A young priest from Normandy succeeded in restoring a magnificent abbey that had been destroyed on three previous occasions. Lucerne Abbey was founded in the mid 12th century. It was destroyed during the Hundred Years’ War and also during the Religious Wars. During the French Revolution a wealthy local ship owner bought the abbey and…
Being a tourist for a day in Caen is a great way to get an overview of this picturesque city. It combines history with fine dining and high quality shopping. Caen’s Most Famous Resident Once upon a time a young man called William made Caen in Normandy his main place of residence. However, he wasn’t…
Normandy’s most popular visitor attraction waited almost 790 years for a facelift that cost over 2.6 million euros. Was it worth the wait and the price tag? Absolutely! The cloister at Mont Saint Michel in Normandy was completed in 1228. In 2017 the renovation work started and lasted for 18 months. The photos in the…
If you’re coming to La Manche region of Normandy, I can highly recommend a day out in Coutances. It’s only 20 minutes away from the gite so it’s somewhere I go fairly often but it doesn’t fail to disappoint. The imposing cathedral dominates the skyline as you drive in to the town. And close up,…
🎼Tea for two and two for tea 🎶 Picorette is a delightful tea salon nestled in a quiet pedestrian street in Granville in Normandy. This is not a place to grab a quick cuppa in between shopping; instead you deliberate, savour and relax. The choice of teas is extensive – 146 of them to be…
My favourite boulangerie in Gavray? It’s a difficult choice! Feeling peckish? Sunday is a very busy day for bakers as they do a roaring trade. It’s a day for people to spend time with family or friends while enjoy good food and wine. In Gavray, there are 3 boulangeries and they were all open this…
Barfleur is one of six Normandy villages to have been awarded the status of ‘Les Plus Beaux Villages de France’. It is currently the only village in La Manche region to have received this honour. There’s a very strict process before a village is even considered. Only 20% of all applications are accepted to ensure…
The church on the left hand side of the photograph is part of the Benedictine abbey founded in 1056. It was almost entirely destroyed twice – once in 1356 and again in 1944. The bombings that Normandy endured in 1944 caused some of the damage. However, explosives planted by German troops as they were fleeing…
Walking across the Bay of Mont St Michel is a magical experience for Normandy visitors. As well as the fabulous views of the island of Mont St Michel, you also get to follow in the footsteps of pilgrims who have made this journey over the centuries. There are various different options available depending on how…
Think of Normandy’s beaches and possibly the D-D landing beaches spring to mind. The beaches of Sword, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Utah are certainly a draw to visitors. Many come to pay their respects and reflect on the significant role the beaches played in the events of 1944. There is, however, much more to the…
The Phare de Gatteville is a Normandy lighthouse at the tip of Barfleur and is the second tallest lighthouse in France. Strong currents and numerous shipwrecks in the area prompted this Normandy lighthouse to be built. The original version of the lighthouse was built in 1774. It can be seen on the left of the larger…
The Haras National de Saint-Lô in Normandy is a horse stud farm set just outside the centre of the town. Built in 1806, the magnificent stables have a very distinctive and rather elegant exterior. The majority of the stables were destroyed during the bombings which St Lô endured during the second world war. Around 95%…
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