Road Trip Forges and Mines

Between 1901 and 1978 the Orne had dozens of forges, such as those at La Varenne. Twelve iron ore mines existed in Normandy, including those at La Ferrière-aux-Etangs, Larchamp and Saint-Clair-de-Halouze, and which supplied iron ore to steelworks in Nord-Pas-de-Calais.

Take the 34 km signposted route by bike or car and explore the Maison du Fer in Dompierre, the Varenne forges in Champsecret, the Saint-Clair-de-Halouze mine, the Bocagerie furnaces in Le Châtellier, the Ferrière-aux-Étangs mine, the Gué Plat mining town and the Butte Rouge furnaces.