Story 19: Listening to Nature

At the edge of the sea, the Marais de Blonville-Villers provides a magical setting for an extremely rich fauna and flora. On its 110 hectares of wet meadows, canals and ditches grow hygrophilous plants such as phragmites, rushes and sedges. This environment provides shelter, food and "resting places" for more than 150 species of birds, permanent residents or passing through on their way to their breeding or wintering grounds. Birds, white storks, amphibians and reptiles are some of the species that can be observed in their natural environment during a walk.

Located on the heights of Deauville, in Bénerville-sur-Mer, Mont-Canisy offers an exceptional panorama, dominating the Côte Fleurie at a height of 110 meters. Its strategic position, on a hill overlooking the Bay of Seine, led to it being converted on several occasions into a coastal artillery position. Today, it is a natural site protected by the Conservatoire du Littoral, which watches over its flora and fauna. It is home to over 200 plant species, many of which are protected. A kingdom of orchids, 13 species also flourish here from April to July. With its military structures and natural caves, the site is also a haven for bats.

With an area of 3500 hectares and a perimeter of 28 km, the forest of Saint-Gatien-des-Bois is the largest in Calvados. It has known many owners over the centuries, passing into the royal domain, belonging to the nobility, and sometimes being divided up and sold to various buyers. Ulrich Guttinger, a Swiss writer, also found a haven of peace in his cottage and invited the great names of literature: Victor and Adele Hugo, Alfred de Musset, Charles-Augustin Sainte-Beuve, Alexandre Dumas, Gustave Flaubert, Charles Baudelaire... Today, several private owners share the forest, mainly for wood production or as a hunting area.