Clécy () is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region in northwestern France.

In 1932 it was awarded the title The Capital of Suisse Normande by the Tourism Minister Monsieur Gourdeau.

Geography

thumb|upright=0.8|Clécy and its surroundings|alt=

Clécy is on the river Orne, in the middle of Norman Switzerland, about s south of Caen. Covering it is the second largest commune in the canton of Le Hom.

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. The commune is spread over an area of with a maximum altitude of and minimum of

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. In addition to the Orne, two streams, The Val Fournet and La Porte also flow through the commune.

The Commune with another 20 communes shares part of a 2,115 hectare, Natura 2000 conservation area, called the Vallée de l'Orne et ses affluents.

Plenty of outdoor activities are available: kayaking, paragliding, climbing, hill walking and mountain biking, taking advantage of the geology of Norman Switzerland.

Its inhabitants are called Clécyens in French.

Economy

  • Fromagerie Vallée (Valley Cheesemaker)

Sights

thumb|upright=1.1|Clécy town centre

  • The Château de La Landelle is one of the oldest monuments in the village. 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.
  • Musée André Hardy (André Hardy Museum)
  • Musée du chemin de fer miniature (Museum of miniature trains)
  • Eglise St Pierre (St Paul's church) (15th century)
  • Clécy Viaduct (1866)

Sport

The commune has an 18-hole golf course, Golf de Clecy Cantelou.

Personalities

  • Paul-Émile Pissarro (1884 – 1972) a French impressionist and neo-impressionist painter, died here.

Twin towns – sister cities

Clécy is twinned with:

  • Ermington, United Kingdom since 1980
  • Beyne-Heusay, Belgium since 1976