New municipality of the Orne, Normandy region, Écouché-les-Vallées takes place about fifty kilometers from Alençon. Formed by the meeting of the villages of Batilly, La Courbe, Écouché, Loucé, Saint-Ouen-sur-Maire, Fontenai-sur-Orne, and Serans in 2016, it is located not far from Argentan, Fleuré and Giel-Courteilles.
Of ancient origin, the various municipalities forming Écouché-les-Vallées have had a rich and fascinating history. Marked in particular by the Second World War, like most of the Norman cities, they were able to rebound and develop in the second half of the 20th century to take the face we know today.
A stay on Écouché-les-Vallées is an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful green and unspoilt landscapes of the Orne and admire some of the most beautiful cities of Normandy. The town also has an architectural and historical heritage to appreciate at its fair value.
On Batilly, do not forget to admire the Saint-Roch chapel, the church of the eighteenth century, the Saint-Martin church of the nineteenth, the chapel at Thirteen-Saints, or the castle of Ménil-Glaise. Outdoor walkers will also enjoy a ride in the wood of Oak to Man.
The Curve is an opportunity to admire two archaeological sites listed as Historical Monuments, the High Castle Camp and the Lower Curve Camp.
The Notre-Dame d'Ecouché church is worth a visit with its remains from the 15th and 16th centuries. Listed as a Historic Monument, it also houses three bas-reliefs, two altarpieces, and a high altar classified as an object. While browsing the building, you will be able to admire a nave of the XIIIth century, arches with triple voussure on columns with polygonal capitals, or even vaults with crossed of ogives. In the town, you can also discover the remains of the old urban wall, the chapel of Saint-Nicolas and its cemetery of the twelfth century, or the tank of General Leclerc, the Massawa, which marks the entrance to the city.
Listed in the Historical Monuments, the church Saint-Brice de Loucé partially dates from the eleventh century. Deeply modified in the thirteenth century, it reveals several works classified as an object, as well as a nave added in the fifteenth century. In the town, do not miss to admire the exteriors of the Moulin l'Evêque or Beaurepaire Castle.
The 15th century Saint-Sulpice church in Serans unveils several classified works. The castle of the seventeenth century can also discover beautiful exhibitions of the workshop Balias.
In the church of St. Martin Fontenai-sur-Orne, you can discover an altar, a tabernacle, an altarpiece and four statues in niches of the Virgin and Child, St. Joseph, St. James and St. Radegund eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
The Ecouché market is held every Friday morning. A garage sale is organized every May 1st in Fontenai-sur-Orne.
In March, place at the artists' lounge in the village hall.
The feast of St. John is celebrated in June in Fontenai-sur-Orne.
In June, a festival of plastic arts is organized in the castle of Serans.
My Favorites the Normandes - Didier Avenel-Art en Cité - A Very Contemporary Ornais summer
- From 29 june to 26 september 2021
- 43, rue des trois frères, Atelier d'Artistes
- Didier Avenel is from Argentan as Fernand Léger. He is the son of a farmer and spends part of his childhood on the farm where he rubs shoulders with the ruminants he loves so much. - The cow has become more and more important over the years. Now it has become a pretext for painting. It can even be lost in a quasi-abstraction but its role remains paramount. - Avenel loves this animal because it is a bit the symbol of his Norman countryside. Even if the horse occupies a place of choice in this region, it does not have in the eyes of the painter the assets required to make it his favorite model. - For the painter, it is a real pleasure to paint the Norman. Indeed, none of her fellows can boast of having such a beautiful dress. Its colors are of an extreme variety. His drawing allows all kinds of possible fantasies. And his look ! His languorous gaze, with his glasses-shaped stains,his big eyelashes... That look that challenges you. Deep, empty or cow ? The question remains unanswered. - True to his Ornate origins, the artist fell under the spell of the languid looking quadruped, as suggested by the title of one of his works. But the resemblance with its predecessors of the nineteenth century ends there ! - Despite training as a graphic designer at the Estienne school, which provided him with classical basics and a good command of drawing, Avenel took an unconventional look at pastures. - With a broad touch, he portrays the peaceful animal all in color and movement, in a style that ranges from a revisited impressionism to a quasi-abstraction. Her heroines are called "Mamz'elle"," Cornes-en-l'air "or" Carmen", and seem to mock the monotonous greenness of the Normandy meadows. The variety of formats, colors and styles excludes any impression of repetition and reveals on the contrary the deepening of a research on a traditional theme. Humor and sensuality characterize the Normandes of Avenel.
Guided Tours of the Alleys of Écouché
- On 5 august 2021
- 43 Rue des 3 Frères Terrier, Écouché
- Accompanied by a guide, visit Ecouché and its alleys.
Cliff: Castle-fortress of William the Conqueror.
Castles of Sassy, O, Carrouges, Médavy, Vandoeuvre, Saint-Léonard, Serrans...
Caen: City museum including the Peace Memorial.
Swimming pool.
Horse riding.
Argentan Racecourse (PMU).
