Calvados

Self Catering French Homes - Holiday Houses & Gites in Calvados, France

Search Rent-in-France holiday Homes for self catering holiday houses, gites and villas in Calvados, France. Located on the northern coast, Calvados is part of the Basse-Normandie region in Normandy and is surrounded by the departments of Seine-Maritime, Eure, Orne and Manche. It takes its name from a cluster of rocks off the coast. Originally, the proposed name for the department was Orne inférieure but it was finally decided that the department was to be called Calvados. A self catering holiday rental in Calvados is the perfect destination for those looking for a walking or cycling getaway. Rent a Calvados holiday gite and take a trip to the many wonderful sights and the superb beaches with various fun watersports on offer - Merville Franceville and Cabourg are two popular beaches among visitors. A large part of Calvados is rural and the department boasts some wonderful countryside along with fantastic scenery that makes the department ideal for sightseeing when taking a french holiday home. The heritage of the area is second to none and there are some wonderful and interesting sights that must be seen whilst visiting Calvados, including the D-day landing beaches and the famous Bayeux tapestry.

Places to visit in Calvados, France

Honfleur  A beautiful picturesque fishing port located at the mouth of the river Seine. The town has a unique character with houses with slate covered frontages painted by artists. Be sure to visit the Sainte-Catherine church when on holiday in Calvados, it is believed to be the largest church in France that is made from wood and also has a separate bell tower rather than being joined to the main building like traditional churches. It is believed that many famous artists including Monet and Cezanne were drawn to Honfluer - Calvados to take advantage of the light and ambient environment.

Caen Located approximately 2 hours away from Paris, Caen is the prefecture of Calvados and the Capital of the Region, Basse- Normandie. Situated just 15 km inland from the English Channel a direct ferry crossing from Portsmouth makes Caen very accessible. Known famously for its historical buildings which were built during the reign of William the Conqueror, the city has inherited a magnificent heritage. Caen was the key site of the Battle of Normandy and the city has preserved memories of the battle by building a memorial for peace. Much of the town was destroyed during the battle of Normandy in 1944 due to the heavy fighting but the centre has now been rebuilt and is now home to a number of pedestrianised precincts which are fantastic for eating out or enjoying shopping trips. Overall Caen is a thriving town with some fantastic heritage, well worth a visit when staying in your self catering Calvados holiday rental.

Falaise Falaise was the birthplace of William the Conqueror and is also home to a twelfth/thirteenth century castle. The castle has only recently re-opened after the latest phase of restoration as much of the town was heavily damaged during World War II. The castle now dominates the towns skyline as it is located on the high cliffs between the river Ante and the river Marescot .

Lisieux  Home to a fantastic Wednesday and Saturday market. Lisieux is the perfect place to shop for the areas local produce which include cheese and cider, there are a large number of cider producers based in the area that are worth seeking out during your stay. Heart of the Pays d’Auge the town is surrounded by the typical hedged farmland found in Normandy where you will find a number of livestock farming and Cider apple cultivation.

Bayeux Situated around 20km west of Caen Bayeux is most probably best known for its famous 70 meter long tapestry detailing the battle of Hastings and the events leading up to the invasion of England back in 1066. The Bayeux tapestry is believed to be one of the oldest surviving tapestries in the world, made by Reine Mathilde the wife of William the Conqueror the tapestry in displayed in a museum in the town centre and is regarded as the towns biggest tourist attraction. Due to being the first town to be released by the Allies on D-Day, Bayeux was spared the devastation that many of the towns in the area suffered. Be sure to take advantage of the wonderful panoramic views on offer from a number of locations along The Aure - which flows straight through Bayeux.

Calvados boasts an oceanic climate where the winter temperatures barely fall below zero. Summers see the average temperatures reach around 25°C and above, although the sea breeze often found along the coast combined with the tides mean the temperature can quickly change during the day.

Self catering Holiday Homes in Calvados are relatively easy to get to from the UK. There are two airports in the department, Deauville Saint Gatien (DOL) and Caen-Carpiqet (CFR). Alternatively  Brittany Ferries provide an overnight crossing from the South coast of England direct to Caen. Taking the ferry gives you the opportunity to take the car which will make exploring Calvados a whole much easier during your Calvados holiday rental.