La Roche d'Oëtre

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From the top of the Roche d’Oëtre view point, you can enjoy the vast panorama of the wild gorges that are so surprising in this region. France’s oldest mountain range, the Armorican Massif, is responsible for this natural curiosity here in the Suisse Normande: a 118-metre sheer drop dominating the gorges of the Rouvre.

The Normandy Mountains

These are true mountains, because the land was uplifted and folded twice, firstly 540 million years ago (the Cadomian block) and then again 345 million years ago (the Hercynian orogenic belt). Originally these mountains were as high as those in the Alps, but erosion over the millenia has almost ‘erased’ these two colossal mountains.

Halfway down the slope, on the way down to the Rouvre, you can see the “superimposed” roots of these 2 terraced giants and the more recent folds of purple puddingstone (a rock made up of quartz sand and gravel) resting on a bed of granite.

Gorges de la Rouvre

Much closer to our own time, 100,000 to 10,000 years ago, a periglacial climate invaded our regions. It was in these glacial conditions that the Rouvre with its huge volumes of water and massive boulders carved out its disproportionately large valley from the plateau.

The evidence of this is the masses of boulders strewn all over the valley. Since then, this tributary of the Orne has offered a breathtaking views from the cornices of Oëtre.

App – The Mysteries of the Roche d’Oëtre

The “Mystères à la Roche d’Oëtre” (Mysteries at La Roche d’Oëtre) App is a new way of discovering the history, geology, fauna and flora of La Roche d’Oëtre !

The aim is to raise awareness of nature among young visitors to La Roche d’Oëtre with this application, which offers discovery trails on a modern medium (smartphone/tablet) with information points and a games section. All of this is available in a variety of formats, including text, video, 2D animation and audio testimonials.

Orlith, the most talkative of green lizards at La Roche d’Oëtre, will be your guide! With this lizard who manages to get everywhere, you’ll discover legends and tales dating back to a time when people lived off what they could find in the forest, mingled with many other mysteries. As for the seemingly silent rocks of the Rouvre, Orlith will be able to tell you some astonishing stories of old!

In all, there are no fewer than eleven information and explanation points and anecdotes – not to mention games – on this app like no other.

The application is available on Apple Store and Google Playstore. You can download it on site at La Roche d'Oëtre (free wifi access).

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Randonnées pédestres
Le Rocher des Gardes Le Rocher des gardes
Le Mont Cerisy Le Mont de Cerisy
Les Gorges de la Rouvre Les gorges de la Rouvre
Le Méandre de l'Orne Le méandre de l'Orne
La Suisse Normande