The best walks and hikes around Saint-Ellier-Les-Bois

At this central location in the forest—where six streets converge to form an open space—the brightly lit small sacred monument rises above a slab and a small stone base. The simply crafted wooden cross (without a body) bearing the name "La Croix Madame" is painted white, forming a radiant centerpiece in the middle of the forest.

Very beautiful castle. The outside area is very interesting and a nice walk. Unfortunately I didn't see the inside of the castle. The bicycle parking area is behind the archway on the inside on the right.

The castle is one of the largest in Normandy. It has been a listed building since 1927. From the free car park, a gravel path leads first to a gatehouse, then to the square castle, which is as defensive as it is representative and stands next to the small castle garden and a pasture. Beyond the castle stretches the beech and oak forest of the Forêt d’Ecouves, which is part of the Normandy-Maine Regional Nature Park. Inside, the Château de Carrouges invites you to travel through three centuries. The dining room with its marble fireplace and the bishops’ room with its wood-paneled prayer chamber are particularly beautiful.

To the north of L'Orée-d'Écouves, this place takes up the name of the town perfectly. Located on the edge of the Écouves forest, on a pretty tree-lined road, it offers superb landscapes over the surrounding countryside.

A very beautiful castle in a historic city.

“Each of these crosses can tell its own story and what motivated people to erect“ their ”cross at this point. (...) These crossroads were erected as visible signs and attract the eyes of many people. The cross is a symbol of life. It stands as a sign of our Christian hope and wants to direct our gaze to Jesus Christ, who overcame death (...). The cross is part of our life, just as it was part of the life of Jesus. So I wish that many people ... visit the crossroads, whether as places of silence and breathing before God, whether as places of congregation meeting, prayer and praise of God. " (Text source: Dean Rainald M. Ollig in: "Crosses of the way ... Small sacred monuments as a sign of popular piety")

Carrouges Castle was built at the end of the 14th century to serve as a stately residence. Over the centuries, the castle has been remodeled and is now managed by the National Monuments Center which restored it. It is possible to visit the castle and its park on a self-guided tour or guided tour.

On the occasion of the veloscenie, I finished my first day here. You should know that Carrouges is a town located at an altitude of 320 meters, on the northern slope of the signal d'Écouves, the highest peak in Normandy (417 meters). In other words, Carrouges, it must be earned.