Fancy some hearty sea air? Then Hotel Les Hauts in Normandy with its lush garden is just the place for you.

Fancy some hearty sea air? Then this little castle, the Hotel Les Hauts in Normandy with its lush garden, is just the thing. Susanne and André Leroy are Normandy veterans. The family has been rooted in Normandy for a long time. This is not surprising, as it is a special region: the soil is fertile, the landscape is stunning and historical treasures, monasteries and Gothic churches are widespread. In the 19th century, many wealthy French people had magnificent vacation homes built in the small coastal towns, which stand out with their colorful facades, ornate balconies, railings, gables and eaves. Fifteen years ago, Susanne and André Leroy had the opportunity to buy such a large, ornate vacation home from a distant cousin. They didn’t think twice: The organic farmers left their farm behind and turned the little chateau into a bed and breakfast. It is located on a hillside in Saint Jean le Thomas on the English Channel, on the west coast of Normandy between Avranches and Granville.

Each room is individually decorated with antique furniture. Most of them have a direct view of the bay and Mont Saint-Michel, so you won’t miss the TV, radio or telephone. There is no sign here of the three million visitors who besiege Mont Saint-Michel every year. Saint Jean le Thomas is a small spa town and you won’t even find crowds of tourists here in July and August. But you will find a wonderful Romanesque church from the 10th century, a small grocery store, an excellent village butcher’s, a bar, the weekly Saturday market and, above all, the sea and the nature reserve with its many coastal hiking trails. Cocteau, Colette and the famous General Eisenhower (who stayed here for 40 days during the Second World War) have all rested here. Incidentally, in the “Eisenhower Suite” you can rest in the bed of the American general.

You are gently awakened by the delicious smell of bread, which wafts up to the last floor of the house. Monsieur bakes fresh baguettes for his guests every day. Breakfast is served in the large reception hall. With its wooden pillars and large open granite fireplace, it is more reminiscent of a medieval castle. While the open fire crackles, Madame talks to every interested guest about the region, history and culinary specialties. She proudly presents her homemade jams. Twelve different varieties are on the breakfast buffet every day, and anyone who wants the recipe will be happy to receive detailed instructions. Incidentally, her latest invention is a lemon jam that simmers and infuses for several days.

After an extensive brunch, we recommend a walk in the magnificent park. The region is a bird paradise, and in the fall in particular you can watch the birds migrate. The Gulf Stream also ensures a pleasantly mild climate, allowing cacti, palm trees, lemon trees, rosemary bushes, heather, cyclamen and mimosas to thrive. With his Norman calm, André Leroy spends many hours a day working in the garden. He likes to invite his guests to enjoy a home-made pear brandy. This is when you realize that the presence and originality of the hosts are an integral part of the special charm of the house.

Address:

Les Hauts
7 avenue de la Libération
50530 Saint Jean le Thomas
www.resort-hotel-montsaintmichel.com

The spread of the coronavirus is having a dramatic impact on cultural life in Europe. However, Olaf Zimmermann, Managing Director of the German Cultural Council, recommends that, despite all due caution, culture should not be completely avoided these days Many people are currently hardly visiting museums, concerts and cinemas out of concern for their health. The Leipzig Book Fair has been canceled, the […]

The spread of the coronavirus is having a dramatic impact on cultural life in Europe. However, Olaf Zimmermann, Managing Director of the German Cultural Council, recommends that, despite all due caution, culture should not be completely avoided these days

Many people are hardly visiting museums, concerts and cinemas at the moment out of concern for their health. The Leipzig Book Fair has been canceled and the Frankfurt Music Fair postponed. However, smaller organizers in particular, such as those of readings, concerts or theater performances that have been cancelled, must be supported financially. The German Book Prize will now be awarded without an audience. However, the Managing Director of the German Cultural Council, Olaf Zimmermann, recommends that, despite all due caution, culture should not be completely avoided these days. Instead, he encourages those interested in culture to still attend cultural events so that the losses for cultural professionals are not as drastic as feared.

Massive restrictions have been in place in Austria since today. The opening of the new “Albertina modern” in the new Künstlerhaus, which was scheduled for Thursday, has been canceled for the public; the opening will now take place in a small circle of lenders and artists, as Director Klaus Albrecht Schröder announced in a personal letter: “As you know, our openings are always very successful and popular. For this reason, the opening of ‘Albertina modern’ on Thursday is also expected to be very popular. Unfortunately, under the current circumstances, we cannot guarantee the necessary social distancing between visitors; and of course we do not want to expose you to the risk of possible infection.” With over 60,000 works by 5,000 artists, this second location of the Albertina will be one of the largest museums of contemporary art.

Culture in Italy has also come to a standstill due to the spread of coronavirus: In Rome, the exhibition of the Renaissance painter Raphael, among others, remains closed. Just three days after opening, the major exhibition to mark the 500th anniversary of the painter’s death has already been closed again. As the Scuderie Quirinale announced on its website, the show with 120 works by the artist will remain closed to visitors until further notice. Strict quarantine measures have been in place since the weekend in Italy, where the most Covid-19 cases have been registered in Europe. The Italian government’s crisis intervention is also affecting the country’s major cultural institutions: All of the country’s museums are to remain closed for the time being. The Vatican Museums in Rome, for example, will remain closed until April 3. As the Vatican announced on Sunday, this also applies to the excavations under St. Peter’s Basilica, the Museum of the Papal Villas in Castel Gandolfo and all museums in other papal basilicas such as the Lateran and Santa Maria Maggiore. In Florence, the Uffizi Gallery, which is one of the most visited museums in the world, is closed. The ruins of Pompeii near Naples are also no longer open to visitors for the time being. Museums in Switzerland, for example, are constantly reviewing the reports and government recommendations on the coronavirus and are following the recommendations and instructions of the health authorities. There have not yet been any closures, but for the Kunstmuseum Basel and the Fondation Beyeler, the health of guests and staff is a top priority. While the Kunstmuseum Basel has not yet seen any particular drop in visitor numbers, this is already a reality at the Fondation Beyeler.