Waterfalls, stories and legends at Mortain in Normandy

As you stroll through the forest in the Mortain area of Normandy, all you have to do is lend an ear and you'll hear murmuring or rumbling... All you have to do then is follow this continuous rustling to discover two majestic waterfalls, just as beautiful as the other not-to-be-missed waterfalls in France.

The first, the Grande Cascade, is the most impressive at 25 metres high and with a huge flow. The setting is unique: a rocky setting carved out by the passage of the river Cance, which can be admired from the top of the waterfall, then by following a path that leads directly to the foot of the cascade.

Further down is the Petite Cascade, a favourite with hikers, who can take in the sights simply by walking along a path on the side of the waterfall. The river that runs through it is called the Cançon, but it is nicknamed the Golden River because in bad weather it is enriched with clay sediments that give it a golden colour. This cascade, made up of a series of small waterfalls, then heads into a small canyon before reaching the Rocher de l'Aiguille below.

Léonix and the Rocher de l'Aiguille (Needle Rock)

Legend has it that a young man called Léonix set out to spy on the fairies spinning flax at a particular point in the waterfall. But he was discovered by the fairy queen, who thrust her needle into his heart, turning him into a rock forever. Today, it is said that you have to stick your ear to the rock to hear the heartbeat of Léonix, the young man imprisoned in the rock.

The Devil's Bridge

A long time ago, after several storms, floods and inundations, the bridge over the Petite Cascade was washed away for the umpteenth time.

But one day, a man with hooked hands offered to rebuild the bridge once and for all in just one night. And so it was.

However, in exchange, the old man demanded the soul of the first person to cross the new bridge. At this point, one of the locals fetched a black cat and burnt its legs to force it to cross the bridge. Since that day, black cats have served the Devil.