Living in Normandy

Book excerpt: A stone's throw from Paris and renowned for its temperate climate, Normandy is a French region with something for everyone. Rich in culture, history, nature, and hearty cuisine, it attracts an increasing number of visitors and countless foreign homeowners. Its beauty and charm has seduced great artists and writers such as Monet in Giverny and Victor Hugo in Villequier. Share in the relaxed Norman lifestyle by sauntering along the beach in Deauville, stroll along riverbanks and forests in springtime. Normandy is famed for its gardens, and many are open to visitors, who can stroll the cloistered grounds of a monastery, or watercolor at Giverny. Discover that there is no such thing as a typical Norman home: locals invite us into their half-timbered houses, thatched cottages, or slate-roofed residences. Catch a glimpse at the end of a pathway of a medieval chateau with turrets or a Renaissance manor with mansard windows and balconies. No Normand table is complete without Calvados, Camembert, Cotentin oysters, hard cider, butter, and creme fraiche. Regional artisans still practice traditional Normand crafts, including lacemaking from Alencon, majolica from Vieux Rouen, and the region's famous armoires and clocks. Living in Normandy includes an indispensable guide with an extensive list of the region's best restaurants, hotels, brasseries, bed and breakfasts, as well as stores, boutiques, antique dealers, and tips on where to sample the famous local products.