Forêt d'Écouves
Encyclopedia
The Forêt d'Écouves is a large area of woodland
in the Normandy
region of northern France
.
département of France, north of Alençon
, between the communes of Carrouges
in the west and Sées
in the east. It covers an area of approximately 15000 hectares (57.9 sq mi), being 18 kilometres (11.2 mi) east to west and between 8 to 10 km (5 to 6.2 mi) wide. It is generally between 100 to 400 m (328.1 to 1,312.3 ft) above sea level, although at one point the elevation rises to 417 metres (1,368.1 ft) above sea level, which is the highest point in all of Normandy.
The forest comprises part of the Normandie-Maine Regional Natural Park
, founded in 1975, along with the Andaines and Perseigne forests.
and beech
) and pine (mainly Scots pine
) trees. It is well-known for its varied wildlife, particularly deer
and birds. Wolves
were historically a common feature of the forest, the last recorded capture being in 1882.
The Lothar Storm
hit the forest on 26 December 1999, with recorded gusts reaching 166 km/h. This devastated 838 hectares, felling 180,000 m3 of woodland (approximately 40% deciduous and 60% coniferous trees). The Office national des forêts
authorities implemented a replanting programme shortly afterwards to restore the forest habitat.
. The 2nd French Armoured Division had landed at Utah Beach
in Normandy on 1 August 1944, about two months after the D-Day landings, and served under General Patton's Third Army
. Following the recapture of Alençon on 12 August 1944, the Division, led by General Leclerc
, proceeded north towards Argentan. The armoured column entered the forest by the south in order to tackle the 9th Panzer Division, which was hidden in the forest. In Le Gateys, on the only road, a Sherman tank was hit by a German anti tank missile, resulting in the death of Colonel Rémy's eighteen year old son, Roger. At La Croix de Medavy, Sherman and Panzers clashed but the French were reinforced by the Putz armoured column which had recently set out from Sées. The following day, on 13 August 1944, the two French armoured columns, named Roumiantzoff and Putz, triumphed.
event. This meeting of VTT (vélo tout terrain) enthusiasts has been part of the all-terrain biking scene since 1990. The event is usually based from Radon
, a small commune in the south-east of the forest.
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
in the Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
region of northern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Location and Topography
The Forest is located in the OrneOrne
Orne is a department in the northwest of France, named after the river Orne.- History :Orne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution, on March 4, 1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Normandy and Perche.- Geography :Orne is in the region of...
département of France, north of Alençon
Alençon
Alençon is a commune in Normandy, France, capital of the Orne department. It is situated west of Paris. Alençon belongs to the intercommunality of Alençon .-History:...
, between the communes of Carrouges
Carrouges
Carrouges is a commune in the Orne department in north-western France.The inhabitants are known as Carrougiens and Carrougiennes. The town is home to a castle , built in the 14th century by Jean de Carrouges and restored after the Hundred Years War.-History:In the Middle Ages, Carrouges was part of...
in the west and Sées
Sées
Sées is a commune in the Orne department in north-western France.It lies on the Orne River from its source and north-by-northeast of Alençon.-Name:...
in the east. It covers an area of approximately 15000 hectares (57.9 sq mi), being 18 kilometres (11.2 mi) east to west and between 8 to 10 km (5 to 6.2 mi) wide. It is generally between 100 to 400 m (328.1 to 1,312.3 ft) above sea level, although at one point the elevation rises to 417 metres (1,368.1 ft) above sea level, which is the highest point in all of Normandy.
The forest comprises part of the Normandie-Maine Regional Natural Park
Normandie-Maine Regional Natural Park
Normandie-Maine Regional Natural Park is a protected area of forest and bocage located in the French regions of Basse-Normandie and Pays-de-la-Loire.-Geography:...
, founded in 1975, along with the Andaines and Perseigne forests.
Flora and fauna
Approximately 8200 hectares (20,262.6 acre) hectares of the land covered by the forest is varied planting of broad-leaved (mainly sessile oakSessile Oak
Quercus petraea , the Sessile Oak, also known as the Durmast Oak, is a species of oak native to most of Europe, and into Anatolia.-Description:...
and beech
Beech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
) and pine (mainly Scots pine
Scots Pine
Pinus sylvestris, commonly known as the Scots Pine, is a species of pine native to Europe and Asia, ranging from Scotland, Ireland and Portugal in the west, east to eastern Siberia, south to the Caucasus Mountains, and as far north as well inside the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia...
) trees. It is well-known for its varied wildlife, particularly deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
and birds. Wolves
Gray Wolf
The gray wolf , also known as the wolf, is the largest extant wild member of the Canidae family...
were historically a common feature of the forest, the last recorded capture being in 1882.
The Lothar Storm
Lothar (storm)
Lothar is the name of a low-pressure system that resulted in a violent extratropical cyclone sweeping across Central Europe on December 26, 1999, causing major damage in France, southern Germany, and Switzerland. Wind speeds reached around 150 km/h in lower areas and more than 250 km/h on...
hit the forest on 26 December 1999, with recorded gusts reaching 166 km/h. This devastated 838 hectares, felling 180,000 m3 of woodland (approximately 40% deciduous and 60% coniferous trees). The Office national des forêts
Office national des forêts
The National Forests Office , or ONF, is a public establishment of the National Government of France charged with the management of national forests....
authorities implemented a replanting programme shortly afterwards to restore the forest habitat.
The Battle of Le Gatey
A significant skirmish took place in the forest in August 1944 as part of the wider battle of the Falaise PocketFalaise pocket
The battle of the Falaise Pocket, fought during the Second World War from 12 to 21 August 1944, was the decisive engagement of the Battle of Normandy...
. The 2nd French Armoured Division had landed at Utah Beach
Utah Beach
Utah Beach was the code name for the right flank, or westernmost, of the Allied landing beaches during the D-Day invasion of Normandy, as part of Operation Overlord on 6 June 1944...
in Normandy on 1 August 1944, about two months after the D-Day landings, and served under General Patton's Third Army
United States Army Central
United States Army Central is an Army Service Component Command of the United States Army and is also dual-hatted as the "United States Third Army". It is the Army Component of U.S...
. Following the recapture of Alençon on 12 August 1944, the Division, led by General Leclerc
Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque
Philippe François Marie, comte de Hauteclocque, then Leclerc de Hauteclocque, by a 1945 decree that incorporated his French Resistance alias Jacques-Philippe Leclerc to his name, , was a French general during World War II...
, proceeded north towards Argentan. The armoured column entered the forest by the south in order to tackle the 9th Panzer Division, which was hidden in the forest. In Le Gateys, on the only road, a Sherman tank was hit by a German anti tank missile, resulting in the death of Colonel Rémy's eighteen year old son, Roger. At La Croix de Medavy, Sherman and Panzers clashed but the French were reinforced by the Putz armoured column which had recently set out from Sées. The following day, on 13 August 1944, the two French armoured columns, named Roumiantzoff and Putz, triumphed.
Notable Sites
- A 16th Century priory dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria
- The Château de CarrougesChâteau de CarrougesThe Château de Carrouges is a château, dating partly from the 14th century, located in the commune of Carrouges, in the Orne department, Basse-Normandie, northern France. It is unusual in its combination of an austere fortress with a comfortable residence. The original fortifications at Carrouges...
- The Château d'Ô
- The Château de Sassy
- Two monuments from the Battle of Le Gatey - a small cemetery of nineteen French soldiers of the 2nd Armoured Division and a memorial to Roger Rémy.
The Forest in Art
The Écouves Forest is particularly present in the work of artists Georges Lacombe (1868–1916) and Charles Maundrell (1860-?1924)Current Use
On the first Sunday of September each year, the forest is host to the Trans Écouves mountaing bikingMountain bike
A mountain bike or mountain bicycle is a bicycle created for off-road cycling. This activity includes traversing of rocks and washouts, and steep declines,...
event. This meeting of VTT (vélo tout terrain) enthusiasts has been part of the all-terrain biking scene since 1990. The event is usually based from Radon
Radon, Orne
Radon is a commune in the Orne department in north-western France....
, a small commune in the south-east of the forest.
