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The rolling green of the Perche
Wooded hillsides, ribbons of water running through meadows, paths bordered by hedges, rolling landscapes dotted with apple-tree orchards: this is the Perche region, a haven of greenery just an hour's drive from Paris. Nature really prospers here thanks to these natural spaces brimming over with water. The Perche Regional Nature Park is ideal for the curious, from the enthusiast to the specialist.
In the Perche, the ancestral forests go back to the times of Louis XIV when Colbert, the Finance Controller then Secretary of State for the Marine, introduced the tree-planting scheme. He thus controlled the supply of wood required for the construction of royal ships.
In springtime, these prestigious woods composed of oak and beech groves take on a pretty robe of flowers, including the wood hyacinth or the sweet woodruff. Certain remarkable trees can be visited, such as the "Three brothers" or the "Armchair oak" in Senonches Forest. Gourmets and patient searchers will be able to find up to 1100 species of mushroom, some of them very rare. But be careful - not all of them are edible! Among the exceptional bird life, two species are extremely discreet: the honey buzzard, a bird of prey that eats wasps and bees, and the black stork.
A dominant feature of the landscape is the hedges, which are also home to one-third of Perche plant life. It is the perfect place to familiarise yourself with birds and their melodious songs: hoopoe, hawfinch, spotted flycatcher... The old trees scattered along the way are nicknamed "Trognes", and they have a strange shape: the local inhabitants prune them regularly for firewood. Cavities form in them, serving as hiding places for insects such as stag beetle, as well as bats and cavernicolous birds.
Water is absolutely everywhere, appearing in the form of peat bogs with rich vegetation: these carpets of moss are called sphagnum and the purple moor grass forms large tufts. Many butterflies and dragonflies are attracted here. The Froux peat bog in Manou, which can be visited, illustrates the particular atmosphere of these wet areas. Other areas impregnated with water are also accessible for visits, such as the wet forest of Les Mousseuses in La Ferté-Vidame, and the Etang de la Benette in Senonches.
Built on a hillside in a lovely green setting, the vast estate of the Manoir de Courboyer is a concentrate of Perche landscapes. It is the showcase for the Perche Regional Nature Park. It offers a catering area for meals and snacks. At the end of one of the 80 nature outings organised by the Park, you should savour the Perche recipes made with local produce, along with a glass of cider.
In springtime, these prestigious woods composed of oak and beech groves take on a pretty robe of flowers, including the wood hyacinth or the sweet woodruff. Certain remarkable trees can be visited, such as the "Three brothers" or the "Armchair oak" in Senonches Forest. Gourmets and patient searchers will be able to find up to 1100 species of mushroom, some of them very rare. But be careful - not all of them are edible! Among the exceptional bird life, two species are extremely discreet: the honey buzzard, a bird of prey that eats wasps and bees, and the black stork.
A dominant feature of the landscape is the hedges, which are also home to one-third of Perche plant life. It is the perfect place to familiarise yourself with birds and their melodious songs: hoopoe, hawfinch, spotted flycatcher... The old trees scattered along the way are nicknamed "Trognes", and they have a strange shape: the local inhabitants prune them regularly for firewood. Cavities form in them, serving as hiding places for insects such as stag beetle, as well as bats and cavernicolous birds.
Water is absolutely everywhere, appearing in the form of peat bogs with rich vegetation: these carpets of moss are called sphagnum and the purple moor grass forms large tufts. Many butterflies and dragonflies are attracted here. The Froux peat bog in Manou, which can be visited, illustrates the particular atmosphere of these wet areas. Other areas impregnated with water are also accessible for visits, such as the wet forest of Les Mousseuses in La Ferté-Vidame, and the Etang de la Benette in Senonches.
Built on a hillside in a lovely green setting, the vast estate of the Manoir de Courboyer is a concentrate of Perche landscapes. It is the showcase for the Perche Regional Nature Park. It offers a catering area for meals and snacks. At the end of one of the 80 nature outings organised by the Park, you should savour the Perche recipes made with local produce, along with a glass of cider.