Getting around
Grocery
5 minutes drive from the house. It has very much everything you'll need to survive, plus excellent fish. They sell quite a lot of local products (cheeses and ciders, notably)
Intermarché Saint-Julien-sur-Sarthe
5 minutes drive from the house. It has very much everything you'll need to survive, plus excellent fish. They sell quite a lot of local products (cheeses and ciders, notably)
Les friandises du Perche
17 Place du Général de GaulleOur favourite baker in town
We will forever miss Mr. and Mrs Chevallier (enjoy retirement), but their replacement tastes very good so far. And yes, this is a butchery
Boucherie terroir et traditions
12 Place du Général de GaulleWe will forever miss Mr. and Mrs Chevallier (enjoy retirement), but their replacement tastes very good so far. And yes, this is a butchery
Food scene
Aux Saveurs Méloises
14 Place du Général de GaulleExcellent croissants "pur beurre", if you don't mind getting greasy fingers :-)
Au Cochon Doré
Le Pré de la CroixAnything you can do with a pig is done there. We love everything from the store
Delicious boudin and rillettes. They are on the food market in le Mêle-sur-Sarthe every Wednesday
La Maison du Boudin - Saint-Julien-sur-Sarthe
La CrouillèreDelicious boudin and rillettes. They are on the food market in le Mêle-sur-Sarthe every Wednesday
An hour drive from Fréchatel but yet, you'll be able to say "I've been to where it comes from!"
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Camembert
An hour drive from Fréchatel but yet, you'll be able to say "I've been to where it comes from!"
Just the best camemberts and pont-l'évêque we've ever had. They are sold on local food markets, but you can also visit their own boutique
Gaec de la Foret de Survie
Just the best camemberts and pont-l'évêque we've ever had. They are sold on local food markets, but you can also visit their own boutique
When you go that, you never get back. Our favourite cider and poiré (cider from pears). You can also find their products at Intermarché
La Cave D'orgueil
22 Place Albert RogerWhen you go that, you never get back. Our favourite cider and poiré (cider from pears). You can also find their products at Intermarché
City/town information
One of the key cities of the Perche, and the capital of Boudin noir (French black pudding). Lovely town, but quite filled with Parisians on the week-end :-)
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Mortagne-au-Perche
One of the key cities of the Perche, and the capital of Boudin noir (French black pudding). Lovely town, but quite filled with Parisians on the week-end :-)
We like the town quite a lot: beautiful cathedral, old houses, nice antiques stores and a huge play area for the kids (behind the Eglise Notre Dame). Authentic
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Sées
We like the town quite a lot: beautiful cathedral, old houses, nice antiques stores and a huge play area for the kids (behind the Eglise Notre Dame). Authentic
Bellême
One of the Perche cities.
We like the city a lot, for it's got a beautiful historical center. Unfortunately, many shops have closed due to the creation of suburbean mall centers. But it's still worth a visit
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Alençon
We like the city a lot, for it's got a beautiful historical center. Unfortunately, many shops have closed due to the creation of suburbean mall centers. But it's still worth a visit
The gateway to the Normandy beaches (Utah, Omaha etc), and an impressive D-Day museum.. not to mention all memorials
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Caen
The gateway to the Normandy beaches (Utah, Omaha etc), and an impressive D-Day museum.. not to mention all memorials
Mamers
A nice little town
Activities
If you're into horse riding, that's the place to go. They can even organize ad hoc activities for kids
Centre equestre de Montmirel
If you're into horse riding, that's the place to go. They can even organize ad hoc activities for kids
Aire de jeux
7 Commune de Saint-GeorgesDrop the kids and relax
Foret de Perseigne
Our favourite forest. Also has a lot for kids (including a zipline)
When it's getting warmer, and in the waiting of an upcoming swimming pool, you can have a dip there. Don't expect a blue lagoon, though
Lac Le Mêle-sur-Sarthe
8 Rue des HallesWhen it's getting warmer, and in the waiting of an upcoming swimming pool, you can have a dip there. Don't expect a blue lagoon, though
An ok swimming pool for warmer days
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Piscine intercommunale de Mortagne au Perche
9 Rue de la PoudrièreAn ok swimming pool for warmer days
Base de Loisirs de Soligny la Trappe
Etang NeufOuistreham Beach
53 Bd Aristide BriandSightseeing
Haras national du Pin
Saint Céneri-le-Gérei
18 Rue de l'ÉgliseBeautiful village in the Alpes Mancelles
A beautiful city with stunning and eccentric mansions. Definitely worth a visit
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Bagnoles-de-l'Orne
A beautiful city with stunning and eccentric mansions. Definitely worth a visit
A 2h30 drive from home, but it's worth the visit. Avoid the vacation periods. You shall go in early spring or late fall to enjoy it fully
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Mont Saint-Michel Bay
A 2h30 drive from home, but it's worth the visit. Avoid the vacation periods. You shall go in early spring or late fall to enjoy it fully
If you want to know where our conquest of England started. Home of William!
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Chateau Guillaume-le-Conquerant
Place Guillaume le ConquérantIf you want to know where our conquest of England started. Home of William!
Have you seen the Last Duel? Carrouges, here it is
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Château de Carrouges
Le ChâteauHave you seen the Last Duel? Carrouges, here it is
A lovely and hilly area, with cute little hamlets, manors and scenic views. Crowded in high season. You can easily spot Parisians as they wear either straw or Panama hats :-)
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I-Perche Regional Natural Park
CourboyerA lovely and hilly area, with cute little hamlets, manors and scenic views. Crowded in high season. You can easily spot Parisians as they wear either straw or Panama hats :-)
A lovely area of the natural park of Normandie-Maine. You can hike, bike, kayak or simply visit its villages (St Ceneri-Le-Gérei, St Leonard des Bois, Fresnay-sur-Sarthe). You'll find useful guides and maps at our home
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Les Alpes Mancelles
A lovely area of the natural park of Normandie-Maine. You can hike, bike, kayak or simply visit its villages (St Ceneri-Le-Gérei, St Leonard des Bois, Fresnay-sur-Sarthe). You'll find useful guides and maps at our home
Amacebiso ngesixeko
Ukuhamba-hamba
Flea markets
There are tons of flea markets in the region, if you are into bringing a piece of French countryside back home. I recommend you check the places and dates online on Brocabrac:
https://brocabrac.fr/61/