Normandy gites - a selection
of
self-catering holiday cottages for hire directly from the owners.
Book
directly
with
owners ! Best rates, and no hidden charges.
Most properties listed on Gitelink can be booked
directly
with owners, others can or must be booked through booking
sites
that do not charge the customer extra fees,
administrative charges or credit card fees.
Either way, avoid the commissions and fees
charged by many online holiday rental agencies, that can add up to 20%
to the
quoted rental charge – not to mention the commissions charged
to property
owners.
The Gitelink selection
An introduction to Normandy.
Normandy,
from where William the Conqueror set out in 1066, has much in common
with the south of England between Devon and Sussex: sandy beaches,
rocky cliffs in the Cotentin
peninsula, the famous white cliffs of Etretat, and
an
inland area full of wonderful small towns and villages, many boasting
fine half-timbered houses and cottages. One such town is Bayeux,
home of the
famous mediaeval Bayeux Tapestry. On the coast in the west of the
region lies the Mont St.
Michel, the most visited historic site in France outside
Paris.
The two main cities of Normandy are Caen,
the capital of Lower Normandy, and Rouen,
capital of
High Normandy. While Caen has risen from the ashes after virtual
destruction by allied bombing in the Second World War, Rouen boasts a
fine historic centre, around one of France's great medieval cathedrals.
It was on the Normandy coast between Cotentin and the Seine that, in
1944, the historic Normandy
Landings took place, paving the way to the liberation of
France and the defeat of fascism in Europe. The Normandy beaches, the
war cemeteries, and villages such as Ste. Mere l'Eglise,
bear witness to this critical moment in recent history.
Normandy is also famous for its stables and racehorses, and the classic
seaside resort of Deauville - with its well-known casino - has one of
France's more famous racecourses.
Local specialities include sea food ("fruits de mer") , famous cheeses
like Camembert
and Pont
l'Evèque,
and of course, like the S-W of England, cider... but also its more
potent cousin "Calvados".
The Gitelink Normandy directory offers a selection of self-catering
holiday homes, from small traditional cottages to authentic
half-timbered manor houses in the Norman countryside.
.
Getting to Normandy
Normandy is a region that is easily accessible from the UK, Belgium and
Holland, and ideal for short breaks without too much travelling.
Driving times
Direct access via
the Norman ferry ports of Cherbourg, Caen, Le Havre or Dieppe.
1 to 3 hours from
Calais or Lille under normal driving
conditions, following
motorway via Rouen or Le Havre See
Driving in France
Fly to Normandy
Regional airport: Deauville.
Peripheral airports: Rennes, Paris CDG.
Gites in other regions -
clickable map