The cider route

The cider-makers of Cambremer, fervent yet calm as only the Normans know how, struggle in the shadow of the ancient cider presses in order to maintain their tradition. It was only in 1975 that they were finally able to witness the birth of the Cambremer cider route, a real invitation to pleasure.
Those who have tasted the cider, with its vanilla and lime-blossom overtones, want to know its secret. There are more than seven hundred and fifty different types of cider apple, each with its own distinctive taste. For a well-rounded cider, the sweet, sharp and bitter flavours must be carefully balanced.
The traditional producers know how to choose their apples, their greatest asset. Whilst following the cider route which criss-crosses the plateaux and shallow valleys of the Auge, one can admire the luxurious gardens where the apple tree reigns and try to imagine the meticulous care of the cider-makers.

Half-timbered houses, from the simple hovel to the imposing farmhouse where the producers welcome visitors, characterise the Auge, an area packed with ancient manors, most of which are unfortunately not open to the public. Near Montreuil-en-Auge, behind a postern and surrounded by a moat, stands the half-timbered manor of Bais. Although it is not accessible to the public, one can admire it from a distance.

The manor of Champ-Versant in Bonnebosque, a beautiful example of this type of building, however, is open for viewing.

Le Vieux Manoir, stretched out in the heart of the village of Beuvron-sur-Auge and displaying pillars sculpted with grimacing faces, is a mixture of both tradition and extravagance.

The Auge cider route

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From Mont Saint Michel to Saint-Malo

This route enables one to pass alongside the bay to Saint-Malo and to discover, when the tide is low, the mussel beds of Vivier-sur-Mer and the oyster beds of Cancale.
Cancale, a fishing port and renowned oyster-farming centre, is a pretty little town that brings together all the pleasures of the seaside: swimming, walking along the coastal footpaths, and sampling the foods that the sea has to offer. The picturesque port can be reached by taking the winding little scenic path which goes down to the sea.
The wild and rocky tip of Grouin, 4.5 kilometres from Cancale, rises 40 metres above the sea. From this point the panorama stretches from Cap Fréhel to Granville and gives a good view of Mont-Saint-Michel Bay. Off the coast are the Chausey Islands.
Finally, one arrives in Saint-Malo. One can continue on to Rothéneuf to see the manor of Jacques Cartier and the strange rocks sculpted in 1870 by Abbot Fouré, who lived twenty-five years of his life there. Nearly three hundred characters, including Gargantua, a Roman warrior and an Egyptian are fixed in granite.

The history of Cancale
The history of Saint-Malo
The sculpted rocks of Rothéneuf

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The stud farms

Normandy is the land of horses. It was on Collignon beach that the first trotting race took place on the 25th of September 1836. The following summer the experiment was moved to the Prairie racecourse in Caen, which is still as sought-after as that of Vincennes.

A horse-rearing region, Normandy is home to two of the twenty-three prestigious national stud farms: the Pin Stud Farm in Ome and the Saint-Lô Stud Farm in Manche, both of which are classified as historic buildings.
Created in 1665 by Colbert, the national stud farms are some of the oldest French institutions. Their assignment is still the same: to deal with everything regarding the rearing of horses and equestrian activities.

The National Stud Farm of Pin
Founded in 1715, this is one of the most prestigious national stud farms. In this 'horse's palace', one can find nearly every race of horse amongst the seventy-odd national stallions. Every Thursday from the 15th of July to the 30th of September, in the main courtyard of the stud farm, the stallions are paraded and there is a harnessing display.

The National Stud Farm of Saint-Lô
Situated on the way to Bayeux, the Saint-Lô stud farm has the largest number of stallions, around 120. The majority of these are of the Selle-Français race: competition horses from the Manche region.
The National Stud Farms site

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