Perfect for a large group, L'Orangerie offers plenty of space throughout all its room. It was built in 1703, and was originally a part of Le Chateau de la Foret Auvray, and stands adjacent to this privately owned historic monument, with magnificent views of the original 8th Century Priory walls and towers.
The property 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, including 2 fridge freezers. The separate dining room will easily seat 18.
All the 7 bedrooms are very spacious, all with at least a double, and most with two beds (a total of 8 doubles, 4 singles, and 2 z-beds) giving you plenty of choice regarding sleeping arrangements.
Two downstairs traditionally furnished en-suite bedrooms are perfect for those who may be slightly less mobile. Upstairs modern en-suite 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, martens, 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 to bring a large group together 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 complimentary bikes (and hats) supplied for all ages.
We pride ourselves on the feedback received from our previous guests, reflecting how well equipped and clean the house is, and the very positive impressions made by the well maintained gardens.
Strictly no smoking or pets in property.
Size:
Sleeps up to 14, 7 bedrooms
Nearest beach:
Ouistream, 45km
Will consider:
Corporate lets Long lets
Access:
Car essential
Family friendly?
Suitable for children of all ages Suitable for people with restricted mobility
Notes:
No pets allowed No smoking at this property
Facilities
Luxuries:
Log fire, Internet access, DVD player
General:
Central heating, Video player, CD player, Wi-fi available
7 Bedrooms, 8 bathrooms of which 2 family bathrooms and 6 en suites
Furniture:
Sofabeds (1), Single beds (4), Double beds (8), Cots (1), Dining seating for 18, Lounge seating for 20
Other:
Linen and towels provided Highchair available
Outdoors:
Private garden, BBQ, Bicycles available, Swing set
Access:
Secure parking
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 2 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, you can always pop down and ask us at any time during the day or night - nothing is too much trouble.
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 and martens are frequent visitors. Other abundant birds include owls, blue and yellow tits, redstarts, woodpeckers, finches, robins, wagtails, 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 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.
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 may not want to spend every moment of your holiday travelling, you may wish to spend some days just in the locale of L'Orangerie, or relaxing enjoying the views from the gardens. In 2011, ten villages in The Suisse Normande were designated as a Site Naturel - including La Foret Auvray. This is an indication of the region's significance for its extraordinary landscape, wildlife and plantlife, and is a preservation order to ensure its continuation.
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
Nearest Travel Links
Airport:
Carpiquet: 50 km
Railway:
Alencon: 25 km
Ferry:
Caen: 45 km
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
Sports: Watersports Horse Riding Golf within 30 mins drive Fishing
Great for: Walking holidays Rural / countryside retreats Cycling holidays
“you'll be lucky to find a better house for a large group”
We stayed with Andrew and Jeanette as a large family of 15, celebrating a 70th birthday - with ages from 70 down to 12months old. The house was perfect in allowing space for us all to come together to eat, relax, socialise - but also large enough for everyone to have their own space. The children loved their own playroom (as did the adults!). The rooms were large, comfortable - and also all but 1 had en-suite. The garden was a great place for the kids to explore and play, and they particularly enjoyed the treasure hunt that Andrew kindly organised one morning, as well as the halloween trick & treating (for kids & adults!) - which were just some of the many things that Andrew and Jeanette did to make our stay so memorable. As a large family, we decided against travelling to the nearest town for a meal, but organised a celebration birthday meal which Jeanette cooked at the house - which was a truly memorable night and definitely to be recommended. This is a fabulous place to stay, excellent hosts, you will need a car - but there's lots to do and see within an hour or so including the beaches, Mont St Michel, etc.
30 Aug 2012
“Everything that we could possibly have needed was there.”
Spacious bedrooms,wonderfully equipped kitchen,and large interior space. However, our group of 12 adults, 2 children and a baby were lucky enough to have fabulous weather and hardly used the enormous lounge, spending all our time (except one evening) sitting and eating outside, watching the stars in this peaceful haven. Andrew and Jeanette's meals were lovely, beautifully cooked and served, with a few added treats that we didn't expect, and extremely generous portion sizes to fill even the most hungry diner. The children loved having their own play house, lots of games to play and Andrew's treasure hunt was a huge success. This is a wonderful part of France with an enormous range of activities, sites and attractions nearby to cater for everyone's likes and interests. Fabulous - thank you for making my 60th such a success.
21 Aug 2012
“Fantastic place, thoroughly recommended!”
We were looking for a large property which was capable of accommodating a family group of 11 with ages ranging from 21 months to grandparents in the their 70s. We have just come back from a week at L'Orangerie and not only found that it fitted our requirements perfectly but the holiday exceeded everyone's expectations.
We found the property itself to be clean and fantastically well equipped both inside and out. The owners have gone to great lengths to make the house safe and fun for toddlers with stair gates, high-chairs and a cot all provided amongst other things. The self-contained garden made for a very safe environment and the gatehouse at the bottom of the garden has been turned into a nursery room which my 21 month and 3 year old both loved. My older nephews and the rest of the group made good use of the wide selection of bikes, outdoor games and football nets in the field next door.
We found the house to be quiet, yet easily accessible and with lots of information on activities to suit all age ranges and interests. Less than 5 minutes up the road is La Roche D'Oetre which provides walking and mountain bike trails. There is also an excellent 'Go-Ape' venue just next to the visitor center which several of us spent a whole day at, returning to the house for lunch before going back in the afternoon. The main road between Caen and Le Mans is only a short distance away which made it easy to explore places further afield - we went out to the Normandy beaches on 2 of the days we were there. The variety of things to do allowed us to pick and choose within the group. Whilst we went for a buggy-friendly walk just down the road in Breel, another group were canoeing at Pont D'Ouilly and others were happy just relaxing in the garden.
We would definitely recommend this property and hope to be back again soon!
Lovely accomodation, with lots of character. Hosts were exceptional and they were most helpful. The meals cooked for us were the best we had during the whole of our stay in Normandy. Only negative was the distance from shops and restaurants. No local/walkable facilities in the area. So driving (ie non-drinking) was required. The price tyou pay for a lovely rustic location.
Response: We thank this guest for his very complimentary comments about us, and in particular about our meals. We were sorry to read that he found our location a negative in what was otherwise a great holiday for this group - we are under 2 kilometres away from the nearest restaurant and under 3 to the next nearest in the other direction. The strength of the Suisse Normande for most is its unspoilt countryside - declared a 'site naturelle' in 2011 to preserve its unique atmosphere. We do note that a car is essential (although on their first night, Andrew did 3 complimentary return round-trips to take everyone in this group to the local restaurant, so that nobody had to drive), and we fully catered evening meals on 3 nights so I think we met everyone's needs, and we appreciate the very positive feedback about the meals and all other aspects of our property.
10 Jul 2012
“l'Orangerie par exellance!”
My wife and I stayed here with 8 friends for the first week in July 2012. We were met promptly by the proprietor who showed us around and informed us of everything that we needed to know including local towns, places to eat etc. The property was an immense building with 7 bedrooms including en suite or separate bathrooms. The communal areas were large and included 2 sitting rooms, large kitchen and large separate dining room. Everything was spotlessly clean and the kitchen (including breakfast table) had a vast array of crockery, glasses, cutlery, tools and utensils. It was also fitted with an excellent oven and hob range, washing machine, dryer, microwave and dishwasher. Outside there were ample grounds for games etc. including a B-B-Q and about a dozen bikes. The property suited us down to a tee as we could either join as a large group in the sitting room with its many soft chairs and sofas or "do our own thing". The location of the property is rather remote and a car is required for touring as there is no public transport and no villages or towns with amenities within several miles. However it is easy to visit local chateaus and the historic Normandy countryside/invasion beaches etc. due to the superb French highway system. The proprietors Andrew and Jeanette were excellent. Nothing was too much trouble and Andrew even ferried us to a local hostelry on our first night so that we could indulge in the local French cuisine and the local wine. Jeanette also agreed to cook for us on three nights during the week. The experience was without doubt three of the highlights of the week. Andrew served canapés and aperitifs and Jeanette prepared a lovely three course meal reflecting local specialities or a selection to our requirements. I cannot speak too highly of her cooking expertise as these meals were without doubt better than any that we had when dining out! I would have no hesitation in recommending this gite to anyone who requires a quiet place to stay off the beaten track but within driving distance of most of Normandy's amenities and historical sites. Many thanks and well done Andrew and Jeanette
10 Jul 2012
“A superb week away from it all in rural Normandy”
We comprised a party of 5 couples in our early 60's who wanted a motoring holiday in France with our soft top sports cars. The gite was first class and centrally located in Normandy in a very rural setting, yet only around an hour's drive from several places of interest such as Bayeux, Pegasus Bridge and the beaches of the Normandy landings. Local walks and canoeing on the river are 10-15 minutes away. The owners live on site in converted stables and are so accommodating you wouldn't believe it - be sure to try Jeanette's cuisine as it is is brilliant. We will definitely stay here again when we return to Normandy as we can't recommend it highly enough
Response: The Suisse Normande is a great backdrop for touring - and our parking looked like a luxury sports car showroom for a week. It was such a compliment that having booked just the one meal with us on Sunday, they then asked if we could cater for the rest of the week. We only managed 2 more nights, due to commitments, but the local restaurants & a BBQ filled in. The kind words about our property, reflect the comments they made on departure, and it was very gratifying to know our efforts to ensure the house and gardens are kept in good order get noticed and appreciated. We really would love to be able to welcome this group back, and are confident that if they can, they will return - there is so much more to do and see.
L'Orangerie was a perfect setting for our Normandy holiday. We were 7 people: 5 adults and two children, ages 6 and 4. The house is very large - the photos don't exaggerate. The yard was wonderful for relaxing in the evening while the children rode bikes (the house provides many bikes in a full range of sizes) and played in the yard. Jeanette and Andrew were wonderful hosts, and I highly recommend employing them for a very reasonable extra charge to cook your dinner one evening as they are wonderful cooks and lovely hosts all around. They were very welcoming to us, especially the children. The location can appear a bit far off the beaches initially but it was actually perfect: we used it as a base to visit Honfleur, Mont St Michel, Bayeaux and the Normandy Beaches on various days, and also spent a couple of days locally as there are some nice close by activities like river kayaking (flat water, good for kids and families), walking along some nearby trails and country roads. Falaise is close by with an interesting castle belonging to William the Conqueror and WW2 history (the famous Falaise gap from the Battle of Normandy and there are photos throughout the town from immediately following the war). Overall, I cannot say enough positive things about L'Orangerie and its hosts.
Response: We were so pleased to welcome this group from the USA. We worked in advance with Michele to recommend websites and potential itineraries, so they could maximise their stay - particularly as it was important for her parents, who were revisiting Normandy, having been here as a part of the Landings. We know it is a big decision to pick a holiday destination, and particularly if you are travelling half way around the world. We were delighted they enjoyed their stay (managing to add in a few days in Paris, to round off a great 10 days). Their kind comments about my cooking were also appreciated. We thank them for choosing us, and for taking the time to leave this review.
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.
Response: It was a great pleasure to see our large house, being used and enjoyed by a large group, who clearly appreciated the region and all the house has to offer. We hope to see them again soon.
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.
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
Response: Having stayed here as a large family group for a couple of weeks a few years ago, this family visited again in 2010 as a smaller group. During both their stays this active family made the very most... more
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
Response: This lovely group of British expats living in the USA used L'Orangerie as a central meeting place to bring their family together one week, and their friends the next. We were only too pleased... 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.
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.
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
Response: As a semi-professional photographer, this gentleman took some wonderful shots of the house and the surrounding area during his short stay (some of which are now on our website). We are confident we... more
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.
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.
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
“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.
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.
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.
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
Response: Many of our guests are here to celebrate a significant birthday, anniversary or event, as was the case with this group. They rented our large gazebo and dined outside every evening, whilst... more
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.
The property's weekend rates apply to: Saturday and Sunday nights
NB: Prices may be subject to change at the advertiser's discretion.
A 20% deposit is payable to secure a booking (or £250 whichever is the lesser). The balance is due by not later than 60 days prior to the commencement of your holiday, and is only refundable in accordance with the terms and conditions of our HolidayLettings standard booking contract.
We are able to accept credit card payments at no additional cost.
The property is heated by oil, wood fire, and electric central heating, which is run as necessary during the months of October to April inclusive and is already factored into the pricing structure.
If it is necessary to run the oil fired central heating outside this period, we will charge an additional £20 per day, just to cover the costs of the oil used, as it is unusual to need it, and is therefore not factored into our pricing structure. All other heating costs are included.
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