The village of Orne is a small village in the prefecture of Rethymno, approximately 49 kilometers from Rethymno and almost 3 kilometers from the village of Krya Vrysi.

Orne is located on the southeast slopes of Mount Kedros, at an altitude of approximately 300 meters.

For the first time, the village of Orne is mentioned as Ornea in 1577, a nickname that seems to have been derived from a large wild pear tree located within the settlement. At the same time, locals claim that its name indicates the existence of a fortress, preserving memories of their battle with the Turks in the Kastellos area.

According to local tradition, the village of Orne was founded by a small monastery, initially inhabited by a few nuns, and later joined by their relatives and other families. Furthermore, it is claimed that the settlement was created by the amalgamation of residents from three neighboring villages who settled there to cultivate their olive trees. Today, it has only 11 permanent residents.

In the broader area of the village of Orne, intense activity has been documented since the Minoan era, and some of the findings are now exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of Rethymno.

Finally, during your visit to Orne, don't forget to explore the five abandoned settlements and make a stop at the eponymous lake.

The name of the village directly refers to the many "orni" (wild pear trees) that existed in earlier times in the village. It is also found as a microtoponym in Asomato (Orne, in), while in Vatos and Krya Vrysi, it is heard as a circumlocution in the "Ornes" area in Lakko.

The toponym originates from the ancient Greek word "erin(e)os," which means wild pear tree. This term, in antiquity, referred to the wild pear tree, which is involved in the pollination of figs. It is commonly known as "erinios," "orneos" (ornios), or "ornia" (Latin: ornus). It is also encountered as an adjective, "erin(e)os, -a, -on" (erin(e)on sykon - wild pear).