Gîtes Calvados

Discover Calvados and the surrounding area on holiday

If Normandy is the French region where tourism is booming, it's largely thanks to Calvados' reputation. With over 120 km of coastline, a diverse mix of sea and countryside, towns with rich historical pasts and picturesque villages, you'll feel like you've been to several destinations in one! For your holidays in Calvados, a visit to places steeped in history is a natural choice. Calvados is packed with historical treasures, all of which are not to be missed. First of all, there are the sites that evoke the past of the Second World War. Notably the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer. Overlooking the immense Omaha Beach, 9,387 white marble headstones pay tribute to the American soldiers who fell in the Battle of Normandy. An emotional visit! The Caen Memorial is the conservatory for peace and museum on the Second World War. It's an essential place to visit, both to understand the stages of the Second World War and to find out more about the D-Day landing beaches. Clévacances also recommends a visit to the Pointe du Hoc. This magnificent natural site is also a place of remembrance. A cliff jutting out into the English Channel, this site was heavily guarded by the German armies during the Second World War and was also a landing site for American soldiers. The Basilica of Lisieux is a must-see during your stay in Calvados. This basilica, built on a hill overlooking Lisieux, pays homage to Saint Theresa. The site attracts devotees and visitors from all over the world. It is the second most popular place of pilgrimage in France after Lourdes. The Basilica of Lisieux is often compared to the Sacré-Coeur in Paris. It is one of the largest churches ever built in the 20th century. Other major towns in the department include Bayeux - with its medieval town, world-famous tapestry and D-Day beaches - and Caen, with its medieval castle; Beuvron, one of the most beautiful villages in Normandy, and Cambremer, a very picturesque little village, both on the Cider Route with its half-timbered houses; Cabourg, where Marcel Proust liked to stay, offers one of the longest and liveliest beaches in Calvados; Dives sur Mer, the medieval village of William the Conqueror. From your accommodation, we recommend exploring the Normandy bocage, a veritable haven of peace! The Pays de Vire tourist office has more than 60 routes for you to choose from, including forest walks, lakeside and riverside hikes and walks along the hedgerows. Take the opportunity to visit the Château de Pontécoulant and the Domaine d'Albizia, with its 3 hectares of gardens, which will be classified as "Jardins Remarquables" in 2020 "because they are so unique! A leisure day at the Loterot Farm will delight young and old alike, with sports and fun activities for all the family. The farm also offers a sale of local produce as well as a tasting of calvados cream and artisanal liqueurs.

Activities to do in Calvados during your holiday

When you're on holiday in Calvados, set off to discover the wonderful landscapes of Suisse Normande. With more than 170 cycle paths, greenways and small country lanes, Calvados offers you the chance to enjoy nature, while getting in some physical activity. For an introduction to or discovery of outdoor activities, head to Thury Plein Air, a superb leisure centre nestling in the heart of nature, less than 30km from Caen. You can hire canoes, kayaks, mountain bikes and stand-up paddles on site. Other activities include tree-climbing, archery and orienteering, as well as a number of hiking trails. From your gîte and "by bike", as Montand sang, you can admire the Normandy bocage and breathe in the fresh air of the Normandy coast. Guided tours are available of the towns of Trouville, Cabourg and Honfleur, not to mention Deauville, one of the most upmarket seaside resorts in Normandy. You'll then be spoilt for choice of Calvados beaches for a well-deserved rest. They're all magnificent! Will you choose the beach at Houlgate for its watersports centre and children's club? The Six-Fusillés beach in Deauville and the Houlgate beach also have a children's club and a sailing school. For your summer holidays, you can hire beach cabins and deckchairs here. Unless you prefer a wilder setting, such as Plage de Vasouy in Honfleur? Trouville beach, for its part, offers a sublime setting with the elegant villas that line it. For food lovers and gourmets, your stay in Calvados is a destination of choice! Take advantage of your gîte in Calvados to sample the local specialities! Cheeses include the famous Livarot, the oldest cheese in Normandy, as well as carré de Bonneville and pavé d'Auge. Seafood is also part of Normandy's rich terroir. To taste and buy fresh fish from Normandy, visit the fish markets in the ports of Courseulles, Ouistreham and Port-en-Bessin, as well as Trouville-sur-Mer. For oyster lovers, visit the oyster beds in the Baie des Veys! And, of course, you can finish your visit with an oyster tasting! Making the most of your holidays is also synonymous with culinary delights! If you're looking to savour Norman dishes, there are a number of restaurants offering a wide range of local menus. They'll introduce you to the traditions of Calvados: butter and cream, cider and calvados. The menu includes tripe à la mode de Caen, andouilles, apple and camembert puff pastry, rabbit in cider, crispy sole with pears and calvados, and tarte au pont-l'évêque and calvados. For dessert, apple tart with crème fraîche, or Normandy teurgoule, made with rice and milk. At the end of your unforgettable stay, don't forget to take home some milk jam, delicious sablés from Asnelles and sablés from Caen. And chocolates filled with calvados! Depending on where you're staying, the many markets in Calvados - Caen, Bayeux, Vire, Lisieux, Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives, Trouville sur Mer, Deauville, Courseules sur Mer, Honfleur and Ouistreham - are just waiting for you! You'll have some great memories of your holidays in Calvados!