Places of Interest (Locally)

Avranches : In the City Hall, you can see one of the most interesting French collections of medieval manuscripts from Le Mont St Michel. The Musée Municipal - The Town Museum is located in the heart of the oldest part of Avranches and is the home of sculptures and paintings of local interest, collections of art and costumes and headdresses of the Avranches region. There are also displays of Norman interiors and workshops. The Treasure of Saint Gervais! Resting in the Saint Gervais and Saint Protais basilica which was built in the second half of the 19th century, it represents the importance of the ancient cathedral town through all its riches. Around the famous relic of Saint Aubert, a few pieces of silver and gold plates are exhibited as well as a full collection of wood and stone sculptures. Les Jardins des Plantes. The Botanical Gardens were the place of inspiration for many talented writers such as Guy de Maupassant, Victor Hugo and Paul Féval - the gardens on the top of the hill in Avranches are some of the most beautiful in France. You can see a large number of remarkable trees and mosaic patterned flowerbeds and a very different view of Le Mont St Michel! On summer evenings, music and lights welcome visitors for walks at dusk.

Mortain : an historical town associated with the Forest of Mortain, the famous waterfalls and beautiful walks. The town also has excellent shopping.

Vire : another historical town with excellent shopping and many interesting sites and scenery in the surrounding countryside.

Villedieu-les-Poeles : the epi-centre of the local copper and pewter "industry". Villedieu is a very beautiful, historical town ideally situated for travel to the countryside, the beaches or Paris by train.

The Forest of St Sever : the extensive and ancient forest provides fantastic walks, beautiful scenery and countryside. There are numerous, wonderful opportunities to appreciate the local nature, flora and forna of this fantastic area of Normandy. Don't forget your pic-nic!

Granville : a sea and fishing port with a marina, beaches and beautiful shops and restaurants. Granville is an ancient town that has spread from its original location on the top of the hill down to the area around the marina and beaches. There are beautiful walks around the town - ferries also leave Granville and can take day-trippers to the Channel Islands and the Chausey Islands too.

Jullouville & St Pair-sur-Mer : typical sea-side villages with wide, golden sandy beaches, shops and ice-cream or coffee parlours and everything for kids and adults alike. The walks and scenery are beautiful.

Le Mont St Michel : the origins of the famous, ancient monastery of Le Mont St Michel and the granite rock where it's located can be traced back nearly 1,000 years. The site offers outstanding historical information and beautiful views of the surrounding countryside when you climb to the top, through ancient alleys with shops and cafés on either side. The walks and beaches around Le Mont St Michel are unique and are spectacular no matter what the tide.

Places of Interest (Regionally)

Honfleur : a picturesque, quaint and beautiful ancient fishing port with wonderfully-coloured townhouses surrounding the old fishing harbour. There are numerous restaurants, shops, hotels and sites to visit here in Honfleur. The Pont de Normandie - spanning the estuary of the River Seine can be seen from Honfleur which is about 90 minutes from St Pois.

Deauville and Trouville : just along the coast west of Honfleur are the chic and fashionable sea-side towns of Deauville and Trouville made famous by their beautiful sandy beaches and their equine connections. About 90 minutes by car from St Pois.

The Loire Valley : vineyards, walks, the Loire river, chateaux, shopping for the wine-cellar at home - all about 3 hours by car from St Pois.

Paris : 3 hours by car or train from Villedieu-les-Poeles. The train service is excellent and very economical so well worth a day out if you don’t mind getting up early and getting back late!! There is free parking at the SNCF station.

Bayeux : the world-famous tapestry is located in this beautiful, historical town about 45 minutes by car from St Pois.

Le Mans : the host of the annual 24-hour race is about 60 minutes by car from St Pois.

Swiss Normandy : beautiful rolling countryside north of St Pois. Picturesque walks and countryside, chateaux open to the public for most of the year, column-barged country houses all help to create a unique atmosphere in Swiss Normandy - all this about 45 minutes by car from St Pois.

The Normandy Beaches : on the Channel coast. Cemeteries, battlefields, the famous June 1944 D-Day landing beaches and the Mulberry harbour are all set out along a 50 mile stretch of the coastline here, about 60 minutes by car from St Pois.