The 75th Anniversary of D-Day
The D-Day Landings on the Normandy beaches in 1944 were one of the most remarkable Allied wartime operations. Despite heavy losses on both sides on the day, and for months afterward, as the German army defended their occupied territory, it was a turning point for the war and the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany. The 75th anniversary of D-Day will be celebrated in 2019. Heads of state from the whole world will be present to celebrate the allied landings and pay their respects to the last surviving veterans. The official ceremonies will take place on June 6 but many more...
Read MoreThe French Love for Chocolate
Unis par l’Amour du Chocolat. (Poulette en chocolat by Le Roy Renée) Chocolate today is the favourite food of France! According to a recent survey of the adult population, 97.8% of the population eat chocolate; 76.4% of them indulge at least once a week and 30.7% of these admit to eating it on a daily basis.This survey also asked the question: What foods it would be impossible for you to live without? i.e. ‘absolument indispensable’- and chocolate was right up there in fourth place- behind bread, fruit, and pasta, but before meat, coffee (!) potatoes and fish. They start early in the day;...
Read MoreLieu-dit ‘Le Cerceuil’ – A Town called ‘Coffin’
Not the most attractive place name, Le Cerceuil ( Coffin), a village on the edge of the majestic Ecouvres forest was perhaps named after the prehistoric single-chamber tomb or dolmen ‘La Pierre Tournoire’, located nearby.Western France has very many of these giant stones which date back 4000-1000 years and are presumed to have fulfilled some ceremonial or burial function for the earliest Europeans who left no written language. You can see two of these ‘mégalithes’ on a waymarked walk around this northern edge of the Parc naturel régional Normandie Maine,...
Read MoreExactement Angleterre!
The southern part of the Pays d’Auge region of Normandy, in the Orne department, has an uncanny resemblance to the English countryside. Edgar Degas (1834-1917) the famous French impressionist painter, noted this similarity in his diaries when he often used to visit a friend: Paul Valpinçon, at his chateau and country estate in the tiny village of Menil-Hubert en Exmes. In one of these diaries from the 1870’s, Degas wrote: «Exactement l’Angleterre, des Herbages petits et grands, tous clos de haies. Des sentiers humides, des mares./ du vert et de la terre d’ombre. à travers chemins...
Read MoreLa Vallée de la Baize
The river Baize arises in our neighbouring village of Habloville, runs right through the Haras du Gazon and then flows northeast for 25kms to reach the river Orne near Rapilly. We decided to meet up with ‘our’ river there and follow the way-marked ‘La Vallée de la Baize’ walk. The details can be downloaded as a pdf here : http://bit.ly/2xsaGO9 Right from the starting point of this walk, we were impressed by the peace and beauty of this lovely Normandy ‘ bocage’ countryside: wooded hills, shaded paths and secluded valleys. Departure D: The church at...
Read MoreChurch Services in Normandy
Church Services in Normandy in English are few and far between I’m afraid. The whole list is at: https://www.angloinfo.com/normandy/directory/normandy-churches-religion-spirituality-23 The only ones reasonably close to the Haras du Gazon would be Sunday afternoon: Condé sur Noireau 1st & 3rd Sundays of the month (40 minute drive) http://conde-church.webs.com/apps/location/ Caen (45 minute drive) 5.30pm ( September – June) http://www.stgeorgesparis.com/one-christian-family/anglican-chaplaincy-of-caen/ There is one Protestant (Evangelical) church in Argentan ( 20 minute drive) but...
Read MoreOur location
Near historic Falaise in central, rural Normandy, less than an hour from the English Channel coastWhere we are
Gite Almé
An inspired seamless blend of farmhouse style and spacious modern livingGite Baloubet
Comfortable open-plan space with spectacular mezzanine floor and balcony Gite Cor de la Brière
A picture postcard French orangerie style entrance invites you in Gite Double Espoir
Original oak beams and glorious garden and rural viewsGarden and grounds
Formal parterre and water lily garden, landscaped lake, 20m swimming pool, tennis courts and moreGarden and grounds
Lots to see and do
From medieval castles, Bayeux and D-Day beaches to donkey trekking, quad bikes, kayaking and fishingLocal area
A selection of reviews we've received from guests
