Holiday cottage La Douve

in holiday region Cotentin, Manche, Basse-Normandie, Normandie

The Holiday cottage

A solid oak front door opens into a large open plan room with a rare example of a perfectly preserved ancient Norman inglenook fireplace as centre piece. Complete with fireside snug, farmhouse style dining table and chairs and a thoroughly modern kitchen cleverly harmonized with the original architectural elements of the building, this room truly feels like the heart of the home. The kitchen is equipped with a dishwasher, 4 ring electric hob, microwave oven, refridgerator and toaster. The second ground floor room provides a flexible space depending on your group requirements, and can be configured as a double or twin en-suite bedroom with a very high quality zip together bed base and mattresses. The room has a charming rustic atmosphere, with exposed stonework and timbers. 



A wooden staircase from the main living area takes you to a small galleried landing leading to two further bedrooms. The “Blue room “ is the largest upstairs room with a double bed and luxurious en suite shower room. The “Green Room” has a double bed, and again it's own luxurious en suite shower room, with charming touches such as stained glass windows. The peaceful atmosphere of the bedrooms is accentuated by high ceilings with exposed beams, a combination of stone with farrow & ball painted walls, the play of light from large south facing dormer windows, with views towards ornamental cherry trees and a traditional apple orchard in the distance.





Ample parking is provided, and the cottage is equipped with free Wi-Fi access.

Special features

Comfortable sprung mattresses and large 180cm double beds

Location and surroundings

Situated in a valley between 2 rivers (La Gloire and La Douve) Les Belles Rivieres has the best of both world's, beautiful Normandy countryside, fishing ports etc. along with the rich historic value that Normandy has on offer. Equidistant from the un spoilt east and west coastlines of the Cotentin peninsula, “La Douve” cottage is ideally situated to explore this beautiful region. The property is situated between two lovely market towns, Valognes (known as the Versailles of the north on account of it's beautiful architecture,) and Bricquebec, with it's ancient castle from the 100 years war, dominating the skyline. To the west the chic resort of Carteret is a must for great restaurants, boutiques, with endless sandy beaches, wild dunes and cliffs either side. Port Racine Europe's smallest fishing port, Cherbourg with the forts that bankrupted Louis16th, Napoleanic forts along with Hitler's fortifications The Atlantic Wall, the 100 years war castles, Roman remains, Bayeux Tapestry, Barfleur where William the Conqueror set sail from, St Vaast la Hougue a UNESCO site...they are all here and all less than an hour from the front door! 



Then there is the conservation areas and UNESCO sites locally - for example Head Office of Park Naturel Cotentin & Bessin is just a short drive down the N13 where you will find Carentan the market town with 7 rivers converging, in the winter months the whole of the area sees the flooding of the marshlands with migratory birds and the big skies reflected in the water, in the summer lush meadows with world class trotting horses and Normandy cows peacefully grazing...it's great both times of the year!

Inland, the landscape is defined by traditional agricultural practices, which over the centuries have created the 'bocage', a well preserved network of small fields, hedgerows and ancient sunken lanes. Dairy herds are the backbone of Norman farming and the world-reknowned Camembert and Creme Fraiche must be sampled along with a good bottle of cider (or Calvados!), purchased from one the many local producers. Normandy boasts many fine manoirs, Châteaux and gardens, many of which are open to the public.