In Epaignes, you can discover the bocage landscape and local history along two very different routes: the Chemin de la Baretterie is described by its distance, difficulty and walking time, while the Sentier de la Biodiversité features themed information stops and a section overlooking the valley. The Église Saint-Antonin and several memorial sites also give a visit a historical focus. Which route suits you better therefore depends on whether you are most interested in trail conditions, information about nature or places of remembrance.

Walking: two routes with different focuses

The easy Chemin de la Baretterie is 5.7 kilometres long; the stated walking time is about 1 hour and 30 minutes. The circular route passes through the bocage landscape typical of the Pays d’Auge, with sunken lanes, wet pastures, ditches and small ponds. Thirty-five percent of the route runs between embankments planted with living hedges. One sunken lane can be particularly wet in winter; sturdy footwear or boots are recommended. Since ground and vegetation vary seasonally and trail conditions should be checked locally, plan to wear sturdy footwear and check the state of the trail before setting out.

The waymarked Sentier de la Biodiversité is a circular walking route of about six kilometres, reserved for pedestrians. Information boards and illustrated stops focus on the fauna and flora of the Norman bocage. One section follows a balcony-like path along the valley, offering views of the bocage. If you enjoy combining nature topics with tangible impressions of the landscape while walking, this route offers a different emphasis from the Baretterie route: the focus is on the stops, the landscape and the valley views.

For planning your time, the Chemin de la Baretterie’s approximate walking time of 1 hour and 30 minutes provides a specific point of reference; the Sentier de la Biodiversité is listed as about six kilometres long. These figures answer different questions: how much walking time is estimated for a route, and what distance does a circular trail cover? It is therefore best to compare them by treating time and distance as separate measures.

Church and memorial sites

The Église Saint-Antonin dates mostly from the 15th and 16th centuries; only the choir is of Romanesque origin. During the fighting to liberate Epaignes on 25 August 1944, incendiary devices were placed in houses and in the church. The church was set on fire, along with six other houses. It is open to the public; as access arrangements may change, check them before your visit.

The Monument des Anglais commemorates 17 British soldiers who died during the liberation of Epaignes on 25 August 1944. The commemoration includes a recurring tradition, with dates that vary from year to year. Another memorial event takes place at the monument to four members of the Maquis Surcouf resistance group: the ceremony is held every year on the Sunday closest to 4 August. The two commemorations therefore fall on different calendar dates: 25 August is associated with the liberation and the Monument des Anglais, while the ceremony at the Maquis Surcouf monument is scheduled for the Sunday closest to 4 August.

A seasonal fruit-related offering

In autumn, the Pressoir Les 3 Pommes opens every year. Individuals can have their own fruit pressed into juice there; participation may be arranged according to the season. If you plan to make use of this offering, check the exact dates before visiting. This takes its seasonal nature into account without assuming a fixed visit date.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Le Vaudreuil, Condé-Sur-Risle, Saint-Aubin-Le-Guichard, Saint-Éloi-De-Fourques, Bourg-Achard, Verneusses, Pont-De-Lʼarche, Saint-Aquilin-de-Pacy.

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