Thury-Harcourt is a pleasant town nestled elegantly where the Orne river flows into the plains. The Harcourt family built a magnificent castle here in the 18th century. Unfortunately, the Germans burnt it to the ground in WWII, leaving only the chapel and a few smaller buildings. The estate has remained in ruins ever since, situated in the center of a 70-hectare tract of beautiful park and gardens. It still serves as a tragic reminder of the town’s romantic past.[1]
Today, many travelers come to Thury-Harcourt to experience and explore the “Norman Alps”. A sort of mountain range or uplands has been formed from the Orne river and the Rouvrou, creating cliffs like the Clécy that are surrounded not only by the river but forests as well. The cliffs and the trails through this area attract climbers, canoeists, and hikers.[2]
References:
Gaudez, René, Hervé Champollion, and Angela Moyon. Tour of Normandy. Rennes: Éditions Ouest-France, 1996. ISBN: 2737317185.
[1] Gaudez, 54
[2] Id.
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