Fancy visiting the world's largest cheese factory or trying out harness racing on your next visit to France? Head to the the department of Orne, in north-west France.
We look at some quirky activities and fun facts linked to this overlooked spot in the region of Normandy.
Fascinating facts about Orne
1) Alen莽on was occupied from June 1940 until August 1944, when it became the first French city to be liberated by the French Army, commanded by G茅n茅ral Leclerc.
2) The Hippodrome d'Alen莽on, in operation since 1825, specialises in harness racing. Its website has dates of meetings; entrance is 鈧�5 and free for under-16s.
3) If you see a gloriously adorned horseman hacking through the streets of Mortagne-au-Perche, his red cape flowing over his shoulders, his dapple grey horse decked out in matching scarlet, that's Dan Vautier. Everyone knows him in the area, and yes, he always dresses like that and no, he won't mind you taking photos.
4) The world's largest cheese factory is the Camembert Pr茅sident factory in Domfort.
5) Marie Harel, who invented Camembert, donated a day's production a week to soldiers on the front lines during World War One, which is how it became France's best-known and best-loved cheese.
Camembert fed soldiers on the front line in World War OneJ.E. Rubio
6) The needles and pins factories of Orne used to supply the whole of France. The last remaining one, Bohin in Saint-Sulpice-sur-Risle, is open to the public for tours of the workshop and a museum.
Alen莽on is famous for its lace-makingOrne Tourisme
7) The Mus茅e des Beaux-Arts et de la Dentelle in Alen莽on has a collection of Cambodian art as well as some spectacular examples of lace-making and fine art.
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8) Lace-making was established in Alen莽on during the 16th Century by Colbert, to reduce the dependence of the French royal court on expensive Venetian lace.
9) The Jardin Retir茅 in Bagnoles de l'Orne is a veritable jungle of unusual plants and flowers which thrive in deep shade. Gardeners Annie and Laurent Blanchais open their garden to the public every afternoon and you can linger as long as you want.
