Best Things To Do In Normandy, France
These are our favorite things to see and do around the Chateau. Of course there are many other options and we would be happy to help you set them up.
Dining in the Orne
L’Auberge des Peintres (St Ceneri le Gerei) is a good place for lunch, it serves traditional French food. Book a table on the terrace and watch the world go by.
Le Tribunal (Mortagne) is a very good restaurant that regularly features the Normandy delicacy of Black Pudding, “boudin noir” on the menu. If you don’t fancy cooking it treat yourself to lunch or dinner here.
Pieds dans L’Eau is another excellent restaurant in Mortagne - you will love the setting and the quality and freshness of their cooking.
Le Tete au Loup is a traditional restaurant in Le Pin au Haras, en-route to the Memorial of Mont Ormel and just next door to Le Haras du Pin. Good traditional cooking with a lovely terrace.
Antiques, artisans, and picturesque visits
Camembert… The village of Camembert has a museum that explains the history of the cheese and is worth a visit. From there you can drive on to Livarot and stop off at the Graindorge Cheese Village where you can watch the different steps of the cheese making process and enjoy a cheese tasting.
The Cider Trail … The cider route starts 30 minutes from the Chateau and is a lovely way to discover the area. The 45K route is well signed and takes you through winding, tree lined country lanes, cider orchards and villages of half-timbered houses all decked out in their Sunday best. We recommend a visit to Maison Huet if you and your friends fancy a tasting?
Gardens in Normandy… If you enjoy visiting gardens, start to plan your trip because there are so many. The best time to visit gardens is from May to September.
Haras du Pin… houses a permanent exhibition which explains the role that horses have played in local life over the centuries. Every Thursday afternoon the Haras puts on demonstrations on an equine theme- so you can admire the Percheron and many other French breeds as they are put through their paces.
Normandy - History through the ages… Just 35 minutes from Courtomer, in the exact location occupied by the Memorial of Mont Ormel, the ultimate and most bitter battle of Normandy took place. The town of Falaise is nearby, the Civilian museum here gives another insight into the devastating effects of the war and the D Day landings - this time on the local population. Falaise is also home to William the Conqueror’s castle which has been entirely restored.
Bellême… Just a short drive south from the Chateau lies the lovely old town of Bellême. From Thursdays to Sundays the village comes alive. It is home to several artisans and some lovely antique shops. For golfers the course at Bellême is highly rated, yet rarely busy with modest green fees.
La Perrière… If you enjoy picturesque Norman villages you will enjoy La Perrière - just next door to Bellême. Le Maison D’Horbe is a restaurant, tea shop and antique shop. The decor is as lovely as the freshly prepared meals they serve!
Mortagne au Perche… Just a 30-minute drive from Courtomer lies the Perche, a magical area where time seems to have stood still. Mortagne au Perche was once the capital of the area. It’s fine buildings and quaint streets deserve to be discovered on foot. The Perche is well known for its organic produce and sustainable agriculture. The Saturday market in Mortagne is the place to admire, taste and buy some fresh, local delicacies.
Saint-Céneri le Gérei … is a pretty village lying on the river Sarthe just a 40-minute drive from Courtomer. Classified as one of the most beautiful villages in France it is well worth a visit.
Beuvron en Auge … The village is a great place to shop and of course to eat. Our two favorite restaurants are Café Forges and the Michelin starred Pave d’Auge. The Cider route passes through Beuvron and is especially lovely in late Spring when the orchards are decked in apple blossom or in October when the trees are ladened with apples of all colors and sizes.
Bagnoles de L’Orne… Just an hour’s drive west of Courtomer lies the elegant spa town of Bagnoles de L’Orne, nestling around a lake in the middle of the forest of Andaines. The town is still famous for the healing powers of its waters but also acts as a base for outdoor pursuits - walking, riding and cycling. O Gayot is our go-to restaurant in Bagnoles - the service is friendly and the food is freshly prepared in their kitchens. If you like Tripe the chef recently won a national award for his and you can buy it ready prepared to eat at home from the little delicatessen next to the restaurant.
Lisieux… This is one of the main sites of pilgrimage in France, second only to Lourdes and is just a short drive from the Château. It was the home of Ste. Thérèse, more popularly known as “The Little Flower”, from age four until her death in 1897.
Bayeux… This lovely town combines the roots of Norman history with proximity to the D-Day beaches of World War II. The Bayeux Museum displays one of the oldest and certainly most famous embroidered tapestries in the world.
D-Day Beaches … The D-Day landing beaches are a short drive from the Chateau and our guests regularly make the day trip during their stay.
Le Mont Saint Michel… One of the most visited sites in the world. A monastery and fortress, Le Mont Saint Michel rises from the sea just off the coast of Normandy. Mont St Michel is a favorite day trip amongst our guests. Plan to start out early so that you arrive before the place gets too busy.
The land of Châteaux and fine wine…explore the Loire Valley… Villandry, Chaumont, Chinon…. just a few of the Châteaux of the Loire that you can visit while staying at Courtomer. Admire the Renaissance architecture and learn about the power struggles and intrigues of the French nobility as they vied for influence and control.
The area isn’t just famous for its place in French history; it also produces some exceptional wines, so make time to visit the vineyards and bring a few bottles back to taste in the evening over dinner.
Monet’s Garden at Giverny… Claude Monet's garden at Giverny is probably the most famous garden in France and is less than two hours from the Château. Monet painted some of his most famous works whilst living here, including the Waterlilies series.
For more activities in the Orne, we recommend looking through the Orne Tourisme website.