Aubry-En-Exmes: Limestone Flora, History and Tours

In Aubry-en-Exmes, natural and cultural heritage sites meet named hiking and cycling routes. To plan your stay, you can focus on three themes: the distinctive limestone flora, architectural history and tours through the countryside. This lets you shape your hotel stay around whether you want to focus primarily on nature, history or outdoor activities.

Nature and Landscape

The Carrière de la Tourelle is designated an “Espace naturel sensible” (sensitive natural area) by the Orne Department. Its flat, nutrient-poor limestone soil favours rare plants that are protected in Normandy. Orchids suited to this habitat include the pyramidal orchid, the mosquito orchid, the spider orchid and the lizard orchid. This makes limestone flora a particular focus of this natural area.

The Carrière de la Tourelle is not open to the public for unrestricted access: you can discover it on guided visits or by taking part in a conservation work session. As dates may vary, it is advisable to check the relevant offering before your trip.

The Motte castrale de Sainte-Eugénie also brings together nature and landscape: from there, panoramic views extend across the Dives valley and the hills of the Pays d’Auge. You can explore its rare flora independently or on outings with a nature guide; the guided programme may vary. Compared with the Carrière de la Tourelle, the sites also differ in how you can explore nature.

Aubry-en-Exmes borders the Forêt de Gouffern. The source of the Fontaine d’Aubry is in the Bas Aubry hamlet. These landscape connections add further specific landmarks in the area to the protected plant life.

Architectural History and Historical Connections

The Vieux château and the remains of its old keep have been classified as a Monument historique since 17 April 1968. The Vieux château is a residential building dating from the reign of Henry IV, built on a keep thought to date from the 14th century. The dates refer to different parts of the complex: the dating of the keep is explicitly conjectural, while the residential building is attributed to the reign of Henry IV.

The keep was part of Exmes’s medieval defensive system and was intended to protect the upper Dives valley. Le Château d’Aubry is described as a fortified castle. The church is another local landmark: it is known as the “Eglise des Trois Paroisses” or “Notre Dame de la Nativité” and is also the starting point for Le Tour d’Aubry.

Exploring on Foot or by Bike

Le Tour d’Aubry is an 8 km walking trail with a stated duration of two hours. The tour starts at the church in Aubry-en-Exmes. This gives you both a distance and a time frame to plan around for this route. Check the latest route information before setting out, as trail conditions and starting arrangements may change.

For a cycling trip, Aubry-en-Exmes lies on the 26 km “A vélo – Août 44” loop. The route passes through strategically important sites of the Battle of Normandy in the Falaise-Chambois pocket. The two options have different emphases: Le Tour d’Aubry specifies a walking distance and a stated duration, while the cycling route specifies the length of the loop and its historical connection. This lets you choose between a walk and a themed cycling tour. It is also worth checking the latest information before cycling the route.

Discover more destinations: La Chapelle-D'andaine, Macé, Champeaux-Sur-Sarthe, Le Grais, Fel, Rémalard, Mantilly, Lalacelle.

For the broader travel overview: Orne.