Bagnoles-De-L'orne: Forest Trails, Nature and Culture

The Forêt des Andaines surrounds Bagnoles-De-L'orne, making the forest and its trails a defining feature of the town’s landscape. Around the spa town, there are about 250 kilometres of trails that can be explored on foot, on horseback or by mountain bike. When planning, it is worth considering the different routes by length and character: a forest loop, a circuit with stops and a rail-bike ride offer different ways to experience the area.

Compare forest trails and routes

The Tour de Saint Michel starts at Carrefour de Gué Chalandray in Bagnoles-De-L'orne and is a forest loop of about 11.6 kilometres. Almost the entire route runs through the forest, along former paths and forest roads. Along the way, it passes Étang de la Forge, Chapelle des Prises and the former quarry at Étang de la Brisette. Its length, forest coverage and these stops give the route its own character.

The Parcours découverte is laid out differently: this 5.6-kilometre route takes a playful approach, leading to 20 stops around important buildings and the town’s urban and natural areas. The main difference from the Tour de Saint Michel is the scale and route: here, a shorter discovery trail with several stops contrasts with a longer loop that runs almost entirely through the forest.

For outdoor activities, the Station Outdoor Domfront Bagnoles offers 19 signposted trail routes and three training courses for trail running, Nordic walking, gravel cycling and mountain biking. As the route guide may be updated, it is advisable to check the current selection before planning a specific route.

Views, gardens and architecture

Roc au Chien is a natural viewpoint of Armorican sandstone, offering panoramic views of Bagnoles-De-L'orne. For a different perspective on the plant world, visit Jardin Retiré: the botanical garden covers 2,500 square metres and features hundreds of varieties of flowers, trees and shrubs. It has held the Jardin Remarquable designation since 2020.

Architecture is also worth exploring. The Art Deco church was built by architect Olivier Michelin and inaugurated in 1934. Its stained-glass windows, designed by Charles Lorin, take water as their theme. Visitors who like to combine nature and architecture on one walk will find stops in both the urban and natural areas of the town along the Parcours découverte.

Excursions and seasonal activities

Vélo Rails des Andaines offers a seven-kilometre ride along the former Bagnoles-De-L'orne–La Ferté Macé railway line. The gradient is very slight, and the route passes through the area around Prieuré St Ortaire and through the Forêt des Andaines. Those interested in local history can also join a guided tour of the grounds of Château de la Roche-Bagnoles. The tour introduces the history of the Goupil family, and visits follow the published schedule.

Water-based leisure activities are seasonal. Base de loisirs de Bagnoles de l'Orne, near the casino, offers pedal boats and a miniature golf course. Activities are available at Lac de Bagnoles in summer, including the option to rent a pedal boat; availability may vary. The b'o resort thermal & spa offers treatments using natural active ingredients from apples. If a particular treatment is important to your plans, check the current offering.

Getting there and finding a hotel

From Paris, you can reach Bagnoles-De-L'orne by train via Briouze or Argentan, then continue using NOMAD-Car services. Check current timetables and connections before travelling. This will help you compare options more easily with your own plans in mind.

Discover more destinations: Dancé, La Perrière, Domfront, La Chapelle-D'andaine, Alencon, Saint-Denis-Sur-Huisne, Fontenai-Sur-Orne, Le Sap.

Back to the main travel overview: Orne.