Hiking
With over 400km of way-marked path, including part of the GR22, Mortain is a walker’s paradise ! Explore the green ways, mountain bike trails and do not miss the « Telegraph way » in Ger.
Climbing
The many rocks in the region – “Rocher de l'Aiguille”, “Rocher de la Vierge” “Rocher du Grand-Noé”, and “Rocher du Dolmen” offer exceptional spots for climbing enthusiasts.
A rich heritage
The Mortain region boasts many chapels, abbeys and churches. The most ancient building was built during the 7th Century!
The Mortain cascades
The biggest waterfall in the West! The Grand Cascade of Mortain is over 20 meters high. A little further along the pathway is the 'Petite Cascade': situated in a deep gorge hollowed by the 'Cancon' (a tributary of the river 'Cance') it is made of several small waterfalls.
A land of legends
The Mortain region is also a land of legends, once crossed by King Arthur, and inhabited by fairies, elves and the spirits of the forest! Local folklore has it that the Rocher du Dolmen was placed there by a giant, and that the Rocher de l’aiguille owes it shape to extraordinarily beautiful fairies who met the unfortunate warrior Léonix...
It’s time to meet the inhabitants of the invisible realm...
Do not miss...
"Station Verte" Award
Mortain, 'capital' of the “Mortainais” is part of the network of Nature destinations in France: the network "Stations Verte". The commune has signed the quality charter by which it undertakes to care for its natural assets, and to promote tourism in a protected environment.
The Ger potteries
Ger was once a major centre for pottery in Normandy. More than 700 workers were employed, producing mainly sandstone pots. These pots were exported throughout the West of France. Ger now has its museum located in an authentic pottery, with its three great oven tunnels flanked by a dozen buildings: it is easy to imagine the activity that went on here, during the 19th century.
The Village of Saint-Michel-de-Montjoie
Nestled between Maine, Brittany and Normandy, the village is famous for the quality of its granite which is exported all around the world.
Chaulieu
Chaulieu is the highest point of la Manche, at 368 mètres. From the orientation table, you can enjoy a 360° panorama. Chaulieu also has its castle, a manor house built in the 16th Century.
The See Valley and it's Watermills
Mills are strung along the See Valley, "the valley of a 100 mills", vestiges of the valley's rich industrial past, where spinning mills, flour mills, paper mills and bellows factories afforded a livelihood to the inhabitants. It is however the cutlery makers 'Guy Degrenne' who gave its renown. The paper-mill at Brouains has become an eco-museum dedicated to water and rivers. Here we may learn of the wealth of the See, coastal waterway and a salmon river counted to be amongst the best!
La Fosse Arthour
A deep gorge of 70 metres hollowed out of a rocky ridge, 'la fosse Arthour,' owes its reputation to the wild beauty of the site. A walker’s paradise but also a great playing field for climbing enthusiasts. Many legends are also attached to the place: it is said that King Arthur, ignoring his obligation to wait until nightfall to visit his wife, fell to his death here.
