The recently installed Arromanches D Day garden pays tribute to the veterans of the Battle of Normandy. The garden is known as D-Day 75 Garden and was first exhibited at the RHS Chelsea Garden Show in May 2019. It was officially opened at its new permanent site in Arromanches on the 75th anniversary of D-Day….
There’s a family friendly farm less than 10 minutes from Gavray that’s suitable for younger guests. It’s called La Ferme de Lucie and is run by Céline and Benoît Hachler in Le Mesnil Rogues. I was kindly allowed to take photos of the animals which included goats, sheep, chickens, rabbits, lambs, llamas and peacocks. Some…
To celebrate World Chocolate Day let’s visit a Normandy chocolatier. In Granville there are two outlets for Yver Chocolatier who make exquisite chocolate creations for every occasion. In the centre of Granville is the shop À La Marquise de Presles. It’s at 26 rue Lecampion. This is one of their chocolate counters. They also make…
There are plenty of museums to choose from in Normandy so I’ve selected my top three. They’re perfect for museum buffs or for a rainy day activity. The three museums are in Cherbourg, Caen and Bayeux. Cité de la Mer Cherbourg is much more than a Normandy arrival and departure port for ferries. There is…
If you’re looking to buy cheese in Granville, then Le Fromager de la Baie is the place to go. The shop has been open just over a year and is based at 34 rue Lecampion in Granville. They are open from Tuesday to Saturday from 9am – 1pm and 3pm – 7pm. On a Sunday…
In June 2019 I went on a guided tour in Roncey, a small Normandy village in La Manche region. The tour was part of the commemorations for the 75th anniversary of D-Day. For over an hour we heard the story of how Roncey was liberated on 29th July 1944, the destruction the village endured and…
A number of my guests have brought their bikes to Normandy to enjoy some cycling. Normandy has 1600km of véloroutes (cycle routes) giving you cycling itineraries via traditional cycle paths or secure roads with little traffic. The cycle routes are designated by special signposts. 700km of these routes are greenways (or voie vertes in French)….
Finding vegetarian dining options can be a little challenging in Normandy. However, it’s much easier if you know where to go. The region is a big seafood producer so if you’re a pescatarian rather than vegetarian, you’ll have no problem. It is, however, also famous for wonderful dairy products such as cheese, butter and cream….
If you’re looking for Normandy brunch spot, then read on. These three places were featured in a Côté Manche article. Brunch is becoming more popular here in Normandy but isn’t as readily available as in the USA or the UK. Many restaurants in France open at lunchtime from 12 – 2pm and then again at…
Kir normand is a traditional Normandy aperitif (an apéro). You drink it while waiting for your food to arrive in a restaurant. The recipe is 2cl of crème de cassis (blackberry liqueur), 2cl of calvados (apple brandy) top the glass up with dry sparkling Normandy cider. You can also replace the cider with sparkling white…
If I had to choose my top 3 Omaha Beach places to visit I’d opt for La Pointe du Hoc, the Normandy American Cemetery and Les Braves. I visited these 3 Omaha Beach spots in February 2018 on a chilly but sunny day. I wanted blue sky for the photos I was going to take…
There are a number of memorials on Sword Beach stretching from Ouistreham in the East to Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer in the West. This British memorial on Sword Beach is dedicated to the following commando units of the 1st Special Service Brigade: No. 3 Commando – Lieutenant Colonel Peter YoungNo. 4 Commando – Lieutenant Colonel Robert Dawson177 French…
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