Belforêt-en-Perche (French pronunciation: [bɛlfɔʁɛ ɑ̃ pɛʁʃ], literally Belforêt in Perche) is a commune in the department of Orne, northwestern France. The municipality was established on 1 January 2017 by merger of the former communes of Le Gué-de-la-Chaîne (the seat), Eperrais, Origny-le-Butin, La Perrière, Saint-Ouen-de-la-Cour and Sérigny.[3] La Perrière is classed as a Petites Cités de Caractère.[4]

Geography

Belforêt-en-Perche along with the communes of Vaunoise, Saint-Martin-du-Vieux-Bellême, Igé and Appenai-sous-Bellême is part of the Bois et coteaux calcaires sous Belleme a Natura 2000 conservation site.[5] The site measures 105 hectares and is home to the European stag beetle and European ash.[6]

The Commune along with another 70 communes also shares part of another Natura 2000 conservation area, called the Forêts et étangs du Perche.[7]

points of Interest

  • Botanical Garden of Le Bois du Puits is a botanical garden that was made open to the public in 2012, featuring over 2,000 species of plants.[8]
  • La Perrière botanical garden is a 230 m2 botanical garden in La Perrière to highlight plants of the local area.[9]


National heritage sites

The Commune has 6 buildings and areas listed as a Monument historique

  • Former priory of Chènegallon a seventeenth century former priory in Eperrais.[10]
  • l'Evêque lodge a seventeenth century former lodge in La Perrière.[11]
  • Château de Morthimer a sixteenth century chateau in La Perrière.[12]
  • Château du Tertre a seventeenth century chateau in Sérigny, that from 1926 was home to Nobel prize winning novelist Roger Martin du Gard.[13] The grounds and Estate are shared with the neighbouring commune of Saint-Martin-du-Vieux-Bellême[14]
  • Manoir de Soisai a sixteenth century Manor house in La Perrière.[15]
  • Lods house a twentieth century house in Sérigny built by architect Marcel Lods.[16]

See also

References

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