Property Normandy - Buy, Rent & Stay in Basse-Normandie
Basse-Normandie, France
The Basse-Normandie (or Lower Normandy) region is part of the ancient duchy of Normandy. The regions is made up of three departments (Fr. départements) Orne, Calvados, and Manche
The Basse-Normandie Region:
The Manche department, west of Calvados, is surrounded on three sides by the English Channel. This department, with its beautiful stretches of rocky coastline, has the misfortune of being known as 'Europe's nuclear dump', as, on the edge of the peninsula's western tip, is France's first uranium treatment plant.
At the tip of the peninsula sits Cherbourg, a large but unappealing port town and more appealingly to the south, beside the border with Brittany, is one of the most visited sites in France - Mont St-Michel. Due west of the peninsula are the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey accessible from nearby St-Malo in neighbouring Brittany.
Away from the coast the region is an extremely fertile land of lush meadows, rich pastures and orchards hiding small villages of half-timbered - colombage - houses. Around the town of St-Lo is the area known as the bocage, where fields are criss-crossed with tight hedgerows rooted into walls of earth over a metre high. In 1944, the Allied troops found it almost impossible to advance through this landscape.
Part of the area along the River Orne, about 25km from Caen, is known as Swiss Normandie where, although not mountainous, there are cliffs, crags and wooded hills at every turning.
The southern part of Basse-Normandy is a densely wooded area and is great for walkers. The Foret d'Ecouves, north of Alencon, is a dense mix of spruce, pine, oak and beech and populated by deer, wild boar and wild mushrooms. In the autumn the woods attract the deer-hunters.History of Basse-Normandie
During the Roman era, Basse-Normandie was divided into a number of different city-states. The Franks conquered this region in the 5th century. The Normans devastated the region in the 9th century. During World War II, Operation Overlord's main thrust was focused on Basse-Normandie.
Much of the north-facing coast of the Calvados department is lined with the D-day beaches that claimed the lives of 100,000 soldiers on the 6th June 1944. The beaches are still often referred to by their wartime code names: Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha and Utah and many are still deeply pitted by German bunkers and shell holes. All the coastal towns here have a war museum, although many visitors do manage to put the coast's grim history to the back of their minds and enjoy it simply for the sand and seafood.Access to Basse-Normandie
Direct flights from the UK to Normandy include flybe into Cherbourg and Skysouth which flies from Shoreham Airport (Brighton) to Caen and Le Havre.
There are ferries to Ouistrehem (Caen), Cherbourg, St-Malo or Le Havre.
Travelling by train is also an option. If you don't want to take your car then you can continue on the TGV train to Le Havre and Cherbourg once you have been through the Channel Tunnel.
Pont de Normandie
Attractions in Basse-Normandie
The seaside towns and resorts of the regions coast are very popular with day-tripping Parisians. Picturesque Honfleur particularly draws the crowds. The sea here has moved back and the old wooden houses that once lined the seafront now lie several hundred metres inland.
In 1995 a 2km bridge, Pont de Normandie, opened across the Seine linking Honfleur with Le Havre, making it very accessible for visitors from the UK arriving into the port town. Other popular seaside resorts include Trouville and Deauville which are within a stone's throw of each other. Deauville, with its smart casinos and turn-of-the-century villas, was once the playground of the rich and famous, whereas Trouville is a little more downmarket.
Mont Saint-Michel
Mont Saint-Michel in the Manche department is a stunning town and the chief visitor magnet for Normandy. A breathtaking tidal islet, listed in 1979 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it has long been dubbed 'a marvel of the western world'. Connected by a causeway with the mainland, the town rises majestically above the flat plains below, with its medieval architecture pointing upwards. At the very top sits the gothic Benedictine Abbey of St Michel, an extraordinary work of architecture built high upon the rocks of this mountain island.Economy of Basse-Normandie
The main agricultural activity in the region is cattle, dairy and apples. Basse-Normandie is renowned for producing apples for cider and Calvados is, of course, known for its apple-flavoured liquor.
Climate of Basse-Normandie
Basse-Normandie is similar to the UK in its climate. It has mild winters with temperatures rarely reaching below freezing, and temperate summers, around 25°C. Precipitation is substantial, but varies greatly by location - between 700mm on the coast and 1300mm in the inland area of the south. There is often a sea breeze on the coast, which combined with tides contributes to quick temperature changes over a single day.
Lower Normandy Cuisine
Lower Normandy is the land of Calvados brandy and apple cider. It is well known for its rich butter, cream and other dairy products, particularly Camembert cheese.
Gites, Hotels and Tourist Accommodation in Normandy
This increase in tourism, especially since it is fuelled to some degree by the increase in low cost air fares, opens opportunities for those wishing to start or run a business in France.
Many people find converting an old barn or outhouse to a gite enables them to earn a useful supplementary income from those looking for a French gite holiday. Rural gite holidays are increasingly popular and a 'gite to rent' or 'gite louer' could be how you enjoy life without working in the rat race.
House & Property Prices in Basse-Normandie
The Basse-Normandie region as a whole is becoming very popular with British buyers, especially as Brittany's market is filling up. There is a large range of value for money properties across the region, many requiring renovation and providing profitable DIY projects.
The department of Calvados has seen the highest increase in prices, followed by the department of Manche, with the most southerly department, Orne, seeing the lowest.
However, with the A88 due to be opened in 2010, Orne will become more easily accessible and prices are likely to dramatically increase.
Property
Normandy
Featured Properties Basse-Normandie
Detached Farmhouse + Barns + 2000m2 for restoration
This old stone and colombage under a red tiled roof is for complete restoration. Set on a plot of approx. 2000m2 just outside a village and close to the town of Domfront. Water and electricity are close-by but will need connecting. The house comes with
Manche
€50,000
Village Shop to Convert/Develope
Located in a lively village with all shops, restaurant, bar etc close to the town of Briouze, this old shop for total restoration/conversion is set on the village square. The ground floor is approx. 10m x 6m divided into two rooms and a w.c. with a sin
Orne
€48,000
Three old stone fermettes for total restoration all with a Certificat d’Urbanisme positive. Set on a rural plot of approx. 5000m2 (more poss). Located close to the town of Mortain and just 25 mins from Avranches and the coast.
Manche
€93,000
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