Silli-En-Gouffern: Landscape and Heritage

Nature and heritage are at the heart of your trip to Silli-En-Gouffern. At the Sainte-Eugénie site, the forest edge, panoramic views and distinctive flora define its natural appeal; the menhir, abbey history and church art offer specific historical points of interest. Tastings at Maison Périgault round out the picture. This lets you plan your trip around the themes that matter most to you.

Nature at the Sainte-Eugénie site

Sainte-Eugénie lies at the edge of the Gouffern Forest and offers panoramic views across the Dives Valley and the hills of the Pays d’Auge. At the site, the forest edge, valley and hilly landscape come together as distinct features. The sunny limestone slope supports rare and distinctive flora. Nature here has two aspects: the broad landscape visible from the site and the plant life on the slope. If you like to consider scenery and flora together when choosing a destination, this combination is a striking starting point for Silli-En-Gouffern.

Sainte-Eugénie is arranged as a heritage stop along a walking route. There is also a marked trail at the site, open year-round. This means the trail is an option when planning a trip outside the summer season, too. Parking for the Sainte-Eugénie site is available in Silly-en-Gouffern. You can include the walking route in your plans and take the parking information into account when planning your arrival.

Heritage and history

A notable landmark is the Menhir dit la Pierre Levée, classified as a historic monument in 1889. This gives you a dated reference point when exploring the heritage, while the abbey’s history opens up a much earlier period.

The Premonstratensian Abbey of Silly-en-Gouffern was founded in 1151 by the knight Drogon. The altarpiece in the former abbey church was created by Jacques Restout between 1684 and 1686. An altarpiece is a decorated altar panel. The founding and the later creation are thus more than five centuries apart, representing different phases in the abbey’s history. The abbey church of Notre-Dame in Silly-en-Gouffern is now the parish church of Saint-Laurent. The abbey’s founding and the menhir’s classification are 738 years apart.

Tastings at Maison Périgault

The tour at Maison Périgault is accessible to people with reduced mobility. Maison Périgault offers tastings of apple juice, bottled farm cider, Norman perry, Pommeau de Normandie, Apéri’go and a wide selection of Calvados. This lets you assess your culinary interests in terms of specific drinks; the wide Calvados selection adds a distinctive touch. If tastings are part of your trip, the products listed can help you decide whether this offering suits your interests.

Discover more destinations: Lalacelle, Rémalard, Neuville-sur-Touques, Champcerie, Saint-Maurice-Lès-Charencey, Champsecret, Écouché, Fel.

For the broader travel overview: Orne.