24 Sep 2009
The Orne is the least well-known of Lower Normandy's three départements. It doesn't have the D-Day beaches of Calvados, nor the coastline and Mont St Michel of the Manche. But its relative obscurity means it has some of the most unspoiled, genuine countryside you will find in France.
To the French, the Orne is known for its orchards which produce the best cider and calvados. It's also known for its cheese - the town of Camembert is in the department. But for me, the Orne is all about a quiet beauty - gentle landscapes and a rusticity that never stoops to kitsch. It is a hard-working agricultural region that has an honest simplicity.
I've tried to capture these characteristics in the latest calendar from WebVivant Press - Normandy: the Orne revealed.
The Orne is beautiful in all seasons. Spring is bursting with life. Summers are verdant, green and lush. Autumn is full of colour (see the frost-covered apple orchard on the cover). And Winters are starkly serene.
This calendar is the first in a series on the Orne, Normandy and Brittany.
The WebVivant Press calendars are printed and delivered by RedBubble, so you can order securely online and with complete confidence.
The calendars are large format (A3, 297 x 420mm, 11.69 x 16.54in) and printed on matte-coated, high-quality art paper. The images are large - perfect for cutting and framing when the year is over.
» To see our range of calenders - visit WebVivant Press.
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