Normandy Cottage, Holiday Cottage for rent in France

Normandy Cottage, Holiday Cottage for Rent, Normandy, France

Normandy Cottage - Holiday Cottage for rent in France

Guest Comments

'You'd almost expect to find Hansel and Gretel in this fairytale half-timbered cottage, hidden in the Normandy woods ... if you want to escape completely, this is the place.' (Alastair Sawday's 'Special Places to Stay' guides: French Holiday Homes)

'Thanks again. We thoroughly enjoyed our week. Even more than last year!! We shall possibly request another week in September.' (They did.) (Charles Frumer, Somerset)

We did think about a change (after 6 visits) but an alternative would have to offer something more than we experience at your cottage.' (John Fawell, Bucks)

'The cottage is so peaceful and pretty and just the right size for two.' (Lynn Pulham, Kent)

Normandy Cottage

Normandy Cottage is a perfect hideaway for two, being small and truly secluded – at the end of its own lane, in a half-acre meadow, bordered by a deciduous wood.

Yet it’s only a 45-minute drive to Rouen, Honfleur and the sea. And Paris is just 2 hours away.

Normandy Cottage has been selected for inclusion in the well-known Alastair Sawday Guides ‘Special Places to Stay – French Holiday Homes’.

The living room (about 11 foot square) has original exposed beams and a terracotta tiled floor. It is furnished with simple country antiques and bric-a-brac, found locally. There are two armchairs either side of a traditional enamel ‘Godin’ woodburner, and a dining table and chairs. Just help yourself to logs from the woodpile, if the evenings get colder while you’re there.

Don’t forget to bring your favourite CDs and cassettes to play.

Normandy Cottage
living room

Normandy Cottage
bedroom

The bedroom is up some very steep stairs, in what used to be the ‘grenier’ (grain store).
The original oak beams are exposed to the apex of the roof, the floor is bare oak boards, and there are two windows.

The brass double bed is equipped with a standard double duvet and pillows.

(You will need to bring your own bed-linen and towels.) The shower-room is downstairs, with basin and WC.

Normandy Cottage has a good-sized kitchen leading off the living room. It has an electric hob, mini electric oven and fridge. A toaster, kettle and coffee machine are also provided, together with cutlery, crockery and cooking utensils.

Normandy Cottage - view from the patio

From the patio of Normandy Cottage, you can enjoy a lovely view of La Vallee Blonde, towards the forests.

Sit there with a glass of wine of an evening, and you may see deer and owls.

During the day, you’re almost bound to hear a cuckoo and the local woodpecker, not to mention a whole host of other birds.

There are glorious walks right from the cottage.

Normandy Cottage - distant view of the cottage

Normandy Cottage is a kilometre from the hamlet of St-Benoist-des-Ombres, up a hairpin bend, from where this photo of the cottage was taken.

There’s a gem of a little church, with a centuries-old wooden figure of Saint Benoist over its door, and one of the smallest ‘mairies’ in the whole of France.

There’s also a bar/restaurant, which means you don’t need to drive if you want to eat out. You just roll down the hill afterwards.

Normandy Cottage
Pont Audemer

St-Georges-du-Vievre is 2 miles away, and will supply your everyday needs, with a bank, post-office, bar, butcher, baker, chemist, newsagent, green-grocer and small restaurant/hotel.

The tourist information centre is open during the holiday season, and has all sorts of free leaflets on where to eat, places to visit and things to do.

Supermarkets are 5 kms away in Brionne, and 13 kms away in Pont Audemer, also known as Normandy’s Little Venice because of its Old Town canals.

If you like French markets, you’ll be spoilt for choice: visit Pont Audemer on Monday or Saturday, and Brionne on Sunday.

Normandy Cottage - Honfleur

Honfleur is famous for more than its Saturday market. It has an ancient and picturesque port area, and an Old Town with the breathtaking all-timber St Catherine’s church.

The artist Boudin was born here, and there is a museum dedicated to him and his work.

If you can’t afford a Boudin, there are numerous galleries selling the work of contemporary artists. And while on the subject of boudin (French for black pudding), there are several seriously good restaurants.

Seafood, rather than black pudding, however, is the local speciality.

Further along La Cote Fleurie are the sandy beaches of Deauville and Trouville. If you have money to burn, you’ll want to make the most of the boutiques, casinos and horse-racing offered by Deauville. Trouville is altogether less flashy, but no less fascinating. You can lunch at one of its numerous seafood restaurants and watch the fish market in progress on the opposite side of the quay.

Approximate driving times from ferry ports: Le Havre 45 minutes; Dieppe 1 hour 45 minutes; Caen 2 hours; Calais 4 hours.


Normandy Cottage - Rates	2008-2009	Normandy Cottage - Contact
Inclusive prices per week:		Jennifer Murray
July and August	£325	20 Powis Square, Brighton, BN1 3HG, UK
May, June and September	£270	01273 888033 or 07973 149345
March, April and October	£215	jennifermurray@ntlworld.com

Normandy Cottage, Holiday Cottage For Rent, Normandy, France - website by linda