Property for sale in Orne

Orne is Normandy's only landlocked department, and what it lacks in coastline it makes up for with rolling countryside, forests and space, all at prices that go further than the coastal departments nearby. A direct rail service from Alençon reaches Paris Montparnasse in around two hours, keeping the countryside within easy striking distance of the capital. Rich in equestrian history, Orne is home to the national stud at Le Haras du Pin and the fine lacework once made in its capital, Alençon. Away from the best-known sites, buyers will find two regional nature parks covering roughly half its land, and the Belle Époque spa town of Bagnoles-de-l'Orne, with its lakeside gardens and thermal baths. Orne is equally suited to those who love the outdoors, with excellent walking, cycling and riding country throughout. A mild oceanic climate brings warm summers and crisp winters, a little sharper than on the Normandy coast, with green countryside year-round. Property ranges from a manor house, a gite with land or a traditional farmhouse, Orne offers space and character that can be harder to find elsewhere in Normandy. With countryside, heritage and good value, it is a department well suited to those seeking a rural retreat. On the local market, houses in Orne average €1,197/m².