7 Reasons to take a Low Season Holiday in France

Posted by Rosie

"Where are you going on your SUMMER holidays?" is a question many of us both ask and get asked.  However holidays do not need to be limited to the summer months and there are some very good reason to take a holiday out of peak season ... which is great if you are some-one with pre-school children or a couple/group of adults without any children in tow!

Normandy countryside in winter

7 Reasons to Take A Low Season Holiday in France

Discounted Prices

Despite what some people say about how holidays cost more in the peak summer months, it is far more likely that owners discount their holidays out of high season in an attempt to fill these more difficult weeks.  Therefore, if you can holiday in low or medium season the price for your holiday should be much lower than in the summer.  The same is true for ferry companies with considerably lower ferry ticket prices in low season.  Oh and we have a code that will give you 20% off with Brittany Ferries crossings.

Flexible Dates

Most holiday home owners will be happy to take a short booking in low season if you cannot make a whole week.  Alternatively they are generally more flexible with dates and will allow a whole week but with midweek change-over if that suits you better (and midweek ferry travel is cheaper).

Special Offers

Many holiday home owners have special offers in low season.  Here at Eco-Gites of Lenault we offer a 15% discount from September to June if just two people stay in gite.  Certain dates are excluded but couples can still bring a cot sleeping infant without losing this reduction.  We are also offering 2016 holidays at 2015 prices if you book before Dec 31st 2105.   More details of all our offers are detailed here.

Quieter Tourist Attractions and Restaurants

Here in Normandy many of the main tourist attractions are still open and much quieter.  For example you will not have to queue to get into The Bayeux Tapestry and with so few other visitors you will have plenty of time and space to admire this fabulous piece of needlework.  Some attractions are also cheaper to get into in Winter.  If you want to eat out you will also find restaurants less packed and no chance of missing out at your favourite place to eat.

Part of the Bayeux Tapestry.  Image from http://www.bayeuxtapestry.org.uk

 

Plenty of Events, Exhibitions and Festivals

Certainly in Normandy there are things going on all year round.  For example in November there are festivals celebrating seafood and cider, in December there are Christmas markets and in January there is a huge antiques fair in Rouen.  The weekly town markets continue all year round and without so many tourists they are less crowded and you will have more time to chat to the stall owners (who love it if you try out your French).  Click here for more details of events throughout low season.

Sale Time (Les Soldes)

In France all shops have to have their sales at given times and the next major sale period is in January. Why not use some of the money you saved on your booking and splash out in the sales?  There are often huge reductions to be had and currently the Euro is weak against the pound so your money will go even further!

Log Burners and Mulled Wine/Cider

You may not have the long evenings of Summer to sit outside but what could be nicer than heading out for a bracing walk around the local footpaths or up at the coast and then enjoy the evening in.  Make yourself a mulled wine/cider or steaming hot chocolate and snuggle up in front of the wood burner.  At Eco-Gites of Lenault there are plenty of books for you to read and games to play so you won't be bored of an evening.  The wood for the wood burner is included in the price of your holiday, as are lessons on lighting the fire if you are struggling!  It's very easy once you know how though.

The wood burner at Eco-Gites of Lenault

Christmas

Finally we could not really end this post without a mention of the festive season.  Our Christmas week is priced at mid season levels (not high) and the weeks up to Christmas are low season.  So even if commitments tie you to family and home for the Big Day itself you could still fit in a sneaky French break beforehand. Come and enjoy the Christmas markets, stock up on wine and presents and enjoy a country where commercialisation of Christmas is much less but town Christmas lights and decorations are fabulous.  Have a look at our Christmas in Normandy Pinterest Board to see what I mean.

I hope by now we tempted you to think about taking a low season holiday.  If so please do get in contact with us for more details and to book your stay at Eco-Gites of Lenault.  Click here to email us or visit our website here.

Free things to do in Calvados, France

Posted by Rosie

Coming on holiday does not always have to be expensive.  Going self catering can be a cheaper option and once at your destination there are plenty of free things you can do.  Calvados in Normandy is no exception.  When I started to look into what free things there are to do close to Eco-Gites of Lenault I thought it would just be one blog but in fact there is so much I will have to write several!

Here then is a summary of what to expect over the coming weeks:

1. Visits related to World War II

Normandy played a pivotal role in World War II and with thousands of troops landing on the beaches of Calvados and Manche on June 6th 1944, the Allies began to regain control of Europe from the Nazis.  There are many places you can visit to learn about and remember this time - the beaches themselves, significant battle sites, cemeteries and visitor centres.  Click here for more details.

2. Heritage Sites

The rich history of Calvados stretching back to before William the Conqueror is celebrated in it's many buildings.  From the great cathedral at Bayeux to a tiny chapel just down the road from here, there are free visits you can make to churches, abbeys, castles and stately homes.

The church at Lenault

 

3. Open Spaces

One of France's long distance footpaths (GR221) passing our back gate and there are miles of paths and countryside to explore.  Many designated wildlife and natural areas are free to visit as well as gardens and open farms.

Calvados countryside

 

4. Routes that guide you through the history and culture of Calvados

Calvados has a number of guided driving routes to guide you round the best of what the region has to offer.  These include WWII routes, a cider route and a tour of Swiss Normandy.

 

5. Free events, festivals, museums and art galleries

Throughout the year free events take place across Calvados. Food festivals celebrate everything from the humble carrot to the opulent scallop; kite festivals take to the air and there are many art exhibitions and museums with no entry charges.

Dieppe Kite Festival

Over the next few weeks I will give more details of the many free things to do in Calvados. In the meantime if you have any particular favourite free visits you can recommend for this region, please do let us know.

Normandy markets

Posted by Rosie

Possibly the most popular outing  made from guests staying at Eco-Gites of Lenault is a trip to one of our local markets. France is well know for it's weekly markets and Normandy is no exception.  Regular Twitter and Facebook followers will probably already know that I go to one of our local markets most weeks and have been known to come back with chickens even when I only went to meet a friend for coffee!  At least so far I have resisted the rabbits:

 So what can I tell you about our local markets?

There will be a market every day somewhere locally as this list shows

Our most local ones are:

Mon - Tinchebray
Tues - Thury Harcourt
Wed - Villers Bocage, Flers
Thurs - Condé-sur-Noireau
Fri - Vire
Sat - Aunay-sur-Odon
Sun - Caen

They generally run from 9am to 12 noon, sometimes up to 1pm.
Even the smallest of towns will often have a little weekly market.
The markets are open all year come rain or shine although they are a bit quieter in the winter months and a few stall owners will not brave the colder months.   Most are open air but a few are (partly) under cover eg Flers.
The bigger markets will be in the town centre which will be closed to vehicles.
These larger markets will have stalls selling a great range of things including:

•    Fruit and Veg
•    Meats - cooked, processed and raw (sometimes even horse meat)
•    Fish
•    Cheese
•    Clothes, shoes and accessories
•    Make-up
•    Music and games
•    Loom bands - well until the next craze comes along!
•    Toys
•    Chainsaw other other gardening tools
•    Poultry and other small animals
•    Flowers
•    Housewares 
•    Double Glazing!
•    Plants, flowers and vegetable seedlings
•    Honey
•    Bread and cakes
•    Wine and/or cider
•    Organic produce

 

 

 

  

The fruit and veg that you buy at a market will be very seasonal (no peaches in December or parsnips in July) and much of it will be very local.  There is however one thing to be aware of.  Although France uses the metric system, many fruit and veg stall owners will sell their produce in livres or pounds.  If at first you think the price of something is wonderfully low, just check how much you are getting - a livre (approx 500g) or a kilo!

Most of the larger stalls are commercial businesses.  There will often also be  a corner of the market for local residents to set up a table and sell their excess garden and farm produce.  These tend to be older residents and  what they sell is invariably seasonal and usually very varied.  There is no such thing as a typical seller here but as an example a summer table from this section may well be selling a couple of chickens, a few pots of jam, some beans, a bag or two of potatoes and some cut flowers.

There will often also be a van or two selling crêpes and or take-away food such as paella, couscous or pizzas ... so there should be no need to get a pizza from the wall on market day!

What you will also find is how busy the markets are - many residents will buy from them on a regular basis and when they have their shopping they will pass the time meeting friends and chatting.  French markets are a very sociable place and certainly not somewhere you should try and rush around.

As I said, I try to go to the market at Condé-sur-Noireau every week.  I meet up with a friend, we drink coffee and wander round buying our wares and enjoying the atmosphere.  I buy a lot of my vegetable seedlings and as a regular I now often find a few extra plants thrown in for free.  I also did well at one of the fruit and vegetable stalls last week who, at the end of the day, were selling off melons at a reduced price.  3 large melons for 4€ was a great bargain and the seller was happy to chose those of different ripeness so I could make them last over the next few days.  That is the kind of service you will get at French markets.

Do you like to visit French markets and if so what do you like to shop for? 

 

Winter flowers at Condé-sur-Noireau market

 

  

Calvados and "Un Trou Normand"

Posted by Rosie

Eco-Gites of Lenault is in the Calvados department of the region of Lower Normandy (Basse-Normandie) and this department is famous for, amongst other things, the drink that bears it's name - Calvados.  The department of Calvados was created after the French Revolution although the name of Calvados as a drink had been in use for many years before that.  Calvados is an apple brandy distilled from cider and a Calvados distiller may use  between 100 and 200 varieties of apple to create his drink.  In the briefest of summaries, apples are pressed to release their juice which is then fermented into cider before being distilled into eau de vie which is aged in oak casks for a minimum of 2 years to create Calvados.  The longer the ageing process, the better quality and smoother the Calvados.

Good quality Calvados is a wonderful drink that can warm right to the inner depths on a cold Winter's day.  It is also one of two ingredients in a palate cleanser that is eaten between courses of a large French meal/feast - A Trou Normand.  A simple creation, Calvados is poured over a scoop of apple sorbet and is usually served between the starter and the main course, allowing the palette to be cleansed and ready for what invariably is a heavy, meat laden main course.  It translates as a Normandy Hole ... not quite sure why though!

Un Trou Normand (Image from Tendance Ouest)

We first came across this Normandy delight at the village mechoui or BBQ.  A starter of sausages was followed by a main course of spit roasted lamb or pork with the Trou Normande served in between, much needed with all that meat around.  We were at this particular mechoui with friends and whilst we managed to stop the organisers pouring Calvados onto the boys' bowls of sorbet, our friends were not so vigilant.  "Cor, Mum," exclaimed Mary-Anne, then aged 9, "I like this ice cream thing!"

Have you ever eaten a Trou Normand?  If not, you could always try one when you book yourself a holiday here at Eco-Gites of Lenault!  We might even make you one if you order one of our first night suppers and you mention that you read about it here on the blog .... 

Teurgoule - Normandy Rice Pudding

Posted by Rosie

One of the great things about travelling to a new place is discovering it's local food and drinks.  Normandy is no exception and offers plenty of culinary delights.  It's green fields feed the cows who produce the milk for Normandy cream, butter and cheeses such as Camembert and Livarot.  It's apple orchards grow the apples for Tarte Normande, Cider and Calvados.  It's coastline gives us wonderful seafood.

However, there is one dish that perhaps might not be the first to pop into people's minds when thinking of Normandy Cuisine.   It goes by the unusual name of Teurgoule and is a spiced rice pudding, ideally made with raw Normandy milk and flavoured with cinnamon.  And it is a great example of slow cooking as it takes anywhere between 5 and 7 hours to bake!

Such is the perceived importance of teurgoule that it even has a brotherhood called the Confrérie des gastronomes de Teurgoule et de Fallue de Normandie who oversee an annual teurgoule competition whilst wearing their tradition green and orange cape.  This brotherhood still guard the official recipe, however if you wish to have a go at this delicious pudding here is the unofficial recipe:

Teugoule terrine (Picture from Calvados Tourism)

Teurgoule

Ingredients

Serves: 12 

• 2 teaspoons vanilla sugar
• 175g caster sugar
• 175g short grain pudding rice
• 2 litres milk - raw milk is best otherwise full full fat fresh milk
• 1 pinch ground cinnamon

Method

1. Preheat the oven on 150º C / Gas 2.
2. In a large baking dish*, mix together the sugar, vanilla sugar, rice, milk and cinnamon.
3. Bake in the oven for 4 1/2 to 5 hours.

*  A traditional teurgoule will be baked in a special teurgoule earthenware terrine as pictured above.  I am however sure it would work just as well in any deepish bowl.

 

The long cooking time at a low temperature allows the rice to fully absorb the milk and create a delicious thick, caramelised top.  This really is poshed up rice pudding!  If however you don't fancy making this yourself you will find it for sale at most markets.

 

Teugoule

If this has tickled your taste buds for some French cooking why not have a look at our Pinterest Board - Normandy Cuisince - I am sure it will get your mouth watering!  

I have a traditional terrine but have never yet made a teurgoule - I really must remedy that very soon!  Have you ever eaten or made teurgoule or have you any other comments on our Normandy Cuisine? 

Normandy in July

Posted by Rosie

Normally in peak season at Eco-Gites of Lenault we only take bookings for full weeks.  This year however we have friends from Australia coming into the gite for a few days midweek so for this year only we are able to offer 2 long week-end breaks in peak season and as detailed below:

* July 12th - 15th which includes Bastille Day * 
There will be fireworks in every local town!
£240 for 3 nights
** NOW £192 **

* July 18th - 21st *

£240 for 3 nights
** NOW £192 **

June 29th - July 5th also available with 20% discount

Please contact us for prices.

We also have a code that will give to 10% off crossings with Brittany Ferries and we are just an hour from Caen or 1½ hrs from Le Havre. 

There really is no excuse not to not book yourself a cheeky little break over here in Normandy.  Here are some of the things you could be doing when you stay:

July events in Normandy

All month, every Friday:

'Les Arts de la Rue (Les Clés de Bagnoles)'.  Street art every Friday evening from 9pm at Bagnoles-de-l'Orne, Orne

5th and 6th July:

Fêtes Médiévales' at Bayeux, Calvados. The streets of the medieval town come alive with medieval performances, stalls and games.  We've been to this and it's great.  The whole town seems to get involved with lots of people dressing up and loads of Medieval things to do and see.

11th - 30th July:

Night-time tour of Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey, Manche.  Take a trail of discovery around this iconic setting with enhanced sound and lights

13th and 14th July:

Fête Nationale.  Celebrate France's national Holiday with firework displays in all local towns.

 

19th - 23rd July:

'Between Sky and Sea' Festival at Mont-Saint-Michel, Manche.  An eclectic mix of fine arts exhibitions, street theatre, concerts and lectures.

This is just a taste of some of the many events happening around Normandy and close to Eco-Gites of Lenault.  Further information and links to each website can be found here on the Normandy Tourist Office page.

For further details about the gite and to make a bookings please click here to visit our website or here to send an email.  You can also telephone 0033 231 09 27 51 (Up to 8pm UK/9pm French time please!)

Normandy in June

Posted by Rosie

Events, Exhibitions and Festivals in Normandy 

June 2104

Normandy has something to offer tourists all through the year and this year is even more special with both the celebrations for the 70th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings in June and the World Equestrian Games in August/September.  These are far from the only events on this year and here is a taste of some of the varied events, exhibitions and festivals waiting for everyone who is in Normandy this June.

June events in Normandy

Every Thursday through June and July:  
'Les jeudis du Pin' at Le Haras du Pin (stud) - the chance to see a weekly display of dressage, show-jumping and fine horsemanship.

Photo from Le Haras du Pin

Up to October:
'Leaving the War behind. From the Battle of Normandy through to Reconstruction' an exhibition that will be travelling around Calvados

Up to the end of October:
'Cherbourg... and Freedom came from the Sea', an exhibition at La Cité de la Mer, Cherbourg, Manche showing the work of the American troops in the days following the liberation of the port of Cherbourg

Until December:
'Grandma what was it like during the war?' an exhibition at Juno Beach Centre, Courseulles-sur-Mer, Calvados showing the war-time experiences of Norman and Canadian civilians, mainly of children, from 1940 to 1944

Until December:
'100 objects from the 100 days of the Battle of Normandy'.  An exhibition at the Caen Memorial, Calvados recounting the conflict which led to the Liberation of Paris and Western Europe putting the emphasis on objects which are remarkable or previously unseen.

14th June - August 23rd:
Rendez-vous à la Cathédrale', Bayeux, Calvados.  A sound and light show around the cathedral, at dusk, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays

Photo from Animations Estivals - Bayeux Catherdral

21st June:
Fête de la Musique, across Normandy. This National Music Day is celebrated with music brought to the streets of every Normandy town.

28th - 29th June:
'Rétrofestival', Caen, Calvados. A Vintage car festival with over 500 vintage cars including post-war and Liberation vehicles

If you are looking for accommodation when attending any of these events we do still have some availability in June and July:  Click here to go to our prices and availability page or scan through the list of dates below:

Sun June 1st - Tues June 3rd (short break)

Mon June 9th - Sat July 5th (3 full weeks available and one shorter break)

Sat July 13th - Tues July 15th (weekend break that includes Bastille Day)

Thurs July 17th - Sat July 27th (9 day break possible)

Dates after September 13th

Christmas 2014

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