In 1932 it was awarded the title The Capital of Suisse Normand by the Tourism Minister Monsieur Gourdeau.[3]
Geography
Clécy and its surroundings
Clécy is on the River Orne, in the middle of Norman Switzerland, about 35 kilometres (22 mi)s south of Caen. Covering 2,463 hectares (6,090 acres) it is the second largest commune in the canton of Le Hom.[4]
The Commune consists of the following of villages and hamlets, Roche Taillis, Les Thomas, Le Clos d'Ailly, La Haute Bigne, La Faverie, Les Berthaumes, La Loterie, La Fresnée and Clécy[5]
Called the "Capital of Norman Switzerland", the village of Clécy owes its fame to the rugged and verdant Armorican massif, with valleys through which the Orne flows.[6][7] In addition to the Orne, two streams, The Val Fournet and La Porte also flow through the commune.[8][9]
The name "Clécy" is mentioned in 860 in the reign of Charles the Bald.
When French cantons were created, Clécy was the capital of the canton. This ceased to be the case after restructuring in 1801.
Clécy has a wealth of historical treasures: Châteaux and manor houses are spread all over Clécy and its surroundings. The Château de la Landelle is one of the oldest.
More recently, painters such as Paul-Émile Pissarro, Moteley and Andre Hardy have painted landscapes around Clécy.
The Château de La Landelle is one of the oldest monuments in the village.[12] At its base it is in the form of a cross, originally on one floor, but was changed to two floors when the wings were reworked. In the Second World War it was occupied by the Germans.
