Montanel & Normandy
Cuisine
Specialties of Normandy include its huge variety of cheeses, salt marsh lamb and Andouille sausage ( … an acquired taste). Pork Normandy is a popular local dish cooked with pork, apples, calvados, cider and cream. Omelettes are a speciality originating in the area of Mont St Michel.
A special feature of the area is the abundance of locally trawled seafood, which includes mussels, oysters, cockles and whelks. Also you will find a range of local crab, lobsters and langoustine. Large tasty shrimps named crevettes are delicious and are used in a variety of seafood dishes. A fish seafood stew known as a Marmite Dieppoise is also a popular Normandy dish.
Popular local drinks include cider, which is often served as an accompaniment to a meal. Calvados, is a deliciously strong brandy which is well-regarded. Both are made locally from the abundance of apples in the area. Muscadet is a dry white wine, and is a popular delicious marriage to fish and seafood in both Normandy and Brittany.
Normandy Towns within easy reach of Montanel
Saint James
Saint James, home to one of the largest WW2 American cemeteries in Normandy, is famous for its Norman grove.
The eleventh century church together with the construction of its fortress, were built by William the Conqueror, then Duke of Normandy and King of England.
It was also an important cloth city until the eighteenth century, and a stop for pilgrims to Mont Saint-Michel.
The city of Saint James has become famous around the world for its celebrated knitwear brand St James which was recognized as a Living Heritage Company in 2013. The factory and its shop can be visited during working hours.
Bayeux
The town of Bayeux is on the rive Aure. This medieval centre contains cobbled streets, half-timbered houses and the towering, Norman-Gothic Notre-Dame Cathedral “Cathédrale Notre-Dame”. The town hosts the very famous Bayeux Tapestry “Tapisserie de Bayeux” on display in its own museum. The tapestry is a 70-metre-long embroidery, depicting the story of the conquest of England by William, Duke of Normandy in 1066. The Tapestry is a must visit for adults and school children alike, as the Norman Conquest is part of the National Curriculum.
Avranches
This historical city has retail parks, and a extensive range of supermarkets and many restaurants. In 1944 the town was subject to violent bombings and therefore much of Avranches has been rebuilt since that time. A museum houses the collection of manuscripts of Mont Saint-Michel, deposited in the municipal archives during the French Revolution. It is one of the largest collections of medieval illuminated manuscripts in France, outside national and university libraries.
If you’re visiting on a Saturday, explore the Saturday morning marché — walking through the cobblestone streets will take you back in time.
Villedue-les-Poeles
Translated as ‘God’s town, Village of the Pans’, to this day it is a centre for metal-work, with brass and copper shops, all hand-made locally in foundries that can be visited. This art was imported from the middle east by the Knights Hospitaller.
Domfront
This is a delightfully typical Norman town. It is interesting to visit the ruins of the medieval castle built by Henri 1st of England. On the edge of Domfront, separated by a small bridge, there is a lovely view across the town from the gardens next to the castle. The fortified town itself has towers that have survived, along with sections of the ramparts. There are numerous medieval houses and buildings, with narrow cobbled streets lined with half-timbered houses together with some grander townhouses.
World War II D-Day Beaches
The Normandy Invasion and Normandy Beaches that took the brunt of the landing, are about 1.5 hours away.
People come from all over the world with their families to remember and pay homage.
Re-enactments are on-going, most especially as we come soon to the 80th Anniversary of the Normandy Invasion.
The most significant monument to visit is the Normandy-American Cemetery in Colleville sur Mer.
Guided tours abound to help you zero in on what you want most to discover.
Arromanches
This was where the supply of war materials and troops via Mulberry Harbour was erected to maintain the momentum of the Normandy Invasion. Remnants of the Mulberry harbour can still be seen in the water off-shore. There are small World War II museums to visit. The Normandy Invasion beaches can be seen by driving north-east, on the coast road to Ouistreham. (Sword Beach).
Ouistreham
Ouistreham is a 90 minute drive from the house to the Portsmouth-Caen ferry port via the free motorways. The town is situated by Sword Beach where the Canadian and British troops landed, and is just 5 minutes from the famous ‘Pegasus Bridge’.
St Mere Eglise
St Mere Eglise is often remembered because of the scene in the film “The Longest Day” where an American paratrooper, John Steele, feigned death while hanging from the church spire for more than two hours, while his fellow soldiers fought the Germans. The town is now a living museum of that day.
Pointe de Hoc
The site is a key feature of German defensive fortifications and reminds us of what an artillery battery was like, with its firing command post, casemates and shelters. It has information panels and free site access.
Ponte de Hoc is a living monument to the difficulties experienced by Colonel Rudder’s Rangers.
Captured and secured on the morning of the 6th of June 1944 after the rangers scaled the cliff face, it was pivotal in turning the tides for the Allies.
Normandy Beaches in easy reach of Montanel
The Baie of Mont St Michel
The Baie of Mont St Michel extends around the coast of both Normandy and Brittany, and is home to an exceptional tidal range.
This varies from being so far from the beach that the sea is a distant mirage, to being a hop and skip away for a swim in the sea.
Mont St Michel tidal information is worth checking for high and low tide times.
Genets
Genets can be reached after a pleasant drive along the coast roads through lovely small villages. Genets boasts a great view of Mont St Michel across the bay. There is not a typical beach here, however a walk across the sands — for some a pilgrimage — can be accessed from here, crossing the salt marshes leading to the Abbey. Be sure to pilgrimage walk to Mont St Michelas quicksands abound. There are a few restaurants nearby and reasonable public toilets.
Dragey
A little further along the coast road towards St Jean le Thomas, will have you come across this amazing large stretch of sandy beach. In season there are refreshment kiosks and toilets.
St Jean le Thomas
Five minutes further along the road after Dragey you arrive at St Jean le Thomas. There is some beach here depending on the tides. There are mainly rock pools which children tend to love as there are so many interesting shells and rocks to collect here. There is a stimulating walk to the sea when the tide is out, but this doesn’t detract from this beautiful area. Near to the beach is there is a small children’s play area and some bars and restaurants, with one snack bar on the beach area.
Carolles
After leaving St-Jean-le-Thomas, you leave the bay. Drive up the hillside following the coast road through forests, and after a sharp left bend you will arrive at an amazing view point presenting the whole of the Bay of Mont St Michel. Continue to the town of Carolles and then follow the signs to “Le Plage” where you will discover a nice sandy beach with plenty of places to park. It has two restaurants near the entrance to the beach.
Jullouville
This is a resort town which has an impression that leaves you feeling somewhere amid the Riviera and Normandy. It has the familiar tourist souvenir shops and café’s, as well as a long promenade overlooking the sandy beach. You can also hire kayaks, catamarans, and power inflatables. You can use the car park of the Hotel de Ville which is opposite the road to the beach.
St Pair-sur-mer
This lovely beach has a few snack bars, restaurants and shops and a casino. It also has a tidal pool for swimming when the tide is out.
Donneville les Bains
Very near to Granville, this lovely busy sandy beach area boasts snack bars, beach bars, tidal pool, a fine promenade lined with palms, and parking bays in abundance.
Granville
Just within hopping distance of St Pair is Granville with its old fishing port and town. There are some stunning views high up near the German bunkers. There are an abundance of fish restaurants at the quayside specializing in the local fish. There is also a nice beach by the casino with a long promenade and tidal pool.
Breville Sur Mer
In our opinion this is the beach to visit on a sunny day. It is probably the nicest and sandiest Normandy beach with smooth sandy access to the sea. It is within a reasonable distance of Montanel. Unfortunately, this beach does not have refreshments and toilets nearby. However, a good variety of facilities can be found just a few miles away at either Donneville to the east or Coudeville-Plage to the west. Breville Sur Mer is located next to a private airfield, which is great for aircraft enthusiasts as you can swim in the sea and watch the aircraft take off and come in to land.
Get in Touch
T (33) 02 33 68 39 36
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27 Rue de Rennes, Montanel-St James, 50240
