Incredible Villas, Hotels and Castles for Your Stay in Normandy

Château La Chenevière near Port-en-Bessin
Château La Chenevière near Port-en-Bessin | Courtesy of Château La Chenevière / Expedia
Christine Wilson

A visit to Normandy, in the north of France, is not complete without a fabulous overnight stay at a château with sea-view rooms. Many of France’s hotels were built in the 19th century when the country experienced a boost in wealth with the end of its revolution, but there are much older castles around. Many châteaux now serve as luxe accommodations, and the region is rich in hotels of every kind.

Domaine de la Pommeraye Chambres & Spa

Independent Hotel, Boutique Hotel

Room interior at Au Domaine de la Pommeraye & Spa, with two stone walls, a double bed, small desk and window
Courtesy of Au Domaine de la Pommeraye & Spa / Expedia

A serene sanctuary built into a former 18th-century farm and stables, Domaine de la Pommeraye is ideally suited for guests looking for some serious R&R during their stay in the region. The bed and breakfast is a suitably chic affair, with the spacious rooms channelling a light, cosy feel and the complimentary breakfast, made using locally sourced ingredients, offering guests a terrific way to start their day. Inside the grounds, guests will find a fully furnished spa, providing a wide range of treatments and therapies, as well as a private pool, sauna and even a hammam steam bath, sure to get you feeling relaxed in no time.

Castel Saint Léonard Falaise

Boutique Hotel, Independent Hotel

Room interior at Castel Saint-Léonard, with a double bed, dark wood furnishings and monochrome print wallpaper
Courtesy of Castel Saint-Léonard / Expedia

Found in the stately grounds of the Castel Saint-Léonard, a listed building in the heart of Falaise, this guesthouse has three luxury rooms for you to choose from for a true taste of chateau life. Each of the rooms come individually styled and include antique furnishings to create an authentic, Louis XVI atmosphere during your stay, while still offering guests all the comforts of a modern guesthouse experience. Make sure to visit the town of Falaise, found right on your doorstep, during your stay for a fascinating blend of chic restaurants, boutique shops and an engaging local history.

Hotel Du Tribunal

Independent Hotel, Boutique Hotel

Room interior at Hotel Du Tribunal, with pink carpets, floral print wallpaper, double bed and small desk
Courtesy of Hotel Du Tribunal / Expedia

Set among the medieval village of Mortagne-au-Perche and found in the middle of Perche Natural park, Hotel Du Tribunal is an inviting boutique hotel with a history dating back nearly 500 years. A popular choice with outdoor enthusiasts, the hotel is in close proximity to many of the region’s fantastic hiking routes crisscrossing the countryside and pristine Perche forests. After a full day out and about, be sure to drop by Hotel Du Tribunals very own gourmet restaurant, featuring a menu of Normandy cuisine classics made with local ingredients and carefully curated by head chef Vincent Biset.

Le Manoir Lieu Rocher

Boutique Hotel, Independent Hotel

Aerial view of the traditional exterior of brick-built Le Manoir Lieu Rocher, with an impressive lawned garden and countryside behind
Courtesy of Le Manoir Lieu Rocher / Booking.com

A beautiful countryside retreat built from a 17th-century mansion house, le Manoir du lieu Rocher offers a truly grand stay, befitting the hotel’s rich heritage. Found between the towns of Deauville and Lisieux, this charming bed and breakfast is surrounded by luscious greenery and pristine private gardens for you to explore during your stay. The rooms are classically styled but light and airy and the service is professional, with a great knowledge of the local area. Make sure you take full advantage of the hotel’s delicious complimentary breakfast, offering a collection of fresh pastries, seasonal fruits and even organic eggs produced by Le Manoir’s very own chickens.

Le Grand Hotel Cabourg

Luxury

Room interior at Le Grand Hotel Cabourg, with a closeup of the large double bed, bedside tables and lamps
Courtesy of Le Grand Hotel Cabourg / Expedia

A striking period hotel overlooking the sea and pristine Cabourg beaches, Le Grand Hotel is every bit as majestic as the name suggests. The hotel’s interiors are a fantastic mix of traditional furnishings with modern tastes, creating a true Belle-epoque atmosphere in the dining halls, rooms and suites. The cosy guest rooms offer a choice of views over the beach or private gardens behind, and ensure your stay is a comfortable one with king-sized beds, a delicious Illy coffee service and extravagant Inès de la Fressange toiletries coming as standard.

Hotel Barrière Le Normandy

Hotel

Traditional sitting room interior at Hotel Barrière Le Normandy, with a high ceiling, floral wallpaper, red sofa and three armchairs, a desk, and doors leading out to a small balcony
Courtesy of Hotel Barrière Le Normandy / Expedia

A Normandy mainstay and recently undergoing a full restoration, the five star Hotel Barriere is definitely one of the top options for your stay in the region. Designed with a historic Anglo-Norman inspiration, today the hotel offers guests a truly contemporary stay with a mix of chic interiors and modern conveniences such as complimentary wifi, concierge service and a welcoming courtesy tray in every room and suite. As one of the top hotels in Normandy, Hotel Barriere has had its fair share of celebrity encounters, that’s why if you’re looking for a special stay, consider the “man and the woman” suite, named after the 1966 palme d’or winner, by French director Nathalie Ryan and originally filmed at this hotel.

Villa Lara

Hotel

Traditional room interior at Villa Lara, with a double bed, wall painting and two armchairs
Courtesy of Villa Lara / Expedia

Located in the centre of Bayeux, the Villa Lara is a luxury five-star property with a boutique hotel feel. Its 28 rooms are dressed in traditional French decor, using rich colours such as burgundies, purples and golds to complement a grey-and-white palette. The room’s furnishings are all designed by famous French cabinet-maker Moissonier, and large windows offer an airy feel with views over the enchanting Bayeux cathedral. The town of Bayeux serves as an ideal base for touring the monuments of the Second World War and boasts impressive sites such as the Bayeux Tapestry.

Hotel Barrière Le Normandy

Hotel

Normandy Barrière is a classic landmark of chic Deauville, a town known for its casino, sandy beaches and the American Film Festival. Nestled alongside the sea, the hotel’s eye-catching, half-timbered and chequered exterior is impossible to go unnoticed. It contains 271 rooms, each decorated with varying shades of toile de jouy (a pattern made up of pastoral scenes) and glass chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Guests can enjoy amenities such as an on-site spa, a swimming pool and free one-hour bike rentals. Other activities the concierge can arrange outside of the hotel include horseback riding (Deauville is also highly regarded in the equestrian world), rounds of a golf and yacht charters.

Cures Marines

Hotel

Sitting area at Cures Marines Trouville Hôtel Thalasso & Spa, with grey fabric sofas and high ceilings
Courtesy of Cures Marines Trouville Hôtel Thalasso & Spa-MGallery by Sofitel / Expedia

The chic and modern Cures Marines is found in the town of Trouville, just across the River Toques from Deauville. Its main draw is its spa, which uses thalassotherapy, a practice that enlists the help of the sea for its healing and soothing properties – hence the hotel’s name. Its ideal location in the town and its sleek, spacious and ocean-view rooms make it a top choice for anyone looking for a pampering, seaside getaway.

Château La Chenevière

Hotel

Outdoor pool at Château La Chenevière, surrounded by sunloungers, with a glass-roofed hotel building behind
Courtesy of Château La Chenevière / Expedia

This former 18th-century castle is now home to Château La Chenevière, a five-star hotel located in the countryside, just outside the seaside town of Port-en-Bessin. Elegance permeates its 29 spacious rooms, each decorated in a unique style. Larger groups (up to eight people) can opt to stay in their Escures House, a romantic cottage located just minutes away from the property. The hotel has two restaurants on site, one gastronomic and one outdoor garden terrace, as well as a tucked-away speakeasy bar where you can enjoy a nightcap of the region’s finest calvados. Breakfast includes a buffet, à la carte eggs, and honey made on the castle grounds.

La Ferme Saint-Siméon

Hotel

Traditional room at La Ferme Saint Simeon, with wooden furnishings, a large double bed and a dining table
Courtesy of La Ferme Saint Simeon / Expedia

Overlooking the Seine estuary in Honfleur, La Ferme Saint-Siméon dates back to the 17th century. Its heyday came in the 19th century when it was known as Auberge de la Mère Toutain, an inn for painters (the Impressionists) who flocked to Honfleur in search of inspiration for their paintings. The painters’ meetings here would go on to create the School of Impressionism of Honfleur, also known as the Impressionist School of Saint-Siméon. Today it is a five-star property that aims to capture the spirit of the Impressionists through its decor, service, and activities, such as painting lessons in the hotel gardens.

Le Landemer

Boutique Hotel

Bright room interior at Le Landemer Hôtel Restaurant, with a large double bed and windows with views of plants and greenery
Courtesy of Le Landemer Hôtel Restaurant / Expedia

On the shores of the English Channel, Le Landemer is approximately 14km west of Cherbourg on the tip of the spectacular Cotentin peninsula. All of the 10 rooms in this three-star property have views overlooking the sea and the four located in the farmhouse, just steps away from the main building, include a private terrace. Panoramic ocean views are also on offer from their restaurant, which serves up fresh seafood dishes.

Hôtel de Bourgtheroulde

Hotel

Simple room interior at Hôtel de Bourgtheroulde, with a double bed, bedside tables and a colourful painting of Brad Pitt
Courtesy of Hôtel de Bourgtheroulde / Expedia

The Hôtel de Bourgtheroulde dates back to the 15th century and sits in the heart of the city, blending into the Gothic buildings of Rouen and looking as though it was a royal palace rather than a full-service hotel. Formerly the mansion of the Le Roux family between 1499 and 1532, its regal atmosphere is derived from a blend of both traditional (exposed beam ceilings and Louis XVII-style armchairs) and contemporary (a sleek bar, pool and spa) elements. The most alluring feature is its courtyard terrace with the hotel’s striking architecture looming in the background.

La Maison de Lucie

Boutique Hotel

Modern interior of a room at La Maison de Lucie, with tiled floors, a dining table, a double bed, and a first-floor mezzanine with another bed and bookshelves – large metal-framed doors lead to a deck
Courtesy of La Maison de Lucie / Expedia

The delightful La Maison de Lucie is a three-star boutique property in an 18th-century house located in the centre of Honfleur. Its charm is obvious at first sight as leafy vines climb its facade, accented by shuttered windows lined with red brick. Inside, a combination of warm tones, wood-panelled walls, stained glass windows, and a log fireplace provide a cosy vibe, as does its backyard garden patio. There is also a spa located in the house’s vaulted cellars, exclusive to its guests only.

Château d'Audrieu

Hotel

Outdoor pool of Château dAudrieu, surrounded by grass, a garden wall, sun loungers and seating
Courtesy of Château d'Audrieu / Hotels.com

Found halfway between the cities of Caen and Bayeux, Château d’Audrieu is a Historical Monument with 25 hectares of park and gardens surrounding the former 18th-century castle. Refined and comfortable rooms are located either within the main manor or 10 metres away in their private villa. For something different, stay in their deluxe room in the trees – a treehouse cabin with full amenities and a balcony overlooking the English gardens. The luxury extends to the hotel’s spa by the prestigious Parisian skincare brand, Sothys, its outdoor heated pool and its gastronomic restaurant, Le Séran, which uses fresh, seasonal produce from the hotel garden and houses an impressive wine cellar.

L'Ermitage Mont Saint-Michel

Boutique Hotel

Traditional room interior at LErmitage Mont Saint-Michel, with a large double bed, gold mirror and two armchairs
Courtesy of L'Ermitage Mont Saint-Michel / Expedia

A mere four kilometres west of the famous Mont Saint-Michel, the five-star L’Ermitage contains six suites with a neutral decor of soft pastels, wood furnishings, and private balconies. The hotel restaurant, La Table, offers traditional French dishes using local ingredients such as a foie gras with pommeau and calvados, and oysters fresh from the bay.

Looking for more hotel options in France? Check out our guide to the best hotels in Honfleur, for every traveller, in addition to our guide on the best hotels near Mont Saint-Michel, all bookable on Culture Trip.

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