Maison Calvados

The villa

Maison Calvados is a charming holiday rental near the sea close to some of Normandy’s loveliest seaside towns. Villers - sur - Mer is 4km away with its vast sandy beach, shops, cafes and markets whilst beautiful Deauville is only 15 - minutes by car. Across this Normandy - style home, the owners have created a lovely space with modern interiors alongside characterful features. Maison Calvados sleeps up to 10 guests with a main house (3 bedrooms) and separate guest house (2 bedrooms) and the holiday home also benefits from a gym and sauna. The main house has a spacious open - plan living and dining room with tiled floors and a wood beamed ceiling - there is space for all 10 guests to dine together and the fireplace is much appreciated in cooler months. Upstairs you will find the master bedroom with an en suite bathroom, two doubles with queen - size beds and a shared shower room. The guest house within the grounds sleeps another 4 guests with a ground - floor and upstairs double bedroom both overlooking the garden. A living space features a tiny kitchen area with the all - important Nespresso machine and there is a stylish shared shower room. Outside the main house, the poolside terrace is a wonderful spot for relaxing in the sun and enjoying al - fresco meals by the barbecue. The heated swimming pool is 10m long and will be loved by every age, perfect for family and friends to spend quality time together. Set in large wooded rustic grounds, the house is located in a residential area only a 10 - minute stroll to a handy supermarket. In the other direction you can walk to a viewpoint with glorious vistas towards the sea. The much - loved Normandy seaside resort of Villers - sur - Mer is a 10 - minute drive or bike ride away where there is a vast sandy beach popular with fossil hunters, backed by beach huts and a promenade. There’s a bakery, cafes and restaurants in the town as well as a twice - weekly market on a Tuesday and Friday morning - a great way to buy delicious local produce. If staying in the height of the summer, look out for the atmospheric Thursday evening marché nocturne by the beach. If you can find the time, there is so much to explore along La Côte Fleurie and beyond. Stroll along the iconic boardwalk of Deauville, a seaside town so loved for its boutiques, gastronomic restaurants, horse - racing and cultural events. Soak up the rich history of Honfleur with its 17 th century harbour and visit picture - perfect villages across the Pays d’Auge’s ‘ Route du Cidre ’ including Beuvron - en - Auge, one of France’s ‘ Plus Beaux Villages ’.

Close to the sea in the Calvados region of Normandy, this traditional house is only 3km from the seaside resort of Villers - sur - Mer and around a 15 - minute drive from Deauville. The ferry ports at Caen Ouistreham (33km) and Le Havre (71km) are both easily reached whilst Paris is only 2 hours 40 minutes by car.

Maison Calvados is set in a residential area, a short stroll from a useful supermarket and a hotel - restaurant. In the other direction, you can walk around 10 minutes to a viewpoint for vistas of the sea.

The nearest place to access the sea is the glorious sandy beach at Villers - sur - Mer, just 10 minutes away by car or bike (the most adventurous could walk in around 40 minutes). It’s a wonderful stretch of coastline backed by beach huts and an attractive promenade. The boating club is based here and further along you will see the casino, a collection of Belle Époque villas and a couple of sea - facing restaurants.

There are some lovely walks along the coast (always check the tide times carefully if venturing beyond the main beach). Fossil - hunting is a popular pastime along this beach. Paléospace museum is only 5km away, next to the Parc naturel Du Marais for pleasant walks and cycle rides.

Villers - sur - Mer itself is a much - loved seaside resort that became popular in the late 19th century. Across the pedestrianised town centre you can make the most of the shops, cafes and twice - weekly market on a Tuesday and Friday morning. In July and August a marché nocturne takes place by the beach on Thursday evenings and look out for other weekly Farmer’s markets in the summer months.

Continuing along the coast, Blonville - sur - Mer (6.5km) is full of charm with some lovely restaurants, café - bars and pretty shops as well as a fantastic beach. You will soon reach Deauville (10.5km), the iconic seaside resort so loved for its decked boardwalk, beach huts, colourful sun umbrellas, glitzy boutiques and gastronomic restaurants. Dating back to the 19th century, the town has gained a fine reputation over the years - Parisians flock to the town during weekends and holidays (Paris to Deauville is just over two hours by train). Visitors also come for Deauville’s vibrant cultural scene, film festivals, horse - racing and polo.

Across the estuary, Trouville - sur - Mer (12km) is another seaside gem with a daily fish market or continue on towards Honfleur (31km), a delightful historic town with a warren of charming medieval lanes and picturesque port dating back to the 17th century.

Away from the coast, there are so many idyllic villages to discover across the Pays d’Auge. Beuvron - en - Auge (19km) is classified as one of France’s ‘ Plus Beaux Villages ’ whilst Beaufour - Druval (14km) and Cambremer (24km) are also picture - perfect spots. They are all on Normandy’s 'Route du Cidre' and there are plenty of opportunities to visit local producers of cider, calvados, Pommeau and perry.

Food lovers note that Pont - l'Évêque (20km), famous for its cheese production, is a great day out, especially on a Monday morning when the market takes place.