Normandy Gite Holidays

What to do near La Fermonnière

Granville is an ancient town perched high on a rocky promontory, in Mont St Michel bay, on the Contentin Peninsular, nicknamed “La Monaco du Nord”, it is a delightful family resort and has long been appreciated by the Brits: the town was fortified by an Englishman Thomas Scale in the 15th century (though early references to Granville date back as far 1054). The old town is still surrounded by it’s original ramparts and this old walled city with it’s granite houses, cobblestone streets and museums makes an interesting visit, and provides shady walking when the afternoon sun gets too hot. Granville is full of charm, with a promenade, nice shops and plenty of good restaurants and pavement cafes, as well as a sizeable yachting harbour and commercial port which also runs boat services to the channel islands.

To the north a path leads along the cliff top to the Christian Dior Museum and gardens, Christian Dior designed these lovely gardens in the 1920’s, to complement the beautiful pink mansion (now museum) where he was born and where he spent his childhood. Both gardens and house are now open to the public. From the upper terrace, there are wonderful views across the bay as far as the Chausey Islands.

There are lovely beaches to both north and south of Granville, just follow the coast road (in either direction) and stop where you fancy.The D971 Granville to Coutances road follows a lovely, quiet stretch of coast, lined with sandy dunes. Down the coastal road D911, is Saint-Pair-Sur Mer. The beaches here have been wonderfully clean since the recent “pas de Chien”! clamp down, (families with toddlers take note) and are pleasant. There is also excellent life guard surveillance as well as cafes, toilets, shops and car parks, but the highlights has to be the two sea water pools which fill up with the in coming tide and stay full at low tide when the rest of the sea disappears. Carolles-plage can be reached on the D911 coast road from Granville. There are many north facing and sheltered coves along this part of the coast, with life guard surveillance and some small shops, along the coast road.

From Avranches there are many good vantage points for panoramic views out to sea. Up the coast from Granville is St. Martin de-Brehal, which is a small seaside village with shops situated close to its excellent beach. Walk along this beach to Coudeville plage, a stretch of beach known to be un-crowded.

There is so much more I can write about, but I won’t, I’ll let you explore, but I must tell you ten minutes in the opposite direction to Granville also nearby is the small village of Champrepus which has excellent standards of comfort and well being of it’s animal residents - over 90 species of them, there is a play ground and a “childrens corner”. Souvenir shop, picnic area and a snack bar, children will love it.

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