Orangerie Large Gite Normandy

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Gite |7 bedrooms |Sleeps 18

La Foret Auvray in Normandy

From £1050 per week

7 nights minimum stay

Changeover Saturday

5 out of 5

15 reviews | Write a review

Key info  Car not necessary, private garden, no pets allowed

About the home

L'Orangerie was built in 1703. It has been restored to offer a hugely spacious and comfortable house for large groups of family and/or friends wishing to holiday together, yet have space for privacy. The main sitting room is 80+sqm. There is a second smaller annexed reading room, perfect for watching DVDs or relaxing with a book. The kitchen is large, and very well equipped - you should find everything you need to cater for large groups. The separate dining room will easily seat 18.

Two downstairs traditionally furnished bedrooms are perfect for those who may be slightly less mobile. Upstairs modern bedrooms all have exposed original beams (very rustic).

The size of this property allows everyone to come together in the same living rooms, but at the same time there is plenty of space for private time too! Stunning views from the house up the valley across the lush hillside forest allow you to enjoy the best of the Suisse Normande, from every angle - you don't need to leave the house and gardens!. Lots of local wildlife and birds (hares, red squirrels, badgers, occasional wild boar). Close by are the Grand Randonnee 36 footpaths and many other walking/cycling paths. There is easy access to Normandy's lovely beaches (1 hr); and it is close to other historical locations (Falaise, Bayeux, landing beaches, Camembert, Livarot).

The house has all quality amenities you will need for great holiday - summer sunshine in the big private gardens or warm winter break snug with the log fire and central heating. Good supply of books, games, guide books, and bikes for all ages. Strictly no smoking or pets in property.

Facilities

Further details indoors:
We recognise large parties need ample space and comfortable seating. In the sitting rooms, additional to the 3 complete lounge suites and various single chairs, there is a huge 4 metre low oak settle (from Liverpool Lime Street Railway Station - 1897) with cushions, that makes a perfect seat for reading and relaxing. There are plenty of informative books with details about the region, and a huge selection of novels (more than 150) to suit all tastes and a large variety of games for all ages. Additional to the oil central heating (for cooler months - October to April inc.) the main room has a large wood burning stove, which produces a massive 16 kilowatts of heat - perfect to take the chill off an early spring or autumn night, and truly cosy for the cooler evenings. All bathrooms have a heated towel rail, and the upstairs bedrooms all have electric heaters.

All but one of the 7 bedrooms (the triple single bedroom) have generous sized fully equipped en-suites including shower/wc/heated towel rail/basin and toiletries stand. There is a separate private bathroom supplying this bedroom which does not have its own en-suite.

There are 3 DVD players. We have a selection of DVDs in the house that will appeal to all ages - inlcuding an excellent stock of historical DVDs describing aspects of the Normandy Landings, and looking further back - the Norman Conquests.

IF YOU HAVE A SPECIAL CELEBRATION AND WOULD LIKE US TO ORGANISE FLOWERS, A SPECIAL MENU OR ANY OTHER LITTLE TOUCHES TO MAKE IT A REALLY SPECIAL OCCASION, DO LET US KNOW.

Further details outdoors:
The gardens are large, and overlook the spectacular forest backdrop, which makes the Suisse Normande such a popular destination - rightly famed for its magnificent views. There is ample external seating for you to be able to soak up the surroundings, whilst having a relaxing drink. There are several private seating locations from which you can choose, or you can all sit together at the top of the house - enjoying the view down the gardens.

Adjacent to the property is a small cottage where we live, so if you have any questions at all during your stay, when we are not catering or briefing on the tours, you can always pop down and ask us at any time during the day or night.

It is not unusual to see stunning wildlife, such as the local RED squirrels; Sangliers (local boar - less common, but occasional spottings); buzzards, red kites, kestrels, and hares are frequent visitors. Other abundant birds include blue and yellow tits, redstarts, woodpeckers, finches, robins, thrushes and blackbirds.

From the bottom of the garden, you can see the remains of the 8th century priory - evidence of which is present in the window sill of the upper west bedroom, as they used the stones to build L'Orangerie and the neighbouring chateau.

Further details

This is a strictly no smoking and no pets property. It is not set up for severely physically disabled visitors, but could easily accommodate minor disabilities as the ground floor is completely self contained. We have had wheelchair visitors staying, and although we do have wheelchair ramps available, we do not have bed-hoists and extensive disabled washing facilities. If in doubt, contact us and we will see what we can do to help. Two of the beams upstairs are at 5ft 7inches, so anyone taller will have to duck under if using these particular bedrooms, although we have protector throws to help avert any accidents!.

We provide towels and handwash for your use during your stay.

Pictures do not show it, but all bedrooms have wardrobes, dressers, mirrors etc. Stair gates can be fitted at the top and bottom of the stairs on request.

WE DO OUR VERY BEST TO ENSURE THAT YOU WILL REMEMBER YOUR HOLIDAY AT L'ORANGERIE FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS, AND THAT HOPEFULLY YOU WILL WANT TO RECOMMEND US TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY, AND RETURN AGAIN IN FUTURE YEARS TO EXPLORE MORE OF THE FABULOUS SUISSE NORMANDE.

Conditions

We do not provide a full daily maid service for the bedrooms as standard. They are serviced prior to your arrival, and on your departure. If you wish to have additional cleaning, it is available at Euro 12.50 an hour, paid direct to the cleaning lady.

Photos

 

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Close-up shot of the Orangery - May 09

 

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view looking down garden from mid way down

 

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Living room (80+sq metres & ample seating and space)

 

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upstairs end en suite bedroom towards window

Awards

The Normandy / Orne region

Normandy is steeped in tradition with many chateaux and museums to visit. What people mostly associate with the region is the D-Day Landings and D-Day Battlefields, or all the history associated with William The Conquerer such as the Bayeux Tapestry or his birthplace, Falaise Castle. Normandy also has quaint fishing ports like Honfleur - with its myriad of small art studios and galleries. Rouen and surrounding areas were frequented by the great authors like Flaubert; Maupassant and Zola.

The La Foret Auvray area

During your stay, we can suggest day itineraries developed from our knowledge of the region, and taking into account that you will not want to spend every moment of your holiday travelling.

Just a small selection of some places; sites and museums you might like to consider during your stay include:
*Visit Falaise Town, Museums and Chateau (birthplace of William The Conquer)
*Pont D'Ouilly - ville Fleurie and national Kayak polo centre and other riverside activities;
*Les Roches D'Oetre - famous geological site with a 'parcours sante' - or health mini-activities course for the more energetic
*WW2 war grave sites
*Pegasus Bridge & Cafe Gondret
*A choice of many additional WW2 museums (details available on request)
*Velorail
*Balleroy National Ballooning Museum
*Bayeux Tapestry
*101 Airborne Museum at St Mere Eglise
*Bagnoles de 'lOrne Spa town, lake and casino
*Arromanches Museum and WW2 floating Harbour
*Camembert, Livarot & Pont L'Eveque
* Honfleur Harbour and stunning town
*Memorial War (Peace) Museum at Caen
*Chateau de Vendeuvre (national miniature museum and great fun surprise gardens) and St. Pierre sur Dives for markets.
*Haras du Pin (National Stud)
*Horseriding
*Kayaking
*Day trip to Lisieux
*Day trip to Rouen
*Monet's Gardens at Giverney
*Clecy Vey for rock climbing; hang gliding, riverside activities (Supplementary Fee) and Miniature Railway Museum
*The Mont St. Michel
*A day trip to Paris
*A spa day at a local luxury spa
*A day Painting Course (with local tutor)
*A day Professional Cookery Course at Oui Chef

How to get there

Orangerie Large Gite Normandy What's nearby: Attractions Restaurants Click map icons for more information

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For UK guests, the nearest ferry port is Caen Ouistream - Brittany Ferries (1hr). Not much further away is Le Havre - L&D lines, or Cherbourg (1.5hrs). It is an easy route from the Channel Tunnel, all motorways through pretty landscapes (4hrs) with lots of good aires to stop over en-route. If you are arriving into Paris by air, the drive is about 3.5hrs via the A13.

Activities near La Foret Auvray

Reviews

Review: 1 to 3 of 15

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03 Jan 2012

“wonderful house, great stay” on arrival we were greeted by the owners, and given a very comprehensive tour of the property. The house was everything we had read about and didn't disappoint at all. the house was the best equipped we have stayed at. It was in a very beautiful location with good walks. We had several days out to Falaise and Pont D'Ouiilly and a day in Mont sant Michel. I would not hesitate to recommend this house.

30 Aug 2011

“Fantastic place to stay” Just spent a week here in a group of 15 (8 adults, 7 teenagers). The house was great - even better than the pictures. The huge living room meant we could all be together and it was large enough to have different things going on in different parts, and the other rooms meant that people could split up further if they wished. The big kitchen made group cooking easy and the large dining room meant we could all sit down to eat at once. The bedrooms were lovely - big and attractive - and all were en-suite except one that had its own separate bathroom. There was also loads of seating outside. The gardens and the setting were gorgeous, with lovely views and lots of song birds and next door was a pretty chateau with ruins. There was lots to do nearby and plenty more within reasonable distance (walks, a high-ropes course, canoeing/kayaking, D-Day history, beaches, Bayeux Tapestry, pretty towns, cafes) and we did not manage to do everything we could have done. The weather was mixed but the property was so big and so well supplied with things to do that we did not feel the rain we had was a problem. The owners were on site but we were left to ourselves and had the benefit of being able to ask them for advice etc. I will definitely recommend this place to family and friends. Response: Thank you for this very nice review, which does show that even during a summer like 2011 (not always the best of weather during the high season), we have much to do in the Suisse Normande for travellers who are keen to make the most of all the region has to offer. We hope to see this great group again in the future.

19 Jul 2011

“Not enough superlatives !” Awesome converted buildings in stunningly beautiful and quietly serene setting, well located and easy to get to. Plenty of activities in the area, including kayaking and canoeing at Pont... more

Review: 1 to 3 of 15

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Review: 4 to 6 of 15

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25 Jun 2011

“Beautiful house with fantastic owners who went above and beyond...” Beautiful house & grounds with plenty of room for a very large group of friends/family. Nearly all bedrooms are en-suite which is great for a large group - huge kitchen, big dining room and enormous... more

24 Jun 2011

“If you are thinking of a "Taste" of France, this is the place to go!” If you are thinking of a family or group of friends getaway then this place ticks all the boxes. You have pretty much all you could hope for in the surrounding area. Whether you want exercise through walking, cycling, horse riding etc. Sight-seeing at Falaise, Bayeux or the war-time beaches, or you could just "Chill" in the lovely, peacefull gardens and contemplate what to "throw on the barbeque". I'm sure the warmth and hospitality offered by Jeanette and Andrew Hedyn will have you, like us wanting a speedy return. Response: This sport loving group made good use of the complimentary bikes available at L'Orangerie, tackling the hills with ease during the day, and relaxing in the garden most evenings with a BBQ and a cool beer (or two). We are currently liaising with them over dates for their next visit, and very much looking forward to meeting them again.

23 Jun 2011

“Wonderful” We had a group of 11 family and friends stay for 1 week at La Foret Auvray. Jeannette and Andrew were wonderful hosts. We truly enjoyed their company during our many lovely nights lingering over great meals served on the patio/garden. We are quite familiar with the area and can attest to this being a great location. Easy to get to many interesting places, yet quiet and peaceful. The house is magnificent! Clean, comfortable and even better than the website description! Believe it! This is a great place for a vacation. We look forward to returning sometime!! Response: This group came mainly from the USA, but one of them was born locally. They contacted us to try and re-book for this July for a private celebration, but we were already fully booked. We hope to see them again soon.

Review: 4 to 6 of 15

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Review: 7 to 9 of 15

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23 Jun 2011

“Excellent hosts, great place, beautiful location and superb food” My wife and I stayed with Angie and Jeanette for 4 days and really enjoyed our time there. Lo'Orangerie is very quiet and relaxing. The surrounding area is steeped wih history and closely... more

19 Jun 2011

“Fabulous for a large group holiday” We have stayed at L'Orangerie twice, once with a group of friends and again with my parents, brother and his family. It really is superb for a large group. There is so much space inside and if the weather is kind to you, a lovely, safe outdoor space for the children to play and explore independently. Beautiful surroundings and well within reach of the Normandy beaches. Lots of pretty towns nearby too for sight-seeing. Jeanette and Andrew are also very friendly and welcoming hosts. We love it so much we are returning in 2012! Response: We are looking forward to meeting everyone from this group again. For some, it will be their 3rd visit. Having repeat visitors is very gratifying for us, as people coming back tells us we are getting things right, and gives us an opportunity to show our continuous improvements each year.

19 Jun 2011

“Home from home” What great location for a very relaxing holiday set in a nice county surrounding with plenty of walking paths within easy reach The house is within about an hour's drive of the D Day beaches and other places of interest. The house is large and will accommodate a big family or group of friends, however even going like us only as a couple the house was a joy to stay in with plenty of bedrooms to choose from and lots of comfortable seating in the main lounge The gardens are well kept and there is plenty of space for children to play in safety outside of the house, also there are a number of bikes to use The owners are very helpful and on hand. They leave a lot of information in the house regarding sightseeing in the Normandy area We will certainly be returning Response: We do not often have small groups, as it is such a large house, but this couple told us that they loved having the choice of rooms and the space all to themselves - although we did share the odd glass of wine with them. It is a large house, but it has a very welcoming feel, so it is also ideal for quiet retreat from hectic lives.

Review: 7 to 9 of 15

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Review: 10 to 12 of 15

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17 Jun 2011

“"What a place!!!!!!” Excellent place. Lovely house and the main room is to die for. Bedrooms galore and all well furnished, no skimping. Very nice setting, quiet but within easy reach of many great Normandy places of interest. (You must do Falaise castle, and the landing beaches, Mont St Michel is a trek and a bit touristy but good if you like that kind of thing.) Jeanette and Andrew could not have been more welcoming or helpful, there when you wnated them and not when you didn't. We'd certainly go back, thank you guys! Response: We try to exceed expectations, and I am confident we are succeeding. Very gratifying review.

17 Jun 2011

“CHILL OUT AT L' ORANGRIE” We stayed at the l'Orangrie with three couples (friends) in April 2010 we were met with a warm welcome by Jeanette and Andrew, The excellant food and drink kept coming for our whole stay. We felt like Kings and Queens as the place keeps all its charm,but has all the mod and cons we need for todays living.Some people may find the place too far out in the sticks, but we liked that & with our vehicle we got out too many places of interest.We are all planning to go back there in the future to be spoilt and chill out again. Alf & Joyce Webb Response: L'Orangerie is certainly an antidote to stressful city/town life. In the middle of the forest, with only the owls hooting of an evening, it is often noted to be a perfect get-away location - although we are within easy reach of villages and towns if you wish. We always seek to over-deliver, both with the house and its facilities, and also with any meals we provide (available on request) - it is good to see it appreciated.

17 Jun 2011

“Idealic Luxury Break In Normandie, France” We were very pleasantly surprised by our first impressions, a beautiful, spacious building and grounds with quality fixtures and fittings throughout. Unlike so many holidays we have been on, our 1st impressions did not diminish throughout the week. We were very impressed by the service throughout the entire week (wish it could have been longer !!) The accommodation was wonderful. Nothing appeared to be too much trouble for Andrew and Jeanette (host & hostess) we were made to feel very much at home. The meals were excellent. The location of L'Orangerie is ideally situated for visiting the many local sites, Our hosts clearly have superb knowledge of the area, which resulted in assistance given to aid planning our trips etc. which enabled us to make the most of our stay. Highlights for us were seeing the site of the D-Day landings and the Bayeux tapestry. The only downside was having to leave at the end of the holiday, we will definitely be back. Response: We believe that on a family holiday, if the children are happy, then the parents are happy. It is great to read the feedback on the '3 bears room' and the wendy house cottage at the bottom of the garden. This group celebrated the gentleman's 65th birthday and are returning next year for his wife's similar celebration - together with the rest of their lovely family. We are looking forward to them seeing the improvements we have made since their last visit.

Review: 10 to 12 of 15

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Review: 13 to 15 of 15

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17 Jun 2011

“L'Orangerie - such a fabulous spacious property” As soon as we arrived at L'Orangerie Jeanette and Andrew made us all feel so welcome. Although they lived in the cottage in the grounds there were unobtrusive but always on hand to give help and advice when needed. The setting is beautiful, quiet and tranquil – The grounds as you enter the gates give a taste of what lies ahead as when you walk into the house it literally takes your breath away. All the rooms were large and superbly furnished, 'the grandchildren really thought the triple bedroom was Goldilocks and The Bears'. It was all we could have asked for, it provided masses of space for my large family, inside and out. The den at the bottom of the garden was also a hit with the children as they declared it no-go area for the adults. Everything we needed was on hand from kitchen equipment, a BBQ, games and toys to bikes for the children. Booking the L'Orangerie for my family to celebrate my husband's 65th birthday was a great hit and I would not hesitate to recommend it to any large family or group of friends. Response: This was another family group celebrating a special occasion. We were able to assist by putting "training wheels" on one of the bikes for their little grandson, and the wendy house at the bottom of the garden, proudly displays his drawings of our house and gardens. I am practising my lemon tarte recipe ready for thier next visit in 2012, and looking forward to meeting them all again - I suspect the little boy will no longer need his training wheels, and will be on the next size up bike zooming around the large quadrangle! I am confident he will also like the new goals in the outside garden.

16 Jun 2011

“Ideal for Groups” We stayed at L'Orangerie for the second year running. As a group of fifteen friends, a mix of couples and singles, the seven large bedrooms provide ideal accommodation. There is a wood burning stove in the large lounge area and the kitchen is well equipped. Jeanette and Andrew are extremely welcoming hosts. The property more than matches up to its description. It is in a stunning location deep in Suisse Normande, a car is essential for food shopping. There are plenty of excellent walks in the area. The nearest large town is Falaise, home of William the Conqueror. It all made for a very relaxing holiday. Response: We hope to welcome this lovely group back again. They stayed two years running, in October, so were able to benefit from the fruits of our Chataigne (sweet chestnut) trees - roasting them over the open fire. The forest all around at this time of year is a beautiful mix of autumnal reds and golds.

16 Jun 2011

“The finest accomodation you can hope to find in a beautiful, rural setting” I last stayed here for a private party. The accomodation is more than ample and has been enjoyed by us on several occassiions to bring family and friends together across the globe. L'Orangie has... more

Review: 13 to 15 of 15

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Guestbook for Orangerie Large Gite Normandy

SEE OUR SUPER FEEDBACK ON TRIPADVISOR REVIEWS - plus some extracts below.

"We recently returned from a 3-generation family holiday in the L' Orangerie. An excellent time was had by all and it far exceeded our expectations. We found the house to be very clean, excellently equipped and furnished; including toys, games and DVD player for children of all ages. Day time we visited Falaise, Caen, Bayeaux, Arromanche, Pont d'Ouilly and much more. Night time we relaxed in the comfortable surrondings of the house and well maintained garden. Andrew and Jeanette were very welcoming and provided lots of information about what can be done locally. We appreciated their hospitality and it was nice to return after a long day of sight seeing, to English speaking proprietors. Our holiday passed too quickly and we would love to stay longer in the future. We would happily recommend this exquisite property to all"

"We had a really marvellous time and it provided the ideal setting for what we wanted to do. 15 adults living there felt very comfortable and spacious. We had some wonderful meals all seated round the dining room table, and spent many happy hours in front of the log fire singing, ringing handbells, playing stupid games and generally relaxing. The small adjacent room proved ideal for the instrumental music we did. We also enjoyed beginning to get to know the spectacular countryside"

"We loved our stay at L'Orangerie and would be more than happy to recommend it to anyone looking for a large but very comfortable house. The location is beautiful and there are lots of things to do locally either for the very active or sedate. I am sure we will be back in the future, as a week was not long enough to fit in all the possible sights and activities"

"The pictures do not do it justice. We loved our stay, and have booked again for New Year"

"We'd like to say a huge thank you for making your fine, well furnished, well heated, well equipped house available for our use - we all had a splendid time. We received many compliments on the venue as well as the general hosting. Thank you for the trouble you took to make the house ready for use and for sourcing the two key components for Christmas!! [turkey and 4 metre xmas tree]. Your attention to detail ( overlaid and blended with ours!!) was much appreciated by all"

Rental prices

Prices for group size 18
Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
Spring 2012 late bookings	14 Apr 12	31 May 12	1050£ 1050	0-	0-	1 Week
Sept & October 2012	1 Sep 12	31 Oct 12	1245£ 1245	0-	0-	1 Week
April to mid July 2013	6 Apr 13	13 Jul 13	1245£ 1245	0-	0-	1 Week
mid July to August 2013	13 Jul 13	30 Aug 13	1495£ 1495	0-	0-	1 Week
Sept & October 2013	1 Sep 13	3 Nov 13	1245£ 1245	0-	0-	1 Week

NB: Prices may be subject to change at the advertiser's discretion.

A £250 deposit is payable to secure a booking - this is refundable up to 3 months prior to the commencement of your holiday. The balance is due by not later than 8 weeks prior to the commencement of your holiday, and once paid, is only refundable if we are able to secure an alternative booking, which we will seek to do immediately (we deduct any costs involved in trying to achieve this).

If you are paying from overseas in a currency other than Sterling or Euros cheques, our bank will charge a receiving transfer fee, which will be added to the cost of your stay. We are also able to take payments by credit card via Paypal, for which we are charged a 4% fee, which is added to the cost of your holiday.

Availability

See below for next 9 months' availability - to see the next 24 months click here

Contact the owner

* Required fields Please check the following errors: First name * Last name * Email *   Did you mean ""? Yes / No Phone number Arrival date Departure date   Ignore calendar - enquire anway No. of adults No. of children Message * Email me special offers and holiday ideas T&Cs

4 years listed You are contacting Andrew Heydn Landline +44 01268 753418 Mobile +44 07771 560019 Web Visit site Payment accepted PayPal accepted Languages spoken The owner is based in the United Kingdom and has advertised with Holiday Lettings since 2007. This gite has received 15 reviews from previous guests.