Stylish, 4 Spacious Gites in the heart of the Normandy countryside, Near Falaise - The Haras Reviews

Admitting how much we really loved this quiet part of Normandy feels like a dangerous act – fearing publicity will attract the masses and spoil the peace. The Haras is just the place to get away from it all: a great location set in beautiful countryside with only small towns and real people in the vicinity. The pace of life of this part of rural France has to be a cure-all for those needing a break from the hustle. Cheese, seafood and calvados – what a combination!

William the Conqueror’s chateau in Falaise is fantastic (even for a displaced Welshman growing up with castles) and the town is a delight. We were amazed, both coming and going (we are slow learners), how easy it was to get to Neuvy (we took the train from Paris to Caen and then rented a car). The beaches of Normandy and the D-Day history, Bayeux and the tapestry are within easy reach.

All this and the horses at the Haras had us ready to chuck it all in and ask for employment as stable hands.

Nous voulons vous remercier pour l’agréable séjour que nous avons passé dans ce très beau gite, et Bravo pour le très beau site.

Avec notre meilleur souvenir

Ease of access to this amazing part of France from Paris and England and the very easy driving really worked for us.

We loved making closer connections with some of the key events and personalities in both English and French history – medieval and modern – such as William the Conqueror, Eleanor of Aquitaine, the Normandy landings in WW2. Seventh heaven if you’re a history buff.

The perfect rural setting of the Haras du Gazon made it an ideal place to relax after our busy days of sightseeing and sampling the local fare, which was another highlight of our visit. Be warned – lashings of butter, cream, cheeses not to mention cider and calvados. We found that long walks in the countryside seemed to ward off any consequences!

Adding to the rural ambience, the property functions as a horse stud (breeding show jumpers), and being able to look at these gorgeous animals on a daily basis was something that we really enjoyed (even though we’re not horse aficionados.)

Conclusion? Highly recommended.

We only have one complaint to make about our stay at Haras du Gazon. It was far too brief! The beauty and charm of this property was overwhelming. Stone walls adorned with climbing roses, cobblestoned courtyards, geometric hedges and glorious formal water gardens placed us in an elegance of earlier times.

We’d come from strenuous cycling endeavours in the Alpes and Pyrenees and this was exactly what we needed before returning to Australia. It was delightful to wake to the whinnies of the horses as the stable hands approached with delectable barrows of hay, all lovingly grown by Tim through the summer season. We unwound by taking walks around the property and saying hello to the beautiful mares and foals who were always inquisitive and frequently put on a gymnastic display to entertain us. We even got to meet the little Normand cows who would grow up to produce the irresistible camembert cheese of the region.

We enjoyed watching the young showjumpers go through their paces on the purpose built arena. Spend a little time with Tim and he will convince you that their breeding is as intricate as any thoroughbred racehorse. We did briefly venture into the local town to stock up on cheese and wine and did see William The Conqueror’s Castle. Unfortunately impending plane journeys cut our visit way too short. The problem is it’s so hard to tear yourself away from the beautiful property to take advantage of all the region has to offer. We will be back to avail ourselves of Tim and Annie’s hospitality in this special place.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Haras du Gazon. We’d never been to Normandy before but it is absolutely stunning. So much to do – or not have to do – depending on what you’re looking for!

The gardens of the Haras are beautiful and really well maintained. It’s so nice to be able to actually ‘stay’ somewhere like this rather than just visiting for a few hours!

The on site pool is a real bonus and grounds are lovely.

Would really recommend a stay there. Plus it’s so close to Caen you don’t have to spend hours driving through France to start your holiday.

Will definitely be back next year – this time with a little one in tow!

Thank you for a lovely few days – you are always so welcoming.

It is simply the most beautiful establishment. You are surrounded by perfect photo opportunities as you can’t possibly take a bad photo here! Not only is the countryside beautiful, it’s peaceful, quiet and the paddocks are full of stunning show jumpers. Tim and Annie Holford are the kindest and most wonderful hosts. I can’t recommend staying here more highly, a must do if visiting Normandy!!

From our lovely guests from Belgium: Two families who chose to see the New Year 2014 in at the Haras du Gazon ! JUST A PERFECT STAY! ***** We were very much looking forward to this stay in Normandy, but once we arrived in front of the monumental main house, we knew our expectations would not be let down. The property is just beautiful, with horse stables, beautiful garden, nice old buildings completely restored. The inside of the gîte Almé was perfect and much more than we hoped for: cosy interior, all the equipment you can possibly dream of (steam cooker, toaster, coffee machine, iron, dish washer, washing machine, flat screens, dvd players, iPod box), completed with very good beds, lovely bed and bath linen and a lot of space, even for 12 people. The owners are very friendly, and helping out with every question you have, but also very busy with taking care of the many horses they are breeding. This is an address to return to, and to recommend to other travellers. Perfect to explore Normandy, to do some walking and biking, to enjoy fresh seafood, discover the French ‘bled’ and learn about the history of the second world war.

We will definitely return !

Ease of booking ***** Directions to the property***** Key pickup/access to the property***** Overall condition***** Quality of bedding/mattresses***** Kitchen/utensils quality***** Cleanliness of bathroom ***** Quality of facilities/amenities*****

Liked best: we liked it all ! Liked least: nothing, it was all good Travelling group: Extended Family Would I recommend this vacation rental to my best friend? Yes. Recommended for: Friends getaway Older travellers Families with young children • The property was “as advertised”. • I recommend the location. • The property was a good value for the price paid.

Thank you for a most wonderful Easter break. We have really enjoyed the peace, the horses, especially the newborn foals.

Five teenagers have been kept well entertained with the games room, the pool (yes they did have a swim!), the bikes etc, etc.

You couldn’t have been more welcoming and we will definitely return.

Tim & Annie have done a fabulous job on the gîtes. Beautifully appointed and in a setting that truly deserves the description of idyllic. The rustic nature of the place in its natural form lends a relaxing feel that is hard to match. My family had a restful stay.

Normandy itself is fascinating. Great food, cycling, history & culture all within an arms reach.

We’ll be back.