Our Postcard from Normandy

This postcard comes to you from Avranches, right next to Mont Saint-Michel in the Manche department of lower Normandy. Avranches is a small town steeped in history and situated just a stone’s throw from the stunning and fascinating Mont Saint-Michel.

Situated at the southern end of the Cotentin Peninsula, this town is perfect for our stay because it’s on the E40 and also boasts excellent rail links. And just off the coast at the mouth of the Couesnon River, of course, there’s Mont Saint-Michel.

Charming Accommodation

For our accommodation, we’ve found ourselves a charming chambre d’hôte on the outskirts of the town that’s run by a couple who moved here from England about 20 years ago. They are a husband-and-wife team. Madame is French and Mister is English and they run an absolutely superb business here.

They tell me that most of their guests stay for at least three nights, making their venture much more relaxing and cost-effective for them than for some B&Bs that get only one-night guests. Anyway, they made us feel incredibly welcome and fed us like Kings and Queens when we weren’t out and about in town and the surrounding area.

The Town of Avranches

Avranches itself is quite an unassuming little town with a population of about 10,000, but it has a really lovely feel. Even off-season, there’s a bit of local hustle and bustle, and the locals certainly made us feel at home. One of the main attractions in the town is the site of the ancient cathedral, the Cathedral of Avranches, which has a fascinating and checkered history.

Historical Significance

Originally dating back to the 10th century, it was destroyed during the French Revolution. Unlike some cathedrals that had a similar fate, the Cathedral of Avranches wasn’t reconstructed after its demise. Legend has it that even several visits by Archangel Michael to the bishop of Avranches failed to make him take notice and instruct a rebuild. Apparently, on his last visit, the Archangel Michael touched the bishop on the head and had such an impact that his finger made a hole in his skull.

Whether you believe the legend or not, you, like us, can see his skull, complete with a hole, in the Saint-Gervais church in Avranches itself. After the cathedral was destroyed, the town’s religious presence was restored by the Church of Notre-Dame-des-Champs, a Gothic Revival-style building erected in the 19th century.

Avranches itself is quite an unassuming little town with a population of about 10,000, but it has a really nice feel. Even off-season, there’s a bit of local hustle and bustle, and the locals certainly made us feel at home. One of the main attractions in the town is the site of the ancient cathedral, the Cathedral of Avranches, which has a fascinating and checkered history.

Exploring the Surrounding Area

While in residence, we took a couple of trips out of town to meet up with friends in Vire, Villedieu-les-Poêles, and Sourdeval. All of these communes have smallish populations, except Vire, which has about 12,000 inhabitants. That said, what really struck us on our travels was the warmth of welcome we felt, an experience that we haven’t necessarily found in our recent trips to bigger towns and cities.

History and Culture

Yes, we’re often drawn to the bright lights, but sometimes it’s in the darkest corners where the brightest lights shine. Here we are, only a few miles from England, in a part of France rich in historical significance, most recently the Normandy landings. It’s easy to get to and is rich with delicious food and drinks. No matter whether your love is cider, Calvados, Coquilles St Jacques or Camembert, you can be sure that you’ll have a gourmet welcome irrespective of where you go.

Investing in Normandy

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