Le Grais combines nature watching at the Étang de la Lande-Forêt with the historic Logis de la Petitière. It also offers a 1.7 km circular trail along the pond’s shores and the La Vélo Bocage route, which highlights the Étang in Le Grais. This raises a practical question when choosing a destination: should your stay focus mainly on moorland and swamp forest, architectural history, or outdoor activity? These places and routes cater to different interests and distances—from the lakeside circular trail to the distances covered in a trail race.
Étang de la Lande-Forêt: Moorland and Swamp Forest
The Étang de la Lande-Forêt is located in the Forêt départementale du Grais. A peat bog and swamp forest lie along its northern shore. During the warmer months, the pond is home to numerous dragonflies; sundew species bloom in the peat bog. For nature lovers who want to observe dragonflies, the warmer months are a clear seasonal reference point; those interested in plants will find a distinct moorland theme in the sundew species. Boardwalks and information panels allow visitors to discover the natural habitats. A visit to the pond thus brings together different interests in nature: seasonal wildlife watching and exploring the moorland and swamp forest.
The Logis de la Petitière and Its History
The Logis de la Petitière is a manor house in Le Grais, built by the English during the Hundred Years’ War. Its east façade dates from the 15th century and includes a stair tower. The Logis therefore combines a historical context with a specific architectural feature. On June 24, 1975, the east façade and its associated roof were partially listed as protected heritage. The dates refer to different things: the Hundred Years’ War to the construction of the manor house, the 15th century to the east façade, and June 24, 1975, to the partial listing of the façade and roof.
Lakeside Circular Trail and La Vélo Bocage
There are two different options for outdoor activity. The Sentier de l'Étang de la Lande Forêt is a 1.7 km circular trail along the pond’s shores. The La Vélo Bocage route highlights the Étang in Le Grais and is accessible to hikers, trekking bikes, mountain bikes, electrically assisted bicycles, and riders travelling at a walk. The routes answer different planning questions: the Sentier is clearly defined by its circular shape, length, and lakeside course; the La Vélo Bocage focuses on the listed modes of travel. You can therefore decide whether you are looking for a specific lakeside circular trail or a route that lists several permitted ways to travel.
A Dated Trail Race
The 13th edition of the Trail de la Lande-Forêt was held on September 5, 2026, in the Lande-Forêt. It featured three trail races of 8, 16, and 24 km, as well as an 8 km fun run. In this edition, the 24 km race was part of the Challenge Trail Tour Basse Normandie (CTTBN). For runners, the event thus included several trail distances as well as a separate fun run. Compared with the 1.7 km lakeside circular trail, the races involve considerably longer distances; the listed races relate to this specific edition.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Ouen-de-Sécherouvre, Domfront, Heugon, Vieux-Pont, Trun, Ceton, Dame-Marie, Berjou
For the wider travel overview: Orne.
