Gacé – Château, museums and countryside

Gacé lies in the Touques Valley and is considered the southern gateway to the Pays d’Auge. Meadows, bocage hedgerows and forests shape the area, while the château, museums and trails add further points of interest. Gacé brings together cultural and natural attractions without being limited to just one reason to visit.

Château and museums

The Château de Gacé is a very old fortress that was rebuilt from the 14th century onwards. The western tower is named Tour Talbot and dates from the Hundred Years’ War. The façades and roofs of the château were listed as historic monuments by decree on 6 May 1968. The dates refer to different aspects: rebuilding began from the 14th century onwards, the tower is associated with the period of the Hundred Years’ War, and the decree listing the façades and roofs dates from 1968.

The Château is also home to the Musée de la Dame aux Camélias, spread across three large rooms. It displays objects and documents from the collection of the person depicted, as well as stage costumes from the Paris Opera. Its subject matter spans films, theatre, opera, books, dance and television. Concrete items from the collection are thus presented alongside an account that encompasses various art forms and media. This breadth offers several perspectives on the subject rather than limiting it to a single art form.

The Musée des Minéraux et des Fossiles has a different collection focus. It displays its acquisitions in numerous showcases; many specimens come from Normandy. For those wishing to distinguish between the two museums by subject, the contrast is clear: the Musée de la Dame aux Camélias focuses on a person and their portrayal across different media, while the Musée des Minéraux et des Fossiles displays mineral and fossil acquisitions. The origin of many specimens also gives the collection a regional connection.

Countryside, the Touques and a circular walk

Meadows, bocage hedgerows and forests also shape the landscape of Gacé beyond its museums. The Touques is another point of interest: there are stretches along the river near Gacé where you can fish for trout. This adds an activity in the valley landscape to the cultural attractions.

La Véronnière is an 8 km circular walk starting in Gacé. The route passes through hilly countryside with beautiful viewpoints as far as the Moulin de la Véronnière, then returns to Gacé. Its length, route and return to the starting point make it a concrete option for anyone considering a named walking route. Compared with the stretches for trout fishing, it is particularly easy to describe in terms of its length and circular route: one option takes you on foot over hills and past viewpoints, while the other follows the Touques.

Market and historic routes

The market can also help with planning your week: Gacé has a weekly market on Saturday afternoons. If you are there on a Saturday, you can include it in your stay.

Gacé’s former role as a crossroads for pilgrimage routes is also part of the town’s history. The routes led either to Mont-Saint-Michel or to Santiago de Compostela. This historic connection adds another perspective to the château’s architectural history: Gacé is shaped not only by an old fortress, but also by its former position on routes to two important pilgrimage destinations.

Discover more destinations: Colonard-Corubert, Bellême, La Lande-de-Goult, Trun, Saint-Germain-Dʼaunay, Sainte-Marguerite-de-Carrouges, Marcei, Semallé

For the wider travel overview: Orne.