La Roche d'Oetre

The Roche d'Oëtre is a rocky promontory in the commune of Saint-Philbert-sur-Orne, in the Orne, in the heart of the Suisse Normande. It overlooks the wooded gorges of the Rouvre by about 118 metres, which makes it one of the steepest precipices in Normandy, a region where such drops are rare.

The site shows how the Armorican Massif extends into western Normandy. Seen from a certain angle, the rock draws the profile of a human face, an effect of pareidolia. The area is listed as a sensitive natural area: it shelters rare plants such as the spring sandwort, green lizards and fragile lichens that tolerate trampling poorly. A wooden pavilion, opened in May 2006, welcomes the public with exhibitions, a shop and a place to eat. A viewpoint gives a plunging view of the valley.

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