Doing a Google search for ‘Basse Copette’ the other day, I found an article on the French version of Wikipedia that mentions Basse Copette. The article, created by Christian Lassure and with many additions by Dr Michel Royon, will be of particular interest to those interested in geology, geography and agricultural history.

Apparently, one of the walks I often take out along the valley and frequently recommend to my B&B and self catering guests starts out on an old human-made agricultural feature. This feature, as the article points out, has a specific manifestation in this area of Normandy, and also Picardy, and is called a royon (also a rayon). And it appears that the example at Basse Copette even has a name: le Rayon Hideux.

Les royons are basically a series of terraces, much like the terraces one sees in the south of France. But instead of the retaining walls being made up with rocks, in this area of Normandy, bushes are planted along the retaining walls (certainly to stabilise them) – and often here in Normandy the terraces have a greater slope.

'Le Rayon Hideux' at Basse Copette - you can see the leafless bushes on the upper terrace

This photo is taken from the other end of 'le Rayon Hideux', looking towards Basse Copette. You can make out the hamlet of houses in the distance, the self catering gite is in the middle

A diagrammatic version of a 'royon'. © Dr Michel Royon / Wikimedia Commons

To see the Wikipedia article … click here