La Robinière

The owners were the best part of our week and a half at La Robinière. We had lovely chats with them over breakfast about all sorts of things, and one evening they invited us to try their homemade Calvados, aged for half a century. It was full of flavor, and the evening went by in no time. We also enjoyed their interesting tour of the grounds. If we come back for another anniversary, we’ll stay at La Robiniere again. We were there for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, and La Robiniere made a good base for visiting the Normandy beaches and the well-known D-Day towns and villages. Saint-Loi is nearby, with plenty of good restaurants. There are also Second World War reminders on the property, including a PSP steel airstrip plate used as a lid and a deep dent in one natural stone wall, left by a tank turning around. The quiet countryside was a real change for us city dwellers. The small roads, open landscape, and calm made it easy to unwind. There are no planes overhead, apart from the Douglas C-47 flying past to mark D-Day. La Robinière is an 18th-century farmhouse made from local natural stone, with the quarry just a short distance away. The retired owners used to keep dairy cows, and the old stone barns are still there. You can see ancient troughs, part of the manger, and some original beams. The broad meadows are now rented to a dairy farmer, whose cows graze there. Our rooms were upstairs, reached by a stone staircase. Each had an opening window for fresh air, two double beds, tables and chairs, and a large antique wardrobe. The beds were comfortable, and the linens were changed several times while we were there. There was a kettle and coffee-making equipment. No TV, which we didn’t miss, and Wi-Fi was available, though the signal was sometimes weak. Breakfast included croissants, baguettes, brioche, three homemade jams, cheese, cold cuts, orange juice, milk, and coffee. Some days there was homemade chocolate cake or apple crumble as well.

We had no complaints and would happily come back. The cottage was very clean, and breakfast was perfect. The owners were kind, friendly, and very helpful, sharing tips on places to discover. Yvette and Bernard Rivière

Dogs are welcome here without an extra charge, which is getting rare. The place was spotless, breakfast was simple but plentiful, and the hosts were very friendly. Very, very good. Highly recommended.

It was so relaxing out in the countryside, with all the greenery, nature, and cows, and it was lovely and peaceful. The welcome was warm and really friendly, and my single room was spacious. Thank you!