Forêt d'Écouves

The forest is located in the Orne 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 15,000 hectares (58 sq mi), being 18 kilometres (11 mi) east to west and between 8 to 10 kilometres (5.0 to 6.2 mi) wide. It is generally between 100 to 400 metres (330 to 1,310 ft) above sea level, although at one point the elevation rises to 417 metres (1,368 ft) above sea level, which is the highest point in all of Normandy.[1]

The forest comprises part of the Normandie-Maine Regional Natural Park, founded in 1975, along with the Andaines and Perseigne forests.

Approximately 8,200 hectares (20,000 acres) hectares of the land covered by the forest is varied planting of broad-leaved (mainly sessile oak 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.[2] 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.[3]

A significant skirmish took place in the forest in August 1944 as part of the wider battle of the Falaise Pocket. 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.[4]

The small Les Gateys National Cemetery contains 19 soldiers from the 2nd French Armoured Division killed during the battle.

• A 16th-century priory dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria
• The Château de 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 Écouves Forest is particularly present in the work of artists Georges Lacombe (1868–1916) and Charles Maundrell (1860-?1924)

On the first Sunday of September each year, the forest is host to the Trans Écouves mountain biking 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.[5]

• Website of the Normandy-Maine Regional Natural Park
• Image of Château d'Ô, Flickr.com
• Charles Maundrell's representation of Château d'Ô in the forest
• Detail of the Memorial to Roger Rémy, normandie44lamemoire.com