The best places to picnic

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Just because it’s much nicer to sit down at lunchtime (or dinnertime, of course) in a nice spot than in a car park, here are our top spots for picnicking while enjoying on-site leisure activities and a breathtaking view of the Normandy mountains!
Sit back and enjoy…

In the Suisse Normande

On a rocky promontory at La Roche d'Oëtre

A picnic area with around ten tables is located directly next to the lookout point and the Caillou café. A number of children’s games and toilets are located in the immediate vicinity of this shaded area. And why not take your sandwich with you to enjoy the panorama “on the edge of the precipice” or go down into the gorges of the Rouvre and find your own spot by the river?

Tables de pique-nique à la Roche d'Oëtre
Du haut du belvédère de la Roche d'Oëtre
Paysage de la Roche d'Oëtre
Rivière du site de la Roche d'Oëtre
Maison du Paysage Tables de pique-nique chaises longues

At the Maison du Paysage in Bréel on the banks of the Rouvre

With 6 tables at the Maison du Paysage and 7 at the Maison de la rivière just 500 metres away (near the car park), there’s plenty to do!
On site: Café Nature (depending on opening times), biodiversity information point, wooden games, walkway, toilets… A must if you’re walking the granite trail.
A very pleasant, peaceful site on the banks of the Rouvre to explore with the whole family!

At the Chant des Cailloux among the granite boulders at Taillebois

One of our favourite picnic spots (but don’t tell anyone!)! Access is 200 metres from the D15 between Taillebois and Notre-Dame-du-Rocher via a small car park: a grassy area dotted with granite boulders on the banks of the Rouvre, 2 picnic tables for those who wish, but between you and me, prefer to picnic “back-packed” and find your spot among the granite boulders. It’s a pure pleasure to enjoy the song of the rocks and the birds. It’s also the start of a hike that logically goes by the name of Le Chant des Cailloux. Don’t forget to add a game of molky, a good book and a blanket to your checklist!

pique-nique au chant des cailloux
Chant de cailloux à blocs de granite arbres
Tables de pique-nique près de l'étang de la queue d'aronde à Athis de l'Orne
Etang de la queue d'aronde et temple à Athis de l'Orne
jeux enfants et tables de pique-nique dans le bois d'Athis
Pique-nique à l'aire intergénérationnelle à Athis-de-l'Orne

Around the Queue d'Aronde lake, in the Meunier-Velay wood and at the Intergenerational area at Athis-de-l'Orne

Local fishermen know the Queue d’Aronde lake well! A dozen tables have been set up around the lake, with views of the pond, the woods and the Protestant church. A nice picnic when the autumn colours appear… Toilets and games for children on site.

Opposite the lake, the Bois Charles-Meunier is a great choice for family picnics, with plenty of children’s play areas in the shade of beech trees and other local species. Around 5 tables are set up near the games or on the edge of the woods. The fitness trail is very popular with everyone. You can also take a stroll around the wood! It is also the start of a walking and mountain bike trail.

Picnic tables have been set up in the new intergenerational area (near the gymnasium). On site: a pump track accessible by bike, rollerblade, scooter or skateboard; a teqball table (a curved table for ball games), a table tennis table, a 7-a-side football pitch, an athletics track, a completely refurbished tennis court, a multi-sports court, a petanque court, a zip line, a fitness area and an enclosed children’s play area.

The pond at Sainte-Honorine-la-Chardonne

Also well known to fishing enthusiasts, the picnic tables have the advantage of being sheltered, which comes in handy if it rains! On-site fishing, hiking trails and toilets. Between May and October, be sure to visit the renaissance gardens at the Manoir de la Boisnerie, just 500 metres away.

lavoir rivière manoir la carneille
Parc de la gine avec table de pique-nique à la Carneille

In the heart of the charming village of La Carneille

You can have a picnic sheltered inside the old butter market (4 covered tables) or in the park (2 tables) near the River Gine in the heart of La Carneille! This is an ancient village not to be missed on foot (La Carneille en Histoire or the Carneillaise walk) or by bike (on the Vélofrancette route)! There’s also an on-site grocery shop with a bread depot. If you’re not too busy, why not take a walk along the “Chemin de Trompe Souris” in the La Gine valley?

Flers and the surrounding area

In the park, a stone's throw from Flers Chateau

With views over the lake and the chateau, you can relax on a bench, on the lawns that run along the paths or on the picnic tables near the adventure trail! Time stands still in this 25-hectare park in the heart of Flers.

Opposite Saint-Germain church in the town centre

Fancy a spot of shopping or exploring the town on foot using an app? Then why not take a seat right in the heart of the town centre on the refurbished Place Saint-Germain, with 4 tables and a few games for the kids!

Parc de Flers à l'automne et son étang
Parc Flers étang pêche
Pique-nique au parcours aventure du parc du château de Flers
Centre ville de flers église halle marché
Pique-nique au château du mont de Cerisy Belle Etoile
Etang au mont de cerisy
Rhodos et banc en pierre au mont de cerisy

From the top of the "bocage lighthouse" at Mont de Cerisy

The picnic area around the château is very popular. The setting is bucolic and there’s no shortage of activities on site! There are children’s games, a sports trail, tennis courts, mini-golf, a petanque pitch, a nature trail, walking and mountain bike trails, toilets, a snack bar and orienteering trails… Don’t forget to climb to the top of the manor house tower for an amazing 360° view of the Orne bocage!

In the Messei park near the town hall

In the heart of Messei, take a seat in the park near the city-stadium and outdoor play area. The children won’t be bored!

parc de messei

La Ferté-Macé, Le Houlme

On the banks of the Ferrière-aux-Etangs lake

Because it’s always nice to have a bite to eat by the water, and because this picnic area is just a stone’s throw away from the local curiosity: le mont brûlé, 302 metres high! The pathway, Way of the Cross, will lead you to a replica of the Lourdes grotto – rather unusual, don’t you think? A little titbit of information for wanderers: there’s a motorhome terminal near the lake and you can fish there (fishing licence available on site).

Etang de la ferrière aux Etangs
Chemin de croix mont brûlé la ferrière aux étangs
Réplique de la grotte de lourdes mont brulé la ferrière aux étangs
Coucher de soleil sur l'étang de la Ferté
table de pique-nique près du lac de la Ferté
table de pique-nique au lac de la ferté macé
Vue sur le lac de la Ferté-Macé

Around the lake at La Ferté-Macé

We’ll take you around the lake, known as “Ferté-Plage”, where you’ll find a “Canadian” style of atmosphere. Two picnic areas are available, one in the shade with 2 tables and one on a sunnier spot with 4 picnic tables and two barbecues! Ferté-Plage needs no introduction, with its many on-site activities (swimming in summer, fishing, quadracycles, paddle boats, pedalos, canoes, pedal go-karts, mini-golf, hiking, etc.). Toilet facilities are available near the beach bar.

At Lande Forêt au Grais in the departmental forest

For a quiet picnic in the shade, you’ll find everything you need at La Lande Forêt, with 3 tables around the edge of the lake and a hut for shelter in case of bad weather. There’s plenty for anglers to do here (day fishing available: tickets on sale at the Tourist Information Office in La Ferté-Macé), as well as for hikers, who can walk around the lake before or after their picnic, or take a longer circuit in the direction of Beauvain or Le Grais.

Banc le long de l'étang de la forêt au grais
Etang de la Forêt au Grais
Etang de la lande forêt au Grais
Plan d'eau de Bellou en Houlme
Tables de pique-nique près de l'étang de bellou-en-houlme

Around the lake in Bellou-en-Houlme

The picnic area is at the entrance to the village on the right as you come from Briouze. The 4 picnic tables are set by the lake and near the small sports course and children’s play area. For walkers, there are 2 trails to try out: les Crêtes (14 km) and le Breuil (18 km)!

Along the river at Pointel

On the Briouze – Pointel route, you can enjoy your picnic under the trees, on the banks of the river “Le val du breuil” (a tributary of the Rouvre), not far from Pointel chateau, home to the Maison Familiale Rurale. Bon appêtit!

Pique-nique sous les arbres à Pointel
Pointel pique-nique au bord de rivière

And also
Pont Erambourg (St Pierre du Regard and St Denis de Méré: 4 tables on the banks of the river Noireau
Briouze: 1 table at the Etang de l’Enclos
Montilly sur Noireau: 1 table by the river (Le Pont)