What to do in Suisse Normande

Located to the south of Caen, straddling the Orne and Calvados departments, Suisse Normande takes its name from its landscapes, which are reminiscent of the natural setting of Switzerland. While most of Normandy is flat, the rivers here have carved an unexpected mountainous relief through the rock of the Armorican massif: believe it or not, there is a peak culminating at around 360 metres in Calvados, Mont Pinçon! You'll find some superb viewpoints offering incredible panoramas of the region, but also some great outdoor activities that will allow you to enjoy Normandy in a different way: are you ready to see what activities you can do in Suisse Normande?

All kinds of walks

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One of the first things to do in Suisse Normande is, of course, to go for a walk, cycle ride, horse ride or even canoe on one of the rivers that run through it. One of the not-to-be-missed walks leads to Rocher d'Oëtre, an exceptional lookout point overlooking the Rouvre gorges, where you can enjoy a spot of sport fishing at Saint-Philbert-sur-Orne, or even take part in a tree-climbing adventure! But keen walkers will also appreciate other routes stretching over several kilometres, such as the Route des Crêtes, a 9km walk from Saint-Rémy to Pont-d'Ouilly, or the Saint-Germain-le-Vasson wood and its 12km signposted trail.

Discovering the Suisse Normande region not only means hiking in the heart of its forests and on its peaks (Mont Pinçon, Mont de Cerisy, Pain de Sucre, etc.), but also getting lost in the streets of its picturesque villages: Condé-sur-Noireau, Condé-en-Normandie, Thury-Harcourt - Le Hom, Athis-de-l'Orne, Pont-d'Ouilly, etc. The commune of Clécy is very popular for its manor houses and character houses, which will leave you with beautiful images of the region, as well as its rocks overlooking the River Orne. Here you can hire a bike or, for a refreshing break, a canoe or kayak to cruise along the magnificent stretch of the Orne as far as the Clécy viaduct!

Thrill-seeking activities

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As well as offering a unique setting in Normandy, Suisse Normande is also a great place for sporting activities, ideal for those in search of an adrenalin rush! There are a number of well-known sites in the region, each offering one or more of the perfect activities for getting out and about:

• Les rochers des Parcs - this site offers a rocky bar 70 metres high above the River Orne, with no fewer than 120 climbing routes, a real paradise for climbers of all abilities. Opposite the Rochers des Parcs is the via ferrata at Clécy, a trail combining hiking and climbing on the Cambronnerie rocks, with the option of descending a giant zip line to the Clécy viaduct!
• Pont-d'Ouilly - a commune where you can not only paddle down the Orne in a canoe or kayak, but also take to the skies in paragliding from nearby sites. You can enjoy the activity in complete tranquillity on a discovery flight dedicated to contemplating the landscape, or decide to add some acrobatics for a good dose of adrenalin!
• The Souleuvre viaduct - the Souleuvre viaduct has a number of activities waiting to thrill you: bungee jumping, a giant zip line, a giant swing, a pendulum jump, and even tobogganing on rails for all the family! This 61-metre-high viaduct is a must-see for anyone looking for sensational things to do in Suisse Normande.

Each of these sites will offer you unforgettable outdoor experiences, tailored to your needs and desires, set against the atypical landscapes of the Suisse Normande region.

Paragliding Mania

As a family, with friends, as a couple or even with colleagues for a company seminar, you'll have no shortage of things to do in Suisse Normande! Less than 4 hours from Paris, this unusual region of Normandy has plenty to offer, with its wooded and mountainous landscapes and all the activities listed above. But if it's raining, perhaps an indoor climbing session in Caen will be more suitable for you to have fun and do some sport under cover in Calvados?

And for even more outdoor experiences throughout the region, check out the top 10 things to do in Normandy, including Evreux and Omaha Beach!