La Gonfrairie

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Local Information

An assortment of information and links to local attractions and places of interest,

plus some more essential local information.

Some people just want to do nothing - and this is a pretty good place for that.  But even the most inactive may feel like getting out and about every now and then, and even those who aren't bothered about local attractions will need to find the local amenities for the basics of life.  Here is at least some of what you might want to know.

La Lande

Well the nearest attraction is not even as far away as Cuves.  Almost on our doorstep, quite literally a five minute walk up the road towards St.Pois finds a first class restaurant as much in the middle of nowhere as La Gonfrairie - Le Moulin de Jean.  It is probably advisable to book in advance but you will probably get in if you just try your luck, but don’t rely on it Friday to Sunday!  Current Menu (May ’04) is kept in the house but they were planning to change the menu in June – so it may be different when you get there.

To find out more just click the link to their website, or the link to a review on the Waitrose Food and Drink website, giving some of the background to the proprieter.

http://www.lemoulindejean.com/GB/gb_moulindejean.htm

http://www.waitrose.com/food_drink/wfi/foodpeople/chefs/9810026.asp

Cuves

A small village with not much to it.  A small baker/grocer is about all there is and with Brecey only about 5 miles away, that's where we do all our shopping for provisions.  There is also a post office, and the local rubbish disposal facilities are here.

St.Pois

St.Pois is a small town with a range of useful shops.  A baker/patisserie, butcher etc., (the greengrocer shut up shop this summer) plus a couple of small bar/brasserie restaurants.  In the village square there is a large signpost with details of a local scenic walk, alleged to take a couple of hours; we'll try to get more details.

Brecey

Only about 5 or 6 miles away - and has all the amenities you need.  At least three bakers that we have spotted, two chemists, a couple of butchers, a greengrocer, hardware store, a couple of bar/tabacs etc.  Market day is Friday in the village square.  Slightly hidden in the back streets is Marché U, the local supermarket.  There's a pizza restaurant in the main square but we suggest you try the Auberge des Sports opposite the fire station - on the way into Brecey from Cuves - reasonably priced traditional French fare.  Also check out the town's website - http://www.tourisme-brecey.com/accueil.jsp - where some more places for eating in the area are listed.

On the way to Brecey from La Gonfrairie, on the D911, is a well signposted leisure park - full details at http://www.tourisme-brecey.com/activites_espaceloisirs.htm - including an open air swimming pool and a fishing lake.

http://www.tourisme-brecey.com/plantouristique.htm has a map showing a number of local attractions (such as the Granite Museum at St Michel de Montjoie, the Pottery Museum at Ger, and the Apple and Pear Museum at Barenton) and also provides links to many tourism offices in the area.  (The granite museum is an outdoor attraction, and it is more stimulating - on a sunny day at least - than it might sound.  Do give it a try.)

Avranches

Large town with many shops and some pleasant sights. Jardin des Plantes, site of old cathedral, interesting museum, and a changing display of manuscripts from Mont St Michel.  Just out of town is a WW2 museum.   

A large Carrefour supermarket is on the outskirts.  From Brecey to Avranches you will come to a roundabout where you can go to the motorway or to Ponts.  Go to Ponts and then you will come to a T-junction - turn left to Avranches.  A few hundred yard later another T-junction signs left to Avranches - turn right here and past the tractor dealership on the left, under the motorway and then the Carrefour is right at the next roundabout.  There is also a discount supermarket "Le Mutant" on the same site.

http://www.ville-avranches.fr/english/tourisme/tourisme_tresors.htm is the only page in English on the town website, but does give details of some local treasures.

Vire

Large town with many shops etc.

http://www.zoodejurques.com/ is a zoo some 25km NE of Vire.

Villedieu-les-Poeles

Viledieu is a charming town, famous for its copper-working.  Lots of copper goods for sale in the many high street coppersmiths. 

There is a large market on Tuesday - recommended for a morning outing. 

The town's website is extremely good - full of detail.  http://www.ot-villedieu.fr/accueil_gb.jsp  We won't try and describe in detail all the museums and other visitor attractions in Villedieu; museums of copper, lace, Normandy furniture, a bell foundry, and the kingdom of the clock are just some of the local attractions, and all are listed on the website above. You could quite easily spend a couple of days or more here visiting all the attractions.

http://www.zoo-champrepus.com/anglais/index.htm is a zoo halfway between Villedieu and Granville

Bellefontaine

On the road to Mortain is this small village with its local attraction The Enchanted Village.  Seems like a good day out for those with kids, from looking at the website http://www.village-enchante.fr/.  Sadly the link to the English version is broken at present.

Normandy

Try the Normandy toursim website at http://www.normandy-tourism.org/gb/index1000.html which lists a large number of Normandy sights.

Local Services

(None of these services have been verified - all details are extracted from local or on-line directories only.)

Doctor     

Dentist

Hospital

Taxi             

Central Bar, Le Bourg, 50670 St Pois, 0233 598028

Lion Taxi, 8 rue Libération, 50370 Brécey. Tel: 0233 605067

Local Council

Local Police

Emergency Services

Antique Shops

Assorted general Normandy info and links

Here are some links to articles at the ViaMichelin online magazine from May 2004

    The first one is about Normandy cuisine

    http://www.viamichelin.com/viamichelin/gbr/tpl/mag3/art20040501/htm/dest_normandy_cooking.htm

    The second is an article about the attractions of the town of Bayeux

    http://www.viamichelin.com/viamichelin/gbr/tpl/mag3/art20040501/htm/dest_bayeux.htm

    The third one is about sightseeing on a D-Day theme

    http://www.viamichelin.com/viamichelin/gbr/tpl/mag3/art20040501/htm/dest_normandy.htm

Trip Advisor has many links to attractions in Normandy.  Many of them are far away from Brecey, but there are three pages of links to browse - this links you to the first page.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g187179-Activities-Normandy.html

Practical Caravan has six pages devoted to short tours in different parts of Normandy - complete with maps.  One covers Bayeaux and another Granville - here are all six links.

    http://www.practicalcaravan.com/greatarchive/normandytour1.html

    http://www.practicalcaravan.com/greatarchive/normandytour2.html

    http://www.practicalcaravan.com/greatarchive/normandytour3.html

    http://www.practicalcaravan.com/greatarchive/normandytour4.html

    http://www.practicalcaravan.com/greatarchive/normandytour5.html

    http://www.practicalcaravan.com/greatarchive/normandytour6.html

The Sunday Times ran an article in May 2004 detailing a three-day tour of Normandy D-Day sites.  It can be read at:

    http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,10319-1105046,00.html

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