Roc au Chien (Dog Rock)
About Roc au Chien (Dog Rock)
Roc au Chien is a 30-meter sandstone outcrop rising 54 meters above the Vée River gorge in the heart of Bagnoles-de-l'Orne. The rock formation dates back 480 million years to the Ordovician period and was the first classified scree site in Normandy. Several legends explain its name, including a tale of a loyal dog whose barking saved a child who had fallen into a crevasse. Visitors can reach the viewpoint via a 5-10 minute walk from the château park on a paved forest path. The panoramic platform offers views over the lake, thermal baths, and surrounding forest. The site is free to access year-round and includes picnic tables and benches. Part of the Normandie-Maine Regional Natural Park UNESCO Geopark, the scree slopes host 48 spider species and rare lichens.
Interesting Facts
One local legend tells of a brutal lord who violated nuns from a nearby convent. As divine punishment, he was transformed into a monster with a dog's head, toad's eyes, serpent's tongue, ox's body, and tiger's claws. A hunchbacked tailor eventually defeated the creature by throwing three stones, and on the third throw, the monster's body froze into the rock formation visible today.
The scree slopes around Roc au Chien contain fossils of trilobites and lingula from when this area was covered by an ancient sea 480 million years ago. During the Hercynian mountain-building period 340 million years ago, these rocks were part of mountains exceeding 4,000 meters in height.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Location & Practical Info
Address
10-12 Rue du Professeur Louvel, 61140 Bagnoles-de-l'Orne Normandie, France
Website
https://bagnolesdelorne.comDay Routes
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