one whose profile we wanted to reproduce would stand next to the whitewashed wall; one of us held a candle at a distance so that the shadow cast was the size of the model. One of the painters, meanwhile, traced the outline of this shadow in charcoal, and the interior was painted in black. This is how, since then, I have been able to recognize, beyond the half-century which has unfortunately elapsed, the profiles of many artists and friends who are no longer. My child profile is there twice." The village even has its own festival which annually celebrates those painters who came to, or lived in, Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei. Geography Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei is situated in the Orne department of the region of Normandy, and is located in the beautiful Mancelles Alps in the heart of the Normandy-Maine Regional Nature Park. The boundary of Normandy and the neighbouring region of Pays de la Loire is marked by a large metal screw affixed in the stone railing of Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei's historic stone bridge spanning the Sarthe River. The area attracts nature enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers to its wooded hills, rocky cliffs, steep river valleys and patchwork of farmland meadows defined by hedgerows. Visitors are attracted to the nature park's beauty and also to activities such as hiking, horse riding, mountain biking, canoeing and kayaking, and fishing. Visitors can climb to the summit of Mont de Avaloirs, which is the highest point in the region and commands far-reaching views despite being only 416 metres high. Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei is also the starting point for a 10-kilometre walk that is outlined in information available at the village's tourist office. Architecture The scenic village has many old stone houses along its winding lanes, and a four-arched historic stone bridge spans the River Sarthe. An 11th-century Romanesque church is perched high above the river and contains large frescoes. The frescoes were painted in the 12th and 14th century, but were plastered over in the 17th century. This is believed to have contributed to their preservation, because they were hidden for about 200 years before they were rediscovered. A 15th-century medieval stone chapel whose original wooden incarnation is believed to have been built by Saint Céneri stands alone in a sprawling meadow near the Sarthe. Inside the chapel is a statue of Saint-Céneri to which various miracles have been attributed. Economy Saint-Céneri's economy is largely based on tourism, its status as one