We’re just 18 km from the internationally known World Heritage Site of Le Mont St.Michel. Mont Saint Michel is an abbey (dating back to the 8th. century) built on a rock island just under 1 kilometre in diameter around a kilometre off the coast connected by a causeway. The Mont is the second most popular tourist attraction in France: a visit is a ‘Must Do’.

Other interesting towns including in our area include:
The local town of Avranches (about 15 minutes from us) has some interesting boutiques and tiny streets to stroll around. It also has a beautifully maintained botanical garden. If the boutiques of Avranches don’t satisfy your shopping requirements, then a visit to Brittany's capital Rennes (about 45 minutes drive from us) is a must! This attractive city is situated on the meeting point of the Ille and the Vilaine rivers. Some colourful traditional timber frame medieval houses can be found along several main roads in the centre of Rennes.

Dinan is about 40 minutes drive from us and is considered to be one of France's most attractive walled towns. It is certainly one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Brittany. Major historical attractions include the Jacobins Theatre dating from 1224, the flamboyant Gothic St Malo's Church, the Romanesque St Saviour's Basilica, Duchess Anne's Tower and the Château de Dinan.

The town of Villedieu Les Poêles is traditionally a centre of metalwork, especially the brass and copper pans and basins from which the poêles in its name derives. It is also famous for it’s manufacture of large church bells, which was started by immigrants from Lorraine around 1780. It is home to one of the few remaining active bell foundries in France. It’ll take you about 30 minutes to drive there from our place.

In the opposite direction we’re also just 30 minutes drive Fougères where you'll find the famous 12th Cent. castle. This medieval stronghold was built atop a granite ledge, which was part of the ultimately unsuccessful defence system of the Duchy of Brittany against French aggression. Its location serves as the centre of the weekend market. You can also find the Parc Floral, a collection of 12 beautiful themed gardens set in extensive grounds.

Slightly further out (about 60 minutes drive from us), but well worth a visit is St Malo which is, in our opinion, an absolute gem. Destroyed in 1944, the town has been completely rebuilt in its original style, which renders it unique in France. The old walled town (close to the ferry port) has many beautiful buildings, interesting shops and alleyways; you can also walk around the ramparts and enjoy the views or walk or sunbathe on the long beaches. There is also a very large sea water pool (free!) on the beach complete with diving (well, jumping) boards. Just outside the town there's also a superb Aquarium.

If you’re a sea food lover, then nearby Cancale is the place for oysters and mussels, as well as all other types of sea food. There is a wide variety of restaurants, bars and creperies to suit all tastes and pockets.

Finally, about 70 minutes drive from us is Bayeux. This major tourist attraction is best known to British and French visitors for the Bayeux tapestry, made to commemorate the Norman conquest of England in 1066. It is 70 metres long and has 58 panels portraying the events leading up to and including the famous battle that resulted in the conquest of England. The exhibition is well laid out and includes an excellent tutorial as to the significance to the various images. It is displayed in a museum in the town centre. The large Norman-Romanesque Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Bayeux, consecrated in 1077, was the original home of the tapestry.

Beaches:
The cleanest and safest beaches are gathered along the coast north and south of Granville. Our favourite is at Carolles, a very long wide sandy beach around 35 minutes drive from us. It’s popular in high summer but never seems over crowded.

Local markets:
are held on each morning of the week, in the surrounding towns and villages. The largest being at Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët (about 20 minutes drive from us) on Wednesday morning: after a stroll around the market, take a picnic, visit the park and feed the swans.

World War Two / D Day sites:
The actual landing beaches are around 80 minutes drive from us were there are many, many sights, museums and memorials. However, there are many other interesting World War Two sites closer to La Daviais. We can give you more specific information and recommendations on your arrival.

For The Children:
For the children amongst us there are plenty of attractions from zooming around on a go cart to bungee jumping for the more adventurous. Or for something more peaceful there are some lovely walks in the forest at St Sever, or for shopping with a difference why not visit a local Brocante or Depot Vente for inexpensive furniture.? A trip to the Zoo at Champrépus (don’t miss the Lemur reserve where the lemurs run freely and mingle with the visitors!) and the Alligator Bay Reptilarium near Mont St.Michel are also great for the kids.

If you're a wildlife lover, you'll be pleased to learn that this part of Normandy is positively teeming with wildlife of all types including many species of birds that are now rare in the UK. Bring your binoculars! Alternatively, you may prefer to simply spend the day lounging by our swimming pool, reading something from our small library, playing table tennis or pool or simply enjoying a stroll through the countryside around La Daviais. The choice is yours! We have details of lots of places to go when you arrive at La Daviais and can direct you to the tourist office in St.James for even more information.

For more information on the area have a look at the Normandy Tourism web site.