Beaumesnil Chateau

You can only do so many chateaux, but this one was listed in the “Things To Do In Normandy” brochure and advertised a bookbinding exhibition which sounded fascinating.  Our internet research told us it was open from 11am – 7pm so we drove 50km out of our way and we were the only ones there when we arrived at 11.55am, only to find that they shut for lunch for 2 hours from 12.30 – 2.30pm. Ah yes, the French staff, nothing must interfere with a 2 hour lunch break, even if that’s not what it says on your internet site!  So we had to walk very quickly round the bookbinding exhibition, which was not much chop actually, then three floors and quite a few rooms of the chateau.  It was surprisingly interesting and still filled with original furnishings belonging to the Furstenberg family who purchased it in 1938.  We thought this place was beautiful.

A pretty entry garden area	Beaumesnil Chateau from the rear garden
The Drawing Room	This bride was having her photos taken in the grounds	Beaumesnil Chateau from the front

Caen

Another day trip, this time to Caen, former capital of the Norman Dukes.  In fact a lot of the city was destroyed in 1944 but there are still some impressive monuments remaining.  It was not the most exciting city we’ve been to, but a pleasant day out.

Highly detailed upper section of the Basilica St Pierre

It’s easy to see why the old buildings are crumbling

Love the gargoyle and interesting to note that it has a layer of lead on the top side to prevent it from further decay

Former Abbey, now Town Hall, impressive

If you didn’t get a postcard, it’s because it was too hard to choose one!

Falaise, Normandy

Falaise was the birthplace of William The Conqueror, so this area is important to Lindsay’s research and teachings.  Willie’s castle was all but obliterated in 1944 and has been rebuilt despite much public conjecture.  I have to say that although it was interesting to be standing where the great had been before, the extensive use of steel and glass in the rebuild removes any originality and it is hard to “feel” the history.  We also visited the fascinating Museum of ‘Automates’ – toys and models with moving parts, dating back to 1850.  There were complete displays which were designed for the shop windows of Galerie La Fayette in Paris every Christmas in the 1950’s.  We loved the town of Falaise and its surrounds and could easily revisit this area.

W.T.C.	W.T.C.’s tower	A view of Falaise from the top of W.T.C.’s tower
Thoroughly modern Normans	Street view, Falaise	Museum of Automates - 1936 - A true life story from the archives of the Tour de France when a local drunk moved a sign causing the cyclists to run into a group of pigs

Domaine de la Tour, Normandy

We drove from Brittany to Normandy today, but unfortunately it rained most of the day, so no photos along the way.  Linz had booked this accommodation before we left home.  It stands on 7 hectares of land and we were delighted with the beautiful rural setting and the period furniture in our spacious room.

The approach	Main accommodation building	An outer building converted into 2 very large gites
Our room	New friends … how can horses have such little legs?	We were in a rough area – this is the neighbour’s joint