^1 French Land Register data, which excludeestuaries, and lakes, ponds, and glaciers larger than 1 km2
Orne (French pronunciation:[ɔʁn]ⓘ;Norman:Ôrne orOrne) is adepartment in the northwest ofFrance, named after theriver Orne. It had a population of 279,942 in 2019.[3]
After theBattle of Waterloo the department was occupied by thePrussians as agreed in theTreaty of Paris.[6] The area was occupied for three years, during which time the occupying forces pillaged the locals, taking food and money from the locals.[7] The Prussians left in 1818.[8][full citation needed]
Orne has several different geological areas, firstly in the west of the department is theArmorican Massif, which is an ancient mountain range that has been eroded over time to become granite hills.[14] You then have the flatter plains of thePlaine d'Argentan in the north.[15] To the east of the Plaine d'Argentan you have the rolling hills of thePays d'Auge.[16] To the far north east is thePays d'Ouche, which featuresChalk Group andClay-with-Flints soils that are not agriculturally productive.[17] In the South of Orne is the forested area of thePerche.[18]
The Orne department has the highest point in Normandy, called the Signal d'Écouves, located inFontenai-les-Louvets which is 413 metres in height.[19][20]
In addition to the river Orne that the department is named after there are a further 16 rivers running through the commune that are at least 25 km in length:
The orne has 87,000 hectares (210,000 acres) of forests and 17,600 hectares (43,000 acres) of hedges and groves, the forest covers 17% of the department's surface area.[40] Three quarters of the forest trees areBroad leaf based with the other 25% beingconiferous.[40]
Orne’s highly ruralbocage and forest habitats aren’t home to many strictendemic species, but they do shelter several regionally rare species:
The largest town by a considerable margin is theprefecture,Alençon, which is an administrative and commercial centre for what is still an overwhelmingly rural department.
Orne’s agricultural sector is dominated by dairy and bovine meat, which together account for two-thirds of the total value of farm deliveries. The department has diversified over the past two decades to include poultry, sheep, pork and equine production.[46]
Camembert de Normandie (AOP) - a traditional soft-ripened cheese from Orne made exclusively with unpasteurised milk from Normandy cows, characterised by its velvety white bloomy rind and creamy interior with delicate notes of milk and undergrowth. Its production follows strict AOP rules, including hand-ladling the curd into moulds in five successive layers and a minimum ageing of 22 days before release.[47]
Livarot (AOP) - a washed-rind soft cheese from thePays d'Auge in Orne, made withNormande cow’s milk and matured for at least 21 days. It is encircled by five sedge bands—hence its nickname “Le Colonel”, as the rings of dried bullrush resemble the stripes on a colonel's uniform.[48]
Pont-l’Évêque (AOP) - a traditional soft, washed-rind cheese from Normandy, made from cow’s milk and distinguished by its square shape. It features a supple ivory-coloured paste and a gently reddish washed rind, having been matured for 4 – 6 weeks.[49]
These cheeses are produced by both artisan creameries and larger dairy plants such as Fromageries Gillot inSaint-Hilaire-de-Briouze and Laiterie Fléchard inRives d'Andaine.[50]
Normandy Cider (IGP) - a traditionalapple cider made in Normandy under the EU’s Protected Geographical Indication (IGP - Indication géographique protégée in French) scheme, crafted from a blend of heritage regional apple varieties and fermented slowly to develop its characteristic golden hue, bright acidity and aromatic fruit-forward profile.[51]
Calvados (AOC) - a traditional Normandy apple (and pear) brandy made from cider pressed exclusively from designated orchard varieties within its appellation area. It must be distilled underINAO regulations and aged at least two years in oak barrels, developing a balance of fresh fruit character and oak-derived spice and vanilla notes.[52]
Pommeau de Normandie (AOC) - a traditional Normandyaperitif made bymutage of two-thirdsCider applemust and one-third young Calvados, aged at least fourteen months in oak barrels to develop its amber hue and complex aromas of candied fruit, honey and vanilla.[53]
Poiré de Domfront AOP - a traditional sparklingperry from the Domfrontais region of Orne, crafted exclusively from designated high-stem perry-pear varieties and matured by natural in-bottle fermentation to yield fine effervescence and a delicate bouquet of fresh pear, floral and honeyed notes.[54]
The orchards of Pays d’Auge and Domfrontais supply fruit for pressing, distillation and ageing facilities throughout the department.[50]
The inhabitants of the department are calledOrnais.
The recorded population level peaked at 443,688 in 1836. Declining farm incomes and the lure of better prospects in theoverseas empire led to a sustained reduction in population levels in many rural departments. By the time of the 1936 census, the recorded population stood at just 269,331. Once motor car ownership started to surge in the 1960s, employment opportunities became less restricted and by 1982, the population level had recovered a little to 295,000, after which it slowly decreased.
TheArrondissement of Alençon extends over the south and southwest of the department. It comprises 111 communes with an area of 15,458.8 km2, which makes it the smallest of the three districts. As of 2017, it had a population of 86,365.[62]
TheArrondissement of Argentan extends over the north and northwest of the department. It is organized around Argentan and the northern part of the former arrondissement of Domfront. It is the most populous of the three districts with 123 communes with an area of 1,904.1 km2.[62]
TheArrondissement of Mortagne-au-Perche extends over the Percheronne part of the department, in the south-east. It comprises 147 communes with a population of 87,392.[62]
Foire Saint-Denis: the oldest and largest popular fair in Orne held the first weekend of October at Montilly-sur-Noireau, covering 8.5 ha with about 700 exhibitors, 100 amusement rides and attracting over 100,000 visitors; documented since the mid-16th century.[68]
Foire au Boudin: a mid-March culinary fair inMortagne-au-Perche devoted to LaBoudin Noir, featuring tastings, livestock demonstrations, a best Boudin Noir contest by the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Goûte-Boudin and a funfair; Running since 1962 it attracts 27,500 visitors annually.[69]
Ornexpo: an annual trade fair at Anova inAlençon, showcasing over 130 exhibitors in home, gastronomy, leisure and mobility sectors attracting 15,000 visitors and was first held in 1929 to promote local commerce.[70]
Foire Saint-Vincent: annual winter funfair held at Argentan’s Champ de Foire each January, featuring about 50 amusement rides, game stalls, local food vendors and a fireworks display; it attracts approximately 85,000 visitors every year and was first documented in 1750[71][72]
The department of Orne is crossed by two major autoroutes: theA28 (Abbeville–Tours) and the A88 (Caen–A28), linking Orne to Normandy’s principal cities and the national motorway network.[13]
Orne is served bySNCF TER Normandie on the Paris–Granville line (via Argentan, Briouze and Flers) and the Alençon–Caen connection.[77] The department has 13 train stations:[77]
Interurban bus services in Orne are operated by Nomad Car 61, which runs 25 year-round lines linking major communes and school circuits.[78] Urban networks include Alto in Alençon, Nemus in Flers, Argentan Intercom Mobilité in Argentan and Bus Urbain in Bagnoles-de-l’Orne.[78][79]
Orne has no airport with scheduled commercial flights; the nearest airports offering domestic and seasonal international services areCaen–Carpiquet andDeauville–Normandie in neighbouring departments.[80]
The department has six airfields that are used for private planes:
Tourism in the Orne department centres on its rural heritage, bocage landscapes and cultural landmarks. As of 1 January 2023 the department offered 63 hotels with 1 328 rooms, 30 campsites with 1 477 pitches and 2 806 additional bed places in collective accommodations such as holiday villages and hostels.[87]
The sector attracts over 6.2 million overnight stays annually, sustains around 1 500 direct and indirect jobs and generates approximately €200 million in direct economic turnover each year.[88]
Haras national du Pin: France’s oldest national stud farm, nicknamed the “Versailles of the horse” for its 18th-century architecture and historic breeding programme.[89]
Château de Carrouges: 17th-century moated castle with formal gardens and a collection of Renaissance furniture.[90]
Château d’Ô: 17th-century moated château blending Gothic and Renaissance elements, near Mortrée.[91]
Mémorial de Montormel: battlefield museum commemorating the Falaise pocket battle of August 1944.[92]
Perche Regional Natural Park: bocage countryside dotted with manors, woodlands and marked trails.[18]
Forêt d'Écouves andForêt des Andaines: cover more than 20 000 ha, with way-marked paths to the Signal d’Écouves (413 m) and lakeside spa at Bagnoles-de-l’Orne.[117][118]
Alpes Mancelles: a 1,190-hectareNatura 2000 protected natural region of steep scree slopes, rock outcrops, riparian forests and wet meadows spanning five communes across the Orne, Sarthe and Mayenne departments.[119]
The tourism industry in Orne records over 6.2 million overnight stays each year, underpins roughly 1 500 jobs across hospitality and related services, and contributes an estimated €200 million in direct annual turnover, making it one of the department’s foremost economic sectors.[88]
.jpg)
