La Verdoyante : de Vire à Condé-en-Normandie

Nestled in an 18th century hôtel-Dieu, the Vire Normandie Museum has reopened its doors after 3 years of renovation. Explore the history of Vire Normandie and follow in the footsteps of the men and women who transformed the town and its Bocage! Come and discover the new scenography and the surprises of the tour: games, multimedia, models, animated films, olfactory device. Visit for all ages. From 5 April 2023, the museum will inaugurate its high season with a new temporary exhibition entitled La fabrique des parfums - Roger&Gallet, une marque iconique. In 1862, two people from Vienna joined forces to create the House of Roger&Gallet. Perfume is no longer just a means of fighting miasmas and bad smells, it is also a matter of hygiene, a social marker and well-being. Art and industry, health and beauty, nature and chemistry, perfume is at the crossroads of many fields. The exhibition offers a history of perfume through the evolution of a famous French perfume brand and an unforgettable olfactory experience! Exhibition until 5 November 2023.

13th century fortified gate flanked by two towers and surmounted by a belfry with a pinnacle. Temporary exhibitions throughout the tourist season.

Production of the genuine Vire ‘andouille’ chitterling sausage, according to an age-old recipe involving traditional smoking. Group visits all year round by appointment. Individual tours at 3pm on Wednesdays exclusively in August. Visit lasts: 1 hour.

Visits of a genuine Vire ‘andouille’ chitterling sausage production site, by appointment. Product tasting and boutique.

Located in the heart of Vire, a stone's throw from the Porte Horloge, the Paul Danjou boutique welcomes you to discover its genuine old-fashioned Andouille de Vire. The boutique also offers a wide selection of local Normandy products.

Built in the 12th Century, the keep was dismantled following orders from Richelieu... Along with its counterparts in Falaise, Chambois and Domfront, it is a fine example of a typically Norman square keep.

Small-scale production of cider, pommeau, calvados, apple juice and cider jam. Explanation on the life of the cider apple. Guided tours in French: 45 minutes. By appointment.

A stone's throw from Condé-sur-Noireau, nestling in the heart of the Druance valley, the Castle of Pontécoulant is reminiscent of the life of the noble Norman family, the Le Doulcet de Pontécoulant, resident here since the 14th Century. Overlooking the river and the copse, the English-style gardens, dating from the reign of Louis XVI, are the ideal site for a romantic stroll in the shade of the trees that adorn its meandering pathways.

The Charles Léandre Museum has met with increasing popularity among visitors who appreciate the originality of its museographical displays and the quality of its collections. Over and above paintings by the artist and caricaturist Charles Léandre (1862-1934), other collections include Norman artists, among which an area devoted to Eduardo-León Garrido (1856-1949) and his son Louis-Edouard (1893-1982). On the last floor of the museum, an innovative scenographic display tells the story of this very old industrial town, of its illustrious figures and of the tragic hours of World War II. Unique in Normandy, a must-see: the scale-model of old Condé (40m2) which, just like the Plan of Rome, reminds us of the town's topography prior to the bombardments on the 6th of June 1944. Opened in 2016, a new gallery pays tribute to contemporary Norman art, with work by the artist Jack Mutel (1935-2016).

Within the prestigious reception area at Corlet Numérique in Condé-sur-Noireau, the printers' longstanding employees offer you a fascinating insight into typographical composition and printing using equipment that dates from the early 19th century. During your visit, you will discover an original Linotype at work, a monotype, manual printing presses, a pedal machine, an Ofmi Heidelberg press at work and a range of other equipment and lead or wood lettering, an array of pictures and illustrations along with comprehensive documentation on printing professions. ‘Moments d'Histoire à la une’ (History's Highlights) exhibition. Unaccompanied visit. Guided tour on request.