°C
Day
Night

Visits, leisure and activities nearby

Leisure activities

Last nameActivity typeRateCity
Private spa in a tropical environment
Well-being60 € to 150 € Bagnoles de l'Orne Normandie (42 km)
Rail bike hire on the old Caen-Flers railway line
Entertainment23 € to 84 € Saint-Pierre-du-Regard (45 km)
Canoe-kayak at the heart of Swiss Normandy
Nature and the great outdoors8 € Thury-Harcourt-le-Hom (48 km)

Outings

Last nameOuting typeDifficultyDurationDeparture municipality
The greenway of Saosnois: a territory to discover!
HikeEasy3:25Saint-Longis (50 km)
Way of the Three Calvaries
HikeEasy3:00Asnières (54 km)

Restaurants

Bed & breakfasts

Vacation rentals

Campsites

Hotels

Your holidays
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