Circular around May-sur-Orne

Parking is available at the May-sur-Orne Post Office car park.

(S/E) From the car park, head towards the post office building and go around it on the left to follow the Rue de la Teste de Buch (D 41B) on the right-hand pavement towards Fontenay-le-Marmion. Cross Rue du Stade, then carefully cross Rue de la Teste de Buch (D 41B) and continue along it, still towards Fontenay-le-Marmion, on the left-hand pavement. Cross Rue Fleur Terre and, after the last houses, take the cycle path on the left-hand side of the road. Continue downhill to the junction with the D 41.

(1) Cross Rue de May (D 41B) with caution and follow Chemin des Cotis, which runs alongside the D 41 on the left. Follow the path for about 900 m, then take the narrow, sunken path between two hedges that descends to the left. At the bottom of the path, ignore the wooded path on the right and go back up to the Laize-la-Ville road (D 41).

(2) Turn right and follow the D 41 for about 900 m until you reach the intersection with the May-sur-Orne road in Laize-la-Ville (D 562A).

(3) Take great care when crossing the D 562A to join Chemin Sous les Carrières on the other side of the road. This takes you onto the^GR®® 36. Follow Chemin Sous les Carrières for about 1.5 km. Walk alongside Laize on your left, ignore the paths on your right and continue to the next intersection with a road.

(4) Ignore the road on the left, keep to the right and cross the hamlet of Val de May until you reach the fork. At the oratory, ignore the Chemin du Coudray, which goes up opposite, and turn left onto the Chemin du Val de May, which goes downhill and continues along the Laize on your left. Continue along the Orne river on your left, pass the entrance to the old mines, ignore the first path on the right and continue to the metal footbridge that crosses the Orne river below, at the foot of the old mine silo.

(5) Continue to follow the^GR®® 36 by continuing straight ahead on Chemin du Val de May. Pass in front of the Grand Moulin and then the Château du Clos Saint-Joseph and, at the fork, continue left on Rue des Moulins until you reach the town hall of Saint-André-sur-Orne.

(6) Turn right into the narrow passage between the houses, go up Sentier aux Moines, cross Rue du Bisson and then Rue du Coisel. Continue to Rue du Clos Saint-Joseph, cross the street and turn left until you reach Route d'Harcourt (D 562A).

(7) Cross Route d'Harcourt (D 562A), turn right, take the pavement on the left for about 50 metres, then turn left into the narrow passage between the houses. Follow Sentier aux Moines until you reach Rue du Clos de Beaune.

(8) Cross Rue du Clos de Beaune, turn right and use the pavement on the left until you reach Rue du Puits Saint-André. Turn left, take Rue du Puits Saint-André and then continue opposite along the path that leads to Rue Sainte-Barbe. Cross this street, turn left and continue to Rue de la Mine.

(9) Turn right onto Rue de la Mine, pass the former Cité de la Mine secondary school (on your left), cross Avenue Léonard Gille, pass behind the new secondary school and continue along Chemin de May until you reach Rue Saint-Martin.

(10) Continue straight ahead (south) along Rue Saint-Martin and follow the street for about 400 metres until you reach Rue de la Teste de Buch (D 41B). Cross this street, then turn left towards Fontenay-le-Marmion and use the pavement on the right to reach the car park at the post office (S/E).

Technical data sheet no. 12253387.

The iron mines of Saint-André-sur-Orne and May-sur-Orne

"It has been somewhat forgotten, but Normandy was once one of France's main steel-producing regions. Iron ore mining began in the 17th century and reached its peak in 1960. Then the decline began inexorably. In 1993, the last cast iron came out of the SMN blast furnaces on the outskirts of Caen.

The town of May-sur-Orne is built above a large iron mine that operated from 1896 to 1968. 'Modern' mining began under German capital before the Great War. During the conflict, De Wendel and Schneider fought a bitter battle to regain the concessions.

What remains of this mining epic? Not much to photograph. On the right bank of the Orne, there is the opening of a drainage gallery. The galleries were used from 1970 to 1983 to store hydrocarbons. The door blocking the entrance removes any hope of an underground visit, and the smell of fuel is still clearly noticeable. This door provides access to the underground works in order to monitor the evolution of the land beneath the town.

While extraction took place on the right bank of the Orne, shipment by rail took place on the left bank.

In 1956, major developments took place. The central shaft was sunk in May-sur-Orne. The ore was transported by conveyor belt, crushed and then stored in large silos built on the right bank. The ore then crossed the Orne above the mining bridge to the loading docks.

The north silo-crusher was recycled and a ramp equipped with a conveyor belt was built to bring stone from a nearby sandstone quarry.