The Soulles flows into the Sienne river, upstream of Villedieu-les-Poêles, and constitutes a breeding ground for young salmons coming from the Atlantic. Over 50 miles (80 km), the Sienne divides the Manche department in two, and the Norman patois differs depending on its bank. Many washhouses from the Middle Ages are still visible on the Sienne's course in Villedieu-les-Poêles. In the 18th and 19th centuries, wheat and paper mills fed by the Sienne contributed to the town's prosperity.