We’ve been to Bagnoles for a couple of weeks. We’ve visited the town a few times, either to stay or en route to somewhere else. It’s a genteel but relaxed and comfortable place, with some good restaurants, interesting Belle Époque architecture, a lake and casino. Not a seedy rip-off casino, popular in British suburbs, but a rather restrained affair populated by elderly, fur-clad, mesdames drinking tea.
Best of all is the Forêt des Andaines to the north of the town. I could walk all day (which we did, often) in these forests and in Autumn there is the added incentive of ceps (fungi) and chestnuts to be collected. Ceps are €30 a kilo in the local shops and markets and the few other people we encountered in the woods were all carrying a basket or bag in case any were found. Sally should take all the credit, as usual, as she not only knew what wouldn’t (and would) kill us, but also was much better at finding them than I was, and also (surprise, surprise) better at cooking them. I was in charge of carrying and subsequently eating them. An ancient path runs through these forests which has been used for at least 1000 years by monks and others travelling between Paris and the coast, and there are a number of interesting small chapels and other artefacts, as well as ghosts for those of a nervous and/or gullible disposition.
We also visited many of the surrounding towns and villages (mostly on their market days) and got as far as the coast at Mont St Michel, a nightmare to visit at the height of the Summer as it’s so crowded, but much easier at this time of year.
On this and our previous visit we have stayed in a small apartment in the Tessé-la-Madeleine end of the town (until 2000 a separate village), a few metres from the gardens surrounding the chateau.
Bagnoles Chateau.
Sal on bridge over Bagnoles lake.
Bagnoles de l’Orne.
Bagnoles de l’Orne, looking toward the casino.
Tessé-la-Madeleine (ages ago).
Tessé-la-Madeleine (today).
Footpath markings in the foret des Andaines.
Bay boletes and ceps, ready for cooking.
Fungi (untested!) in The Foret des Andaines.
The Foret des Andaines.
Holiday home by lake in La Ferté-Macé.
Holiday home by lake in La Ferté-Macé.
Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei.
Bridge over the River Sarthe, Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei.
Postbox in Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei.
Carrouges Chateau.
Carrouges Chateau.
Carrouges Chateau.
Belvedere (tower) in the forest of Perseigne.
Belvedere (tower) in the forest of Perseigne.
View from belvedere (tower) in the forest of Perseigne. Well, it was windy up there!
Street sculpture in Alencon.
Bagnoles market day.
Bagnoles market day.
Bagnoles market day.
La Sauvagère.
Smallest building in Domfront!
Forest near Chamsecret.
Champsecret near Domfront.
Fungi (and gal!) near Champsecret.
Bi-directional shuttle bus at Mont St Michel.
My reflection in chapel window at Mont St Michel.
Mont St Michel.
Mont St Michel.
Mont St Michel.
Mont St Michel.
Shadow of Mont St Michel.
Avranches cathedral.
Foret des Andaines, St Genevieve’s Chapel.
Foret des Andaines near St Genevieve’s Chapel.
Foret des Andaines near St Genevieve’s Chapel.
Tractor, outskirts of Bagnoles.
Le Roc Au Chien hotel, Bagnole de l’Orne.
Apartment, Bagnole de l’Orne.
Fruits of the forest.
Farmland south of Couterne.
Spooky carving (1) south of Couterne.
Spooky carving (2) south of Couterne.
Spooky carving (3) south of Couterne.
Farmland south of Couterne.
Gardens of Bagnoles Chateau.
Bagnoles Chateau.
Derelict buildings, Bagnoles de l’Orne.
Wash-house in Bernay, about 50km from Évreux.
Bernay, about 50km from Évreux.
Bernay, about 50km from Évreux.
“Insect hotel” in Bernay, about 50km from Évreux.
Bernay, about 50km from Évreux.
Ferry, Le Havre to Portsmouth.
Martin's Mag. 
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