Hike in Domfront, the Tertre Sainte Anne route
Technical Information
Altimetric profile
Starting point
Steps
1
Suivre la voie verte en direction du pont de Caen sur 100 m.
2
Partir à gauche et continuer par la route parallèle. Elle monte vers la gauche à La Trappe.
3
Juste avant, s'engager sur le sentier à droite. Après 100 m, tourner sur le sentier à gauche. Il passe devant la maison des Allemands et grimpe en sous-bois sur 300 m.
4
À l'intersection, prendre le sentier à flanc de falaise à droite, passer devant les ruines de la chapelle et aller jusqu'aux points de vue. Continuer à gauche en suivant la crête, puis continuer tout droit sur 200 m. Emprunter le chemin bordé de haies à droite.
5
Prendre le chemin de droite sur 100 m, tourner de nouveau à droite et descendre par le chemin qui mène aux Princetières. Au bout du chemin, dévaler la route à gauche. En bas, emprunter la route à droite.
6
Franchir le pont de la D 962A à droite, puis emprunter la voie verte à droite sur 1 km pour retrouver le point de départ.
Points of interest
Vestiges du château de Domfront
The Castle of Domfront was built on an outcrop of Armorican sandstone and is a remarkable defensive site. The present vestiges date back to Henry Beauclerc in the 12th century (keep and chapel). The ramparts incorporate a uniquely preserved inner corridor pierced with arrow-slits. Free visit all year long. Guided tours of the castle and the medieval city by Domfront Tourist Office every Tuesday and Thursday in French at 2.30pm from 15/06 to 15/09 ( + on Wednesday at 2.30 pm in English) on booking at the Tourist Office, minimum 4 people.
Eglise Notre-Dame-sur-l'Eau
A jewel of the Norman Romanesque art. The building is from the end of the XI century and the beginning of the XII century. A perfect demonstration of the Roman style in Normandy, the church has a Madonna and Child (XIV century), a beautiful recumbent statue (XVII century), wall paintings (XII and XIII century), tomb-stones which are interesting to decipher (XVI – XVII century). Free visit all year long. Guided tours of the church every Tuesday at 11 am. Reservation at the Tourist Office, minimum 4 people.
Jardins créatifs et éphémères
Creative, pop-up gardens. The town of Domfront welcomes two artistic landscapers to transform two plots of land behind the Town Hall and along the Sentier des Cent Marches (trail with a hundred steps).
Musée Charles Léandre
The Charles Léandre museum is situates in the wedding romm of the town hall. It is a room full of strange objects given for free by privat individuals. The room was named after Charles Léandre to honor his generosity after he offered 11 paintings to the town. The rest of the collection is made of faience, porcelaine and of furniture from the 18th century.
Calvados Comte Louis de Lauriston
Discover the maturation wharehouse. Explanation on the making of calvados (old material presented, Gadag, grinder, juicer, still). Domfrontais Calvados, Normand Pommeau, Cider, Perry from Domfront. Tasting and Sale.
Tertre Sainte Anne
Sainte Anne Hillock is a sandstone outcrop topped with woods, facing the castle of Domfront. Listed natural site since 1925, a hermitage and a stone quarry play hide and seek together with pines, brooms, blueberries, heather, beech-trees, oak-trees, chestnut-trees, … As it is crisscrossed by numerous paths, hiking, mountain biking, cyclotourism (the Green Track taken by both the Veloscenic and the Vélo Francette routes passes around the rock), climbing, orienteering, angling and horse-riding, can be practiced there. Enjoy breathtaking views, 80 meters above river Varenne and secluded picnic spots.
