Location and local attractions
Ger is situated in Lower Normandy in the bocage region – famous for its rolling pastureland enclosed by banks surmounted by trees and hedges, giving the countryside a wooded appearance and providing important habitat for birds and other wildlife. In our area the banks appear to be built from stones collected after working the fields and then packed with soil and planted with trees, mainly beech. Tracks or ‘chemins’ traverse this landscape, usually with banks on each side, providing excellent walking and riding, and generally open to all. A chemin leads off the side of our farm providing access to kilometres of off-road walking direct from La Volée, some of it alongside the winding Egrenne river and leading into the Ger forest on the edge of town.
In addition to the dairy industry, which is dominant here, there is a tradition of apple and pear cultivation, and the orchards are a lovely sight in spring. Poiré, a sparkling pear cider, is a local speciality much appreciated by us and we recommend a visit to the Poiré Museum nearby where you can see both outdoor and indoor exhibitions, including experiences of foreign soldiers in WWll and a history of the spread of the apple from Asia to Europe. The museum is a delightful place for a walk and a picnic, especially in spring and at harvest time. A shop sells local artisanal products including the excellent honey from the museum’s hives. We are just within the western border of the Normandie Maine Regional Park whose website covers the museum and other attractions: http://www.parc-naturel-normandie-maine.fr/decouvrir/musee_du_poire.html. You may also enjoy a visit to a local farm where you can buy local poiré (and often Calvados!) direct.
On the way to Barenton a few kilometres from Ger you can visit Fosse Arthour, the gorge of Arthurian legend, where there is a beautiful lake surrounded by woodland – a lovely place for an afternoon stroll or picnic. The rock faces are visited by professional climbers, and the GR22 long-distance footpath runs along the ridge at the top, providing fabulous views to the south in the direction of Mt St Michel, an important mediaeval pilgrimage route. A chapel where the pilgrims could catch their first view of their destination (about 50kms distant) can also be visited on the ridge above Mortain, another tourist destination with its pleasant waterfalls and position on the voie verte (‘green way’) from Paris to Mt St Michel and on to La Rochelle more than 450 kms distant (used by cyclists). Arthurian legends abound, and for those who like romantic castles, you may also wish to visit Lassay les Chateaux, a beautifully preserved mediaeval complex with public exhibition of its kitchen and supposedly linked to Sir Lancelot.
