Articles that may interest you
In this section of the website, we will try to give you more detailed, and I hope interesting, information about the area around the cottage.
As the cottage is in a rural part of Normandy, we will try to provide you with some information about the wildlife, the geology, the architecture, the history and maybe even the astrology of the region.
Gardens to Visit
Wild Birds in the Garden
Gardens to Visit
Jardin Retire - Bagnols de l'Orne
This is a bit of a hidden gem. The site is quite small and compact with a number of different "rooms". The garden is shaded for the most part and the planting is inspiring. The garden is decorated with sculptures, furniture and features which add to its charms. The owner/gardener is often working in the garden when you visit and is always welcoming and informative.
The garden is open from mid-April to mid-September. There is a nominal entry fee.
This is a privately owned garden of approximately 25 hectaresand is located in the Ille-et-Vilaine department of Brittany, near the medieval city of Fougères. The park is part of the estate of La Foltière, where stands the Château de la Foltière, and was built in 1847.
Parc Botanique de Haute Bretagne
This again is a small but beautifully planted and designed garden comprising of several rooms. The garden is in a town called Athis a l'Orne. It is a contemporary garden of 3000 sq m and was created by its owners Doninique and Benoit Delomez. It is a mainly shaded garden with sculpture ornamenting the "rooms". They have managed to design and create a garden full of diverse plants and trees with a stream, pond and other water features. It is inspirational for those with a shaded garden.
It is open from 11.00 am to 7.00 pm from May to June on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays and rom 1st July to 18th September everyday except Monday.
The address is:
6 Chemin du Lavoir
61430 Athis de l'Orne
Website: http://www.jardin-interieuracielouvert.com/en/jardin-interieur-a-ciel-ouvert/
Le Jardin Interieur a Ciel Ouvert - Athis de l'Orne
Address: 4 La Folletière, 35133 Le Chatellier.
Green Woodpecker Pic Vert/Pivert
Picus viridis
Approx 32 cms and can be seen throughout the year.
Mistle Thrush Grive draine
Turdus viscicorus
There are many birds to be seen throughout the year in the garden here at La Longere. If you enjoy watching the birds fly around and peck about in the garden, we have put together a rough list of those you may see.
Spotted Woodpecker Pic épeiche
Dendrocopus major
Both spotted and green woodpeckers can be found in the woods south of the house.
Wildlife in the Garden
Nuthatch
Chiff Chaff
The British Normandy Memorial
The British Normandy Memorial overlooks Gold Beach in Vers-sur-Mer and is close to the Arromanches beach. The Memorial is well worth a visit. It is a very moving and poignant site with the names of those British and Commonwealth soldiers, sailors and airmen who lost their lives during the D Day Campaign.
The impressive "Standing with Giants" installation will again be featured from 25th April to 19 September 2026. The silhouettes will stand in the meadow fields that surround the Memorial.
Heading
The Normandy Beaches
Arromanches Memorial and Mulberry Harbour
At Arromanches-les-Bains, Mulberry Harbour can still be seen. The large concrete blocks that formed the artificial port to supply the Allied troops.
The seaside resort of Arromanches-les-Bains was a priority target for the Allied troops, who wanted to build an temporary port to supply the landed troops with weapons and ammunition. The port was meant to be temporary, lasting maybe three months. It served for some five months. The Mulberry Harbour in Arromanches-les-Bains became known as Port Winston, after British wartime leader Winston Churchill, who was closely involved in its conception. A staggering 2.5 million men, 500,000 vehicles and four million tonnes of supplies arrived via Port Winston. Many mysterious relics litter these beaches, which were so important in the liberation of Europe from the Nazis. Cemeteries, museums and panoramic views have been created to help us understand and appreciate the significance of the D-Day Landings and the Battle of Normandy.
The Memorial site has some stunning and very moving statues with a ghostly appearance. The site also has a 360 degree cinema and museum and is well worth a visit.
