La Venise de l'Ouest

Built in the middle of marshland, bordered by two rivers, the Huisne and the Même, and criss-crossed by canals, it is nicknamed the "Venice of the West" by the locals. As for its true etymology, it refers to the Latin Firmitas, fortress, for Ferté, and for Bernard, the surname of the first lords of this 11th-century feud. La Ferté-Bernard enjoyed its heyday and underwent major development in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Its timber-framed houses and ancient courtyards, the remains of the castle, the former Saint-Lyphard chapel, the Notre-Dame-des-Marais church, the Saint-Julien gateway and the Denis Béalet covered market still bear witness to this. A showcase for the Perche Sarthois region, the town can also be explored by tourist train, kayak or electric boat.