Our guide to...
Lower Normandy
Normandy has always been a popular holiday destination due to its closeness. There are hundreds of self catering cottages and gites to meet the demand.
Norman Conquests, the D-Day Landings and the Battle of Normandy are amongst the many significant historic events that have made their mark on the Lower Normandy region. Today you’ll see the signs in military landmarks, museums and labelled points of interest. The island commune of Mont St Michael, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of Lower Normandy’s most visited attractions. Meanwhile, the region’s three departments all offer plenty of other opportunities for great days out.
Calvados is known for its food production, its beaches and its 19th century casino resorts. The Caldavos spirit beverage is produced in the area along with ciders, butters and cheeses, and so it’s no wonder that the countryside is covered in dairy farms and orchards. You’ll find few departments in France that are as popular as Calvados, in part due to its beaches where you can sunbathe, surf or play volleyball. This department includes the village of Beuvron-en-Auge, with its traditional half-timbered houses; it’s amongst the most beautiful villages in the country, and is another reason to visit. Of course, no stay in a gîte in Calvados would be complete without a visit to the famous city of Bayeux, where you can walk the shores of the River Aure and view the Bayeux Tapestry.
The predominantly coastal department of Manche is named after the French word for the English Channel. Perfect for relaxing breaks, it’s a place with far-reaching green fields and an abundance of farms, as well as some golden sandy beaches. Anyone that has been to Cornwall will easily be able to see the similarities. In the summer months, warm Mediterranean temperatures make the beaches perfect for swimming and sports, and along with monuments recognising the impact of the Normandy Landings the department’s attractions include Mont St Michael, the Zoo de Champrepus, the Parc Ange Michel family theme park and the interesting Alligator Bay.
Orne is Lower Normandy’s inland department, and is named after the Orne River which flows out to the Channel. This department’s most well-known village is the home of Camembert cheese. Pay a visit to Camembert, and you’ll be able to learn more at the village’s cheese museum. There are also a number of smaller buildings linked to the village’s cheese-making past.
As you’d expect, Orne is typically French with lovely old buildings and a few interesting castles. As well as hiking, fishing and spending time in landscaped parks and gardens you can visit an authentic French snail farm where snails are proudly raised amongst acres of fields and meadows. At L’Escargotière, you’ll even find a range of snail-based groceries to take back to your gite and enjoy!
Use our link below to discover the ideal cottage, gite or villa for your family holiday this year. All our gite owners will be able to give you more ideas of how to get the most from your holiday.
Areas of Lower Normandy
Calvados
Calvados is known for its food production, its beaches and its 19th century casino resorts. The Caldavos spirit beverage is produced in the area along with ciders, butters and cheeses, and so it's no wonder that the countryside is covered in dairy farms and orchards.
Orne
Orne is Lower Normandy's inland department, and is named after the Orne River which flows out to the Channel. This department's most well-known village is the home of Camembert cheese.
Manche
The predominantly coastal department of Manche is named after the French word for the English Channel. Perfect for relaxing breaks, it's a place with far-reaching green fields and an abundance of farms, as well as some golden sandy beaches. Anyone that has been to Cornwall will easily be able to see the similarities.
