Nogent-le-Rotrou
PERCHE, A REGIONAL NATURAL RESERVE...

Nature
One finds in Perche very diversified natural environments: forest massifs; groves and meadows; ponds and wetlands; slopes, lawns and moors. The latter shelter many vegetable and animal species. One counts more than 1200 vegetable species (13% of the French flora) from which 140 are protected. More than thirty animal species are recognized as a European interest (green tree frog, marten, ashy peak...)

Building
The originality of the typical habitat of Perche comes from the use of materials drawn from the ground of Perche. The quarries were formerly improvised not far from the sites of construction; white stones, tinted tiles, sands, , and the "ferrugineous" sandstone .
Thus the built inheritance (castles, manors, churches, farms, rural houses) is in perfect harmony with the landscape and reinforces the identity of Perche.

Landscapes
The forests on the heights, the foothills and the groves structured by the hedges and the orchards, are the essential components of the landscapes of Perche. The forests cover a surface of approximately 36 000 hectares of which the famous national forests of Bellême, Réno-Valdieu, Senonches, Perche and Trappe. The nature of the basement of Perche, large distributor of water of the west of France, supported the birth of many springs and the formation of the ponds which ensure the halt of migratory birds. Many guides of walks were published to allow each one the discovery of these landscapes which vary with the rhythm of the seasons.

Culture
Being a historical entity, Perche is an old province born in 1114 out of the fusion of the county of Mortagne and the lordships of Nogent-le-Rotrou and Bellême. In 1790, it was divided in four unequal parts between the departments of Orne, Eure-et-Loir, Loir-et-Cher and Sarthe. In spite of this two centuries old division, the identity of Perche is always present. It is expressed today through local habits and events, as well as traditional activities, popular arts, and famous testimonys of men. Museums make it possible to discover what was the life in Perche formerly.

Various names mark out the historical past of one of the capitals of Pole of which that of NOVIGENTUM " new people" owing to the fact that in the Middle Ages a new borough is established on the foot of the strengthened mound from where the silhouette of Saint-Jean castle will spout out which always dominates the city.
ROTROU 1st (955-998) was the first of a dynasty of lords of Nogent... then of Perche. A real crossroads of roads and "the country"; the city is located in the valley of Huisne. The river undulates in the middle of the meadows before borrowing a depression where converge the small rivers of Cloche (a commune of Margon), Val-Roquet, Berthe (a commune of Trizay) and of Ronne (communes of Saint-Jean-Pierre-Fixte and Souancé).

PERTICA SALTUS: covered region of forests
Perche, located between the Paris basin and Normandy, is a preserved sanctuary of forests, groves, secret ponds, sinuous rivers and brooks. The fauna and flora are protected; the inheritance is rich castles, churches, manors and strengthened farms. The generous soil is the result of a perpetuated traditional know-how. Lastly, a choice of varied leisures is offered to you: excursions, fishing, sailing, canoeing, golf, visits of monuments, craft industry of art...