Impressions of Normandy
Horseback on Houlgate Beach
Omaha Beach Memorial
WWII Memorial
Summer flowers
Summer flowers
Houlgate Town Hall
A l'Approche de la Mer - My sister's BnB in Houlgate
Houlgate Market
Houlgate Market
Rue des Bains - Houlgate
Houlgate homes
Houlgate homes
Houlgate in Spring
Houlgate homes
Houlgate homes
Houlgate homes
Houlgate homes
Houlgate homes
Houlgate homes
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Houlgate homes
View over the beach
View over the beach
View of Houlgate from the Corniche
Traditional country home
Houlgate Beach
Houlgate Beach
Houlgate Beach
Best Oysters
Sunset over Houlgate
Sunset over Houlgate
The village of Courseulles-sur-Mer, and restaurant La Maison Bleue
View from the top of Mont Saint-Michel
View from the top of Mont Saint-Michel
Mont Saint-Michel
Organ inside Rouen Cathedral
Inside Rouen Cathedral
Inside Rouen Cathedral
Statue inside Rouen Cathedral
Rouen architecture
Rouen architecture
Rouen architecture
Rouen architecture
Hotel de Bourgtheroulde in Rouen
Statue in Rouen
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Peugeot 504 Cabrio Pininfarina in the town of Bayeux - My favorite!
Best BnB in Normandy
A l'Approche de la Mer
I may be a little biased on this recommendation, but I believe that my sister's BnB is the best! A l'Approche de la Mer is her charming BnB, ideally located in the heart of Normandy's Calvados picturesque resort town of Houlgate, just two blocks off the stunning 2km beach. Calvados, located in the Normandy region of northwestern France, is an area of the country that has charmed the impressionists and played a key role in world history. Not surprising why it was chosen for the 2024 Olympic Torch Relay Route, passing through Houlgate!
A l'Approche de la Mer boasts two spacious suites, one at ground level that sleeps two and one upstairs with two separate rooms with accommodation for up to four people. Continental breakfast is available and served in the veranda. Pets are welcome and there is a private off-road parking space for one car across the road.
By the way, my sister is a gracious host who speaks English, French and German and can recommend excellent restaurants and other area villages and attractions while visiting "la cote fleurie" (The Flower Coast). She has even prepared some suggested hub and spoke itineraries for you to discover the surrounding area, all while making A l'Approche de la Mer your home base.
Location, Location, Location
Ground Floor Suite
Family Suite
Breakfast Room Veranda
Discover the Beauty of "la cote fleurie"
2/3 Day Itinerary - Deauville/Trouville, Honfleur & Etretat
2/3 Day Itinerary - Deauville/Trouville, Honfleur & Etretat
Discover Deauville, Normandy's sophisticated "Paris on the Coast" with its elegant shops, casino and Le Normandy Hotel. Savor fresh seafood in adjacent Trouville and spend a day in the picturesque artist town and port of Honfleur and Etretat with its famous cliffs
- Deauville - casino, shops, Le Normandy hotel, hippodrome
- Trouville - seafood market
- Honfleur - town & port
- Etretat - Seaside town with cliffs
2/3 Day Itinerary - Falaise, Bayeux & Caen
2/3 Day Itinerary - Deauville/Trouville, Honfleur & Etretat
3 wonderful day trips to include historic sites and museums
- Falaise - Chateau de Falaise
- Bayeux - cathedral and battle of hastings museum
- Caen - memorial museum, castle, churches and abbeys
2/3 Day Itinerary - D-Day Beaches
2/3 Day Itinerary - D-Day Beaches
Take in the D-Day experience including Omaha Beach, Arromanches-les-Bains, Pegasus Bridge, American Cemetary and Museum.
- Omaha Beach & Arromanches-les-Bains
- Pegasus Bridge
- American Cemetary & Museum
1 Day Excursion - The Cider Route
2/3 Day Itinerary - D-Day Beaches
Take a leisurely drive through the countryside visiting two delightful nearby villages that offer Normandy charm and local cuisine, cider and calvados
- Beaumont-en-Auge (Cafe Le P'Tit Beaumont)
- Beuvron-en-Auge
Walking Tours
- Enjoy a vibrant walk along the Houlgate beach to neighboring villages, Dives-sur-Mer and Cabourg.
- Explore Houlgate including its fresh food market, hillside trails and spectacular views from the corniche
- 6km walk along the Vaches Noires cliffs of Houlgate to Villers-sur-Mer
Extend Your Stay
Extend your stay to visit Normandy's capital city Rouen as well as World Heritage UNESCO site: Mont Saint Michel. Don't miss a gastonomical treat at Restaurant La Maison Bleue
- Rouen - cathedral and clock tower
- Mont Saint Michel
- Courseulles-sur-Mer (La Maison Bleue)