The Percheron horse, originally bred here, became one of the most popular draft horse breeds globally during the 19th century.
The Manoir de Courboyer is the oldest manor house in the Perche region and serves as the official park headquarters.
The park's bocage landscape of small, enclosed fields separated by hedges is a distinct ecological feature that supports high levels of insect and bird biodiversity.
The region contains significant deposits of iron ore that historically supported a thriving metallurgy industry in the 16th and 17th centuries.
The park encompasses over 100 communes, balancing conservation with traditional agricultural land use.
The Parc naturel régional du Perche is a protected area spanning 182,000 hectares across the Orne and Eure-et-Loir departments, characterized by a hilly bocage landscape. It is globally recognized for its historic breeding of the Percheron draft horse. The central Maison du Parc is located within the 15th-century Manoir de Courboyer, which features a traditional timber-framed architectural style. The landscape consists of ancient forests, hedgerows, and sunken lanes known as 'chemins creux.' The park hosts several biodiversity zones, including the Forêt de Réno-Valdieu, noted for its old-growth oak and beech stands. Cultural heritage remains preserved through various manor houses and rural vernacular architecture scattered throughout the territory. It functions as a managed cultural landscape, prioritizing the integration of local farming, forestry, and tourism. Visitors can access an extensive network of marked hiking, cycling, and equestrian trails.
The main courtyard of the Manoir de Courboyer, providing a clear view of the 15th-century manor architecture against the surrounding green hills.
Download the park's digital trail maps before arrival, as mobile reception can be intermittent in rural forest sectors.
Bring binoculars for birdwatching, particularly in the wetlands and forest edges near the Maison du Parc.
Rent a bicycle to navigate the undulating terrain, which is otherwise slow to traverse by foot.
Do not rely exclusively on GPS navigation, as small rural roads are often poorly marked and signal drops frequently.
Exhibitions and the Maison du Parc have seasonal shifts, often closing on Mondays during the off-season; the outdoor park grounds remain open year-round.
Stay on marked trails to avoid damaging sensitive hedgerow ecosystems; do not disturb livestock in grazing pastures.
