Guidebook for Lonlay-l'Abbaye

Katie
Guidebook for Lonlay-l'Abbaye

Everything Else

Lovely walks around the lake and through the woods. There are limestone cliffs to climb and a walk up to the top. Legend has it that King Arthur fell to his death here while trying to cross the lake to visit Guinevere. There are steps up to Chambre de la Reine. The little auberge next to the river has been closed for a few years but is currently being renovated and is due to re-open this summer. We'll keep you posted.
La Fosse Arthour
La Fosse Arthour
Lovely walks around the lake and through the woods. There are limestone cliffs to climb and a walk up to the top. Legend has it that King Arthur fell to his death here while trying to cross the lake to visit Guinevere. There are steps up to Chambre de la Reine. The little auberge next to the river has been closed for a few years but is currently being renovated and is due to re-open this summer. We'll keep you posted.
Explore the abbey and its pretty grounds at your leisure. There are picnic tables in the gardens for everyone to use and the old village cider press has some interesting information boards.
L'Abbaye Bénédictine Notre-Dame
Explore the abbey and its pretty grounds at your leisure. There are picnic tables in the gardens for everyone to use and the old village cider press has some interesting information boards.
There is a man-made lake with beaches, a cafe and boats to hire on the edge of this pleasant little town. Great if the weather is hot! If you like antiques, the local Brocante is well worth a visit. It is set in a large barn with beautiful but pricey restored furniture downstairs. Upstairs is an Aladdin's cave filled with bargain pieces ready for some a little TLC. Several items around the house have come from here. Warning, there is no WC and it can be very cold inside during winter months. It is open Thursday to Sunday only http://labrocantefertoise.com/
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La Ferté-Macé
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There is a man-made lake with beaches, a cafe and boats to hire on the edge of this pleasant little town. Great if the weather is hot! If you like antiques, the local Brocante is well worth a visit. It is set in a large barn with beautiful but pricey restored furniture downstairs. Upstairs is an Aladdin's cave filled with bargain pieces ready for some a little TLC. Several items around the house have come from here. Warning, there is no WC and it can be very cold inside during winter months. It is open Thursday to Sunday only http://labrocantefertoise.com/

Food Scene

Just a couple of doors along from the house, this restaurant serves simple but good food at reasonable prices - perfect for days when you prefer not to cook! Please note it is only open weekday lunchtimes as it caters mostly for local tradesmen. The square outside fills up with trade vans at midday every day!
Le Relais de L'Abbaye
16 Place Jules Levée
Just a couple of doors along from the house, this restaurant serves simple but good food at reasonable prices - perfect for days when you prefer not to cook! Please note it is only open weekday lunchtimes as it caters mostly for local tradesmen. The square outside fills up with trade vans at midday every day!
Le Relais at Dompierre serves up a delicious and hearty three course lunch for around 11 euros. Fantastic value for money and a great place to sample the local specialities. You can combine lunch with a visit to the nearby Musee de Fer and Parc des Forges de Varenne.
Dompierre
Le Relais at Dompierre serves up a delicious and hearty three course lunch for around 11 euros. Fantastic value for money and a great place to sample the local specialities. You can combine lunch with a visit to the nearby Musee de Fer and Parc des Forges de Varenne.
L'Echauguette offers excellent Pizzas. It is best to book ahead as it gets very busy.
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Domfront
18 Rue du Mont Margantin
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L'Echauguette offers excellent Pizzas. It is best to book ahead as it gets very busy.

Sightseeing

Bagnoles-de-l'Orne is a spa town, long visited by Parisians taking advantage of the health benefits and some time to relax. Today, there is a spa resort where you can book in for a pampering session! There are boats to hire or take a leisurely stroll around the lake. There are lots of grand buildings, antique centres and handmade chocolate shops in the pretty town centre.
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Bagnoles-de-l'Orne
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Bagnoles-de-l'Orne is a spa town, long visited by Parisians taking advantage of the health benefits and some time to relax. Today, there is a spa resort where you can book in for a pampering session! There are boats to hire or take a leisurely stroll around the lake. There are lots of grand buildings, antique centres and handmade chocolate shops in the pretty town centre.
Caen is a beautiful and diverse university town, often overlooked by visitors. As well as the castle ruins, there are two abbeys built by William the Conqueror and his wife and cobbled streets filled with antique shops, cafes, bars, restaurants and delicatessens. The Sunday morning market at the pleasure port is a must. On the outskirts, the Caen Memorial is a museum tracing Caen's military history to the present day. Pegasus Bridge is nearby just off the road to Ouistreham and the D-Day landing beaches stretch out along the coast to the Cotentin peninsular.
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Caen
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Caen is a beautiful and diverse university town, often overlooked by visitors. As well as the castle ruins, there are two abbeys built by William the Conqueror and his wife and cobbled streets filled with antique shops, cafes, bars, restaurants and delicatessens. The Sunday morning market at the pleasure port is a must. On the outskirts, the Caen Memorial is a museum tracing Caen's military history to the present day. Pegasus Bridge is nearby just off the road to Ouistreham and the D-Day landing beaches stretch out along the coast to the Cotentin peninsular.
World famous, Le Mont-Saint-Michel is a sight not to miss if you are spending time in the area. In my opinion, the town itself is overly touristy and I prefer to see it from the surrounding coast.
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Mont Saint-Michel Bay
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World famous, Le Mont-Saint-Michel is a sight not to miss if you are spending time in the area. In my opinion, the town itself is overly touristy and I prefer to see it from the surrounding coast.
Overlooking the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel, Cancale is famous for its oyster beds. Head to the huts next to the beach to sample fresh oysters served simply with a squeeze of lemon. At the weekends, the steps above the beach are filled with locals who bring their baguettes and wine for a picnic. The empty oyster shells are thrown on to the beach and are piled high by the end of the summer.
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CANCALE
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Overlooking the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel, Cancale is famous for its oyster beds. Head to the huts next to the beach to sample fresh oysters served simply with a squeeze of lemon. At the weekends, the steps above the beach are filled with locals who bring their baguettes and wine for a picnic. The empty oyster shells are thrown on to the beach and are piled high by the end of the summer.
This is a stunning example of a Norman chateau. Take a picnic and sit in the castle grounds under the apple trees. To go inside the chateau, check opening times online.
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Château de Carrouges
Le Château
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This is a stunning example of a Norman chateau. Take a picnic and sit in the castle grounds under the apple trees. To go inside the chateau, check opening times online.
The clue is in the name, Lassay has three chateaux! It's well worth a visit, you could easily spend a pleasant afternoon here wandering around the castle grounds. Take a picnic with you!
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Lassay-les-Châteaux
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The clue is in the name, Lassay has three chateaux! It's well worth a visit, you could easily spend a pleasant afternoon here wandering around the castle grounds. Take a picnic with you!
Although it is now verging on derelict, the Manoir de la Saucerie is an exceptional sight. As you wind down the lane, the Manoir is not visible until the last minute... prepare to be amazed!
Manoir de la Saucerie
Although it is now verging on derelict, the Manoir de la Saucerie is an exceptional sight. As you wind down the lane, the Manoir is not visible until the last minute... prepare to be amazed!
With over 400km of marked walks (including part of GR22 which also runs through Lonlay l'Abbaye) Mortain is definitely worth a visit. Below the town there are 2 waterfalls, Petite and Grande Cascade (25m high) set amongst limestone cliffs. The limestone is part of the same formation that runs through Domfront and Fosse Arthour where legend has it that King Arthur fell to his death while visiting Guinevere. On the hill above Mortain is the tiny Chapelle St Michel with views out along the old pilgrim route to Mont St Michel. This hill (Hill 314 on military maps) was defended by the 2nd Batallion of the 120th American Infantry Regiment against attacks of the 2.SS-Panzer Division during the German counter-offensive "Lüttich" (7-13 August 1944). They were relieved in the night of 12 August 1944. Of the 700 U.S. soldiers defending their positions here, 300 were killed in the fighting. There is a memorial to them near the chapel.
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Mortain
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With over 400km of marked walks (including part of GR22 which also runs through Lonlay l'Abbaye) Mortain is definitely worth a visit. Below the town there are 2 waterfalls, Petite and Grande Cascade (25m high) set amongst limestone cliffs. The limestone is part of the same formation that runs through Domfront and Fosse Arthour where legend has it that King Arthur fell to his death while visiting Guinevere. On the hill above Mortain is the tiny Chapelle St Michel with views out along the old pilgrim route to Mont St Michel. This hill (Hill 314 on military maps) was defended by the 2nd Batallion of the 120th American Infantry Regiment against attacks of the 2.SS-Panzer Division during the German counter-offensive "Lüttich" (7-13 August 1944). They were relieved in the night of 12 August 1944. Of the 700 U.S. soldiers defending their positions here, 300 were killed in the fighting. There is a memorial to them near the chapel.
The largest local town and nearest train station. There is a full range of commercial and leisure facilities including an aquatic centre with slides, ten pin bowling, cinema and a golf course. There is also a Chateau with gardens and museum. The market is on Wednesday and Saturday.
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Flers
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The largest local town and nearest train station. There is a full range of commercial and leisure facilities including an aquatic centre with slides, ten pin bowling, cinema and a golf course. There is also a Chateau with gardens and museum. The market is on Wednesday and Saturday.
Great views from the castle walls - reward yourself with an ice-cream after the tour! Fougeres is just 50km from the house.
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Fougères
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Great views from the castle walls - reward yourself with an ice-cream after the tour! Fougeres is just 50km from the house.
The birthplace of Guillaume le Conquerant. Rather surprisingly the interior has been renovated in a modern style. In the town there the Memorial des Civils.
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Falaise
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The birthplace of Guillaume le Conquerant. Rather surprisingly the interior has been renovated in a modern style. In the town there the Memorial des Civils.
Gardens that inspired the Impressionist painters Pissarro and Piette - walk along the Sentier des Peintres.
Monfoucault
Gardens that inspired the Impressionist painters Pissarro and Piette - walk along the Sentier des Peintres.
The Claude Monet gardens here are world-famous.
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Giverny
101-99 Rue Claude Monet
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The Claude Monet gardens here are world-famous.
Lovely chateau to visit
Couterne
Lovely chateau to visit
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Saint Céneri-le-Gérei
18 Rue de l'Église
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Essentials

Domfront is a quaint medieval town with a ruined fort up on the hill. There is a small market here every Friday morning as well as an Intermarche supemarket, bank and other amenities. There is an excellent bakers in St Front on the way to the Intermarche - useful when the Lonlay bakers is closed on a Monday.
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Domfront
18 Rue du Mont Margantin
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Domfront is a quaint medieval town with a ruined fort up on the hill. There is a small market here every Friday morning as well as an Intermarche supemarket, bank and other amenities. There is an excellent bakers in St Front on the way to the Intermarche - useful when the Lonlay bakers is closed on a Monday.