Chambre d'Hôtes and Gite in 18th Century Longhouse with Wild Salmon Fishing

Gite de Charme details

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The longhouse and patio

Main entrance

Wisteria

Treehouse in Walnuttree

Cherry blossoms

Dining room

Reception

Dining room - dinner

Dining room - breakfast for one

Dining room - homemade croissants

The Salon

The courtyard

Jenny, Lisa and Pepe

a choice of fresh fruit for breakfast

Main entrance

Home description

La Vimonderie is an impressive early 18th century Norman longhouse, built from local stone and granite, with land of just under 6 acres laid out to pasture and an old walled orchard. It is situated at the south eastern edge of the Parc des Marais, and 6 miles north of St. Lô. The property is an ancient French cider farm, and has been carefully renovated, furnished with antiques and modern furniture alike.

The salon with its large fireplace provides a welcoming atmosphere on cooler days for a quiet read from the many books on art, wine, philosophy or English, French, German and Spanish literature, or for playing a board game or watching TV.

Breakfast is taken in the large farmhouse kitchen. There is a variety of options - French or German type continental breakfast, or a cooked English style breakfast (at a small surcharge). Milk and eggs are fresh every day from next door's farm, and the bread provides the typical 'gout du terroir'. For example, a 7 cereal bread with walnuts baked in a 'four au bois' or 'la gâche' which is a local type of brioche. For the figure conscious, there is always fat free yoghurt and fresh fruit!

All rooms have tea and coffee making facilities and fresh cool mineral water. With their exposed timbers and huge oak beams, they are cosy and comfy to relax in or watch TV/video after a busy day sightseeing. The rooms are light and airy, the bedlinen is cotton and is from Laura Ashley, Next etc. and the towels and bathrobes are from Christies. There is also a small kitchenette for guests, however no fridge, as Gite de France does no longer allow it.

The house has a large courtyard with ample parking even for a bus. There are several areas for outdoor lounging - weather permitting - the massive outbuildings will provide extra space for activities and self-catering in the future, but this giant project has only been started and will hopefully be completed in 2009.

Visitors who come again, tell us that it is for the atmosphere and the cuisine. The owner will be delighted to provide evening meals, with a minimum of 24 hours notice, (or picnic baskets and packed lunches). Most of the vegetables are home grown, and 100% organic, served absolutely fresh for our cuisine internationale, French, Mediterranean, Moroccan, Austrian and even Indian.

Evening Menus

A simple meal with aperitif - costs €10 - 12, is served at 8pm with a main course and a bottle of wine, then dessert and coffee.

Gourmet dinner which includes all beverages except Champagne - from €22, is served at 7.30pm. For example on 1 June we served:

• Aperitif (muscat, port, sparkling wine - Cremant d'Alsace.
• Zesty salad à la Jamie Oliver or Melon au Porto/Melon au Roquefort/or Melon and Parma ham.
• Terrine au thon à la maison (in a white wine jelly).
• Traditional 'Trou Normand' - sorbet with Calva
• Roast rack of lamb covered in a breadcrumb topping ( made of fresh herbs from the garden) served à la 'guard of honour' with a pepper sauce, roast vegetables, 'tomates farcies et gratin dauphinois'.
• Fromage (avec de la salade verte).
• Clafoutis aux cerises (from our orchard) or strawberry cheesecake crunchies.
• Coffee.

Accommodation detail

gite in Spring

Entrance of the Gite

Gite and courtyard

The kitchen

The living room

Shower room

Gite with private patio

Entrance to gite

Sitting area

Dining area with wood burning stove

Barbecue

Mont Saint Michel

Beach near granville

Wisteria

Gite in Spring

Christmas

Masterbedroom

bedroom

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Ground Floor

Entrance to a 40square meter open plan "Séjour" with

• Fitted kitchen made to measure by local craftsman in solid oak and the tiles for the worktop are from a Brittany Pottery, with fridge Freezer, 2nd Fridge, built in oven, halogen hotplates (4), micro wave, dishwasher, washer dryer.
• Sitting room and dining area. The television offers both French and English channels (satellite). A useful extra sofa bed in the sitting room which could sleep two.

First Floor

• Master Bedroom with large fitted wardrobe, with 3 windows give lovely views over the garden and country side
• Smaller 2 bedded room for 2 children
• Small mezzanine
• Very nice shower room with toilet

About the location

Cherbourg is 45 to 50 minutes from the Vimonderie. The 'Cité de la Mer' at Cherbourg harbour  in the old terminal building is a must to see! You need to plan 2 hours for that. It is well worth your while to take an earlier ferry for a visit.

Staying off the beaten track has its rewards when you discover the 'Parc des Marais', with its fantastic wild bird life, or visit the castles or out of the way beauty spots or St. Lô which has become one of the world's capital of the horse, with all year round events at the Haras, the national stud of France. The Normandy horse show is always during the 2nd and 3rd week of August and travellers are advised to book early as rooms are well booked up during this time. 

La Vimonderie is equally well placed for a visit to Ste. Mère eglise and the D-day beaches, as it is to Bayeux with its old cathedral and famous tapestry, or to the 'jardin publique de Coutances', (all about 20 minutes), while the west coast beaches with Granville and the warmer micro-climate at 35 to 40 kilometres, and are less than an hours drive away. There you can take a boat/ferry to Jersey (takes 1 hour) for an afternoon's outing, or drive on another 15 to 20 minutes to Mont St. Michel, and return to a warm reception at the Vimonderie.

Even to Paris it is not too far. Start early, leave your car at the station of Lison (5 miles from us) and take the fast direct train to Paris, Gare St. Lazare. You'll be there in under 2 hours, without any hassle, to spend a glorious day in the Capital. Then return with the last train direction Cherbourg, (get off at Lison), and back to civilized Bed and Breakfast prices and Normandy hospitality.

Close to home there is lots to do as well. Borrow a bike here or walk along the River Vire (about 900 metres from us) wild Salmon Fishing with fishing licence available in wonderfully peaceful countryside, with only birds, cows or horses to gaze at you, or just lounge around the courtyard to 'profiter du soleil'

St Lô itself is well worth a visit, especially in June with all the 'manifestations des vieux combattants' and days of remembrance (destruction of St. Lô during World War 2) with historic exhibitions, art exhibitions, large sculptures and structures being displayed in public places throughout the town, or just going shopping, eating out at one of the nice restaurants in the 'basse ville' by the river, or simply sitting in one of the cafés watching the world go by French style.

See Local guide and map for information on nearby towns and facilities.

Activities near by

Bird Watching, Boating, Cycling, Fishing, Gourmet dining, Hiking, Horse riding, Rambling, Riverside activities, Shopping, Sightseeing, Swimming, Tennis, Walking, Wine tasting

See Activities and attractions for more information on nearby activities and places of interest.

How to get here

See Local guide and map for information on nearby towns and airports.