34. Lovers’ Trail – Starting point: Town Hall Car Park, Écaquelon

Alternating between woodland, bocage countryside and open plateaus, this varied walk offers a rich combination of landscapes and heritage. Along the way, hikers can admire three castles and manor houses from a distance, as well as traditional half-timbered buildings and a historic cart shed.

The route unfolds through a beautifully preserved Norman setting where every turn reveals something new. Forests accompany nearly a third of the trail across two long sloping sections, including two magnificent beech groves located on the edge of the state forest and near the village. The bocage landscape then takes over, with sunken lanes lined by pollarded trees, before the rolling plateau opens onto wider views and more expansive horizons.

Three historic residences can be seen from the path. The Château du Bois Héroult, an elegant 18th-century residence, stands alongside the Manor of La Hennière and the Manor of La Ferté, which belonged in the 19th century to the writer Henri Lavedan. Each reflects a different period of local history, though all remain private properties.

The Church of Saint James (Saint-Jacques), built on a medieval motte, is a rare architectural curiosity well worth a stop. Traditional Norman heritage is also represented by a fine cart shed and several thatched cottages, discreet reminders of a rural building tradition that combines practicality and elegance.

Between forests, manor houses and bocage landscapes, this route perfectly captures the authentic spirit of Normandy.