The Pays d'Auge and Lisieux, the Deauville hinterland

First and foremost, the Pays d'Auge is a concentration of small villages, manor houses and farms surrounded by orchards. Among the various villages and sites not to be missed, we have selected:

👉Clermont-en-Auge: don't miss this small village famous for its listed chapel.

Beuvron-en-Auge: a veritable festival of timber-framed houses! The old covered market and the manor house are the main sights.

👉Beaumont-en-Auge: a charming village perched 90 metres above sea level. Beaumont offers you its colourful half-timbered houses, its panorama and its 11th-century church. A real picture-postcard village, but very much alive!

👉Pierrefitte-en-Auge: another charming village with its church and half-timbered houses. Get your cameras ready!

Lisieux, a large town with a population of 20,000, is situated inland, 30 kilometres from Deauville. The town has strong links with the Catholic religion, and was the seat of a bishopric until 1790. Before embarking on a tour of the town, don't hesitate to pick up a map from the Tourist Office. Despite numerous bombings during the Second World War, Lisieux still has a pleasant little historic centre. It is made up of a few miraculously protected streets.

Among the main religious buildings that contribute to the town's religious influence are:

👉LaCathédrale Saint-Pierre de Lisieux: built in 1170 this Gothic-style edifice is remarkable. Open every day from 9am to 6.45pm.

👉 S ainte-Thérèse Basilica: a lookalike of the Sacré-Coeur in Paris, this church is one of the most imposing for a religious building constructed in the 20th century. Cardinal Pacelli blessed the Basilica on 11 July 1937.

The Basilica of Sainte-Thérèse is open every day from 9am to 5.30pm (later in summer).

This is the largest animal park in Normandy, located just a few kilometres north-east of Lisieux. Here you'll find over 1,500 wild animals living in semi-liberty. The animals are set across 70 hectares of forests and valleys. During your visit, you'll discover 120 species of animal. A real journey across 5 continents! There are 2 walking tours. In addition, the Safari Train allows you to discover a portion of the park on board a small tourist train. You can also stay on site, with restaurants and services for visitors. Admission fee required. The Cerza zoological park is open all year round, except from December to the end of January.

⭐ Le P'tit Beaumont

In the heart of the typical little village of Beaumont-en-Auge, here's an address full of charm: Le P'tit Beaumont. The hotel, which is part café, part bar and part village restaurant, is an atypical spot just 10 kilometres from bustling Deauville. The rooms, decorated in wood and light colours, are restful and invite you to spend a pleasant night. However, they are equipped with all modern comforts, including flat-screen TVs and en suite bathrooms. The hotel also features a terrace and garden. You can also park nearby in the hotel's private car park.