Discover Moutiers-Au-Perche

Moutiers-Au-Perche can be explored through a range of interests: equestrian activities, trails through village and woodland landscapes, a biodiverse wetland, and the architectural history of Notre-Dame du Mont-Harou church. If you’re looking for a hotel, these specific themes can help you choose a destination based on the focus of your stay.

Trails with varied landscapes

The Le gué de Culoiseau circular trail passes through a distinctive village and an agricultural area. Its landscape includes meadows, woods and ponds. The trail therefore combines village and countryside scenery, without assuming a specific walking time or level of difficulty.

La route du Libérot offers a different route: it leads from the centre of Moutiers-au-Perche to the forest. The emphasis here is on the route from the village centre to the forest, whereas Le gué de Culoiseau is described as a circular trail through the village and agricultural landscape. These differences help you distinguish between the trail themes without implying a connection between the two routes.

Wetland and biodiversity at Étang de Culoiseau

Étang de Culoiseau is a wetland surrounded by peat bogs. These bogs are designated as a Natura 2000 site. The description of the site therefore includes both the body of water and the distinctive landscape of the surrounding peat bogs; the protected-area status applies to the bogs.

Its biodiversity includes mallards, coots, grebes, great egrets, herons, divers and kingfishers. Several fish are also mentioned, including tench, roach, carp and perch. Amphibians and the flora of the peat bogs complete the picture. This diversity therefore ranges from bird and fish species to the bog habitats.

Visitors are asked to behave quietly and discreetly. Avoid noise and litter, as well as motor vehicles and dogs off the leash. This guidance offers practical advice for visiting the wetland.

Notre-Dame du Mont-Harou church and its architectural history

Notre-Dame du Mont-Harou church stands out for its unusual bell tower and remarkable gargoyles. It is classified as a “Monument historique”. Identified architectural elements date from the 11th century. This date refers to those elements and not generally to the entire church building.

The church also contains organs and wall paintings dating from the 16th century. Together with the older architectural elements, these create a nuanced picture of its architectural history: the features highlighted here date from different centuries. The bell tower and gargoyles add striking architectural details to this chronology.

Equestrian activities for all levels

Perch'Orizon in Moutiers-au-Perche offers equestrian activities for all levels. These include rides lasting one to two hours and themed horseback tours lasting from one to three days. Shorter rides and multi-day themed tours are therefore available as different time formats.

If you plan to include a specific horse-riding activity in your trip, check the schedule and booking conditions in advance: both may change. When choosing a hotel, you can first consider whether equestrian activities, the varied trail landscapes, the biodiversity at Étang de Culoiseau or the church’s architecture will be the main focus of your stay.

Discover more destinations: Camembert, Putanges-Pont-Ecrepin, Carrouges, Saint-Cyr-La-Rosière, Parfondeval, Pervenchères, Ménil-Hermei, La Ferté-Macé.

For the broader travel overview: Orne.