Magny-Le-Désert: Walking Trail, Gorges de Villiers and Heritage

In Magny-Le-Désert, you can combine a walking trail with nature and cultural themes. The route passes through the Gorges de Villiers and leads to the Chapelle Saint-Antoine. Also on offer are the architecture of the Église Notre-Dame, the history of the Vallée de la Cour, and a visit to the Manoir de Durcet, with insights into farming and food production. This gives you a choice of different focuses when planning your trip: you can spend time on the trail or explore specific historical and agricultural topics in greater depth.

Walking Trail and Sights Along the Gourbe

The walking trail starts at a car park between the Grand Evier crossroads and the Vallée de la Cour. It first follows the “Gorges de Villiers” trail, then continues along a yellow-marked path. At a footbridge over the Gourbe, the route offers a 30-minute round trip to the Grotte de la fée Gisèle. The ground near the river can be slippery. Ten metres beyond the footbridge, the trail reaches the “Sources chaudes”; the “Source chaude” provides water at 15°C all year round. A forest road leads to the Chapelle Saint-Antoine. For planning your time, the specific detour to the Grotte is especially useful; no duration is given for the entire walking trail.

Gorges de Villiers: Geology and Landscape

The Gorges de Villiers formed in a layer of Armorican sandstone through a fault and erosion by flowing water. The area includes forests, heathland, scree slopes and a peat bog. Its geological origins and varied landscape make this more than just a section of the route: if you enjoy noticing the rocks and terrain as you walk, you can see a clear connection here between the landscape and how it was formed.

Church, Chapel and the History of the Vallée de la Cour

The Église Notre-Dame has a Norman bell tower dating from the 13th century and an external polygonal entrance tower from the same period. Since 27 July 1927, the church has been listed as a historic monument. This brings together architectural history and a precisely dated protected status in one place.

The Vallée de la Cour offers a different glimpse into the past: from 1864, it was home to a spinning and weaving mill powered by steam and water. The Chapelle Saint-Antoine is another cultural stop on the walking trail. It is dedicated to Saint Anthony the Great, the patriarch of the Eastern coenobites. At a spring near the chapel, worshippers place small crosses made from hazel wood or hazel branches on the stones; these are usually made on site. The church, chapel and valley thus represent different aspects of local history and religious tradition.

Visit the Manoir de Durcet

The Manoir de Durcet is located within the commune of Magny-Le-Désert and combines dairy production with the making of cider and apple and pear products. During the visit, you can learn about milk production, livestock farming with calves and cows, and an educational farm. The visit is accessible to children and people with reduced mobility. The tour takes you through workshops where cider products are made, Calvados ageing cellars and traditional standard orchards, and ends with a tasting. Check the current visiting and reservation requirements before you arrive. This lets you plan the farm visit as a separate activity, without confusing it with the walking trail or its sights.

Discover more destinations: Carrouges, Le Merlerault, Sainte-Honorine-la-Guillaume, Mieuxcé, Champcerie, Semallé, Champeaux-Sur-Sarthe, Fontenai-Sur-Orne.

For the broader travel overview: Orne.