Summer discounts at our farmhouse gites in Normandy

The sun is shining and if you have not yet booked your holiday in Normandy  NOW is the time to do it because we are offering  a 10% discount off all gite bookings made before the  end of May!

10 % discount off the basic tariff rate means that you can enjoy a really great value break this summer.

Check our current availability on the right hand side of this page


Contact us using the form at the bottom of our web-page which can be found by clicking here

Please quote 'May Blog Offer' to claim your discount

Bike Hire in Normandy

Surprisingly there are not very many places that offer bike hire in this area but guests at Orchard Gites can borrow a bike as we have several available here.
So why not pack up a picnic and tootle of around the local lanes and enjpy the countryside at a leisurely pace.

A Day Trip in Paris

Paris is only a few hours from Vire, making a visit to the romantic capital something to plan into your itinerary when you stay with us here at Orchard Gites.

Trains from Vire to Paris run regularly and tickets can be booked online at SCNF . There is no charge for parking at Vire station.

A visit to the Eiffel Tower is a must providing you have a head for heights. Even if you decide not to climb to the top, this iconic tower always looks quite magical from the ground too!

The Sacre Coeur offers another stunning view of the city whether you visit during the day or at night. In the heart of Montmartre, the nearest Metro station is Abbesses.

Take a trip along the Seine on a 'Bateaux Mouches' to see Paris from a another viewpoint. If you are feeling footsore why not try the eco friendly alternative to getting around the city. The pedal powered Urban Cabs give you a chance to look at the sights without getting blisters!

Or do your own pedalling with a Vélib' rental bike: Find out more on Durant & Cheryl Imboden's Paris for Visitors site.

Sight-seeing is bound to give you an appetite! If you have a sweet tooth then a visit to the wonderful Ladurée Pattisserie is most definitely recommended!! So many tempting delights to choose from!

Normandy D-Day Landing Beaches

For many of our guests, a visit to the D-Day beaches is at the top of the list of places to visit whilst staying with us. The landing beaches are an unforgetable destination, poignantly reminding us that 100,000 soldiers lost their lives here in 1944.

The 5 beaches, code named Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword are situated to the North of us here at La Foucaudiere and can easily visited as part of a day trip.

On the beach at Arromanche you will see the remains of the Mulberry Harbour. Prefabricated sections were linked together form an artificial harbour, which was used over a period of 8 months enabling the delivery of 4 million tons of supplies and the landing of 2.5 million men and 500,000 vehicles.

Don't miss the town of St Mere Eglise on the Cotentin Peninsula, which was the first town to be liberated in France. Famous also because one of the American paratroopers was caught up on the spire of the church as he made his landing. John Steele hung there for two hours in the midst of the fighting until he was finally cut down and taken prisoner by the Germans.

The museum, 'Musee Airborne' at St Mere Eglise is highly recommended.
It is open from 1st February to 30th November and during the Christmas holidays between 9.30am -12pm and 2pm - 6pm.
Opening hours are extended between April 1st and Sepember 30th from 9am - 6.45pm.

The Extraordinary garden.....in the snow!!

Mont St Michel

The magical, UNESCO world heritage site 'Mont St Michel' is a must see destination if you are staying at with us here at Orchard Gites.

The abbey is open from:
9am to 7pm (last admissions 6pm) 2nd May -31st August
9.30 to 6pm (last admissions 5pm) 1st September -30th April
The abbey is closed 1st September, 1st May and 25th December

TIPS to help you make the most of your visit:
AVOID the crowds by getting to Mont St Michel as early as possible, avoiding the mid morning rush. Alternatively plan a visit for later in the afternoon.

WHY not ...
VISIT the nearby town of Avranche, where you will find the illuminated manuscripts from the Mont St Michel displayed in the town museum. There is a lovely view out across the bay from Le Jardin des Plantes. I love the Saturday market with it's numerous stalls, which are set up along the narrow backstreets.

WALK from Genet across the bay to Mont St Michel. Remember-it is dangerous to walk across the bay by yourself You must be accompanied by a guide. Alternatively why not travel by horseback

DRIVE along the coast to Granville and then back home via Vire

Sunrise