Château l'Isle Marie in Cotentin, Normandy

Château l'Isle Marie near Picauville in the Cotentin peninsula, Normandy, was founded in 11th Century. It is said to be one of the oldest viking castles in France.

Set in a sprawling park with old walls, mews, its own chapel, huge underground chamber and, owners say, a family ghost, it is now a B&B welcoming individual guests and hosting parties. A true gem!

See more on Tripadvisor. 

Super Spring Tide (Grande Marées) at Mont Saint Michel.

On Saturday, 21 March 2015, the French Grand Ouest (West France) was bashed by a super high spring tide, an event that happens when the Moon passes closest to the Earth on its elliptic orbit. They say it was the grand marées du siecle — spring tide of the century, with tidal waves going as high as a four-story house.

Here is a selection of photos by Joke Reijnders (the Netherlands) who went to see the event firsthand with the family. None of hers got washed away.

However, news reports say at least two people died when they approached the sea too close. See more photos of this event and other pictures of Normandy on her blog In Normandië (text in Dutch).

Manoir de La Saucerie.

This is a strange, eerie place. Manoir de la Saucerie (Commune de la Haute Chapelle) near Domfront in the Orne. It a castle gatehouse without the castle. There is even a part-moat — a pond and a bridge over it that may have once been a drawbridge. There are slits for the chains.

It stands in a corner of a flat marshy plain. There are a few houses nearby and cows graze in the fields but otherwise the place looks as though it's deserted.

The manor dates from the late 12th century when there was a trend for knights to move out of the small houses they had previously occupied within the bailey to live in fortified houses in the countryside. Aliénor (Eleanor) of Aquitaine, queen of both England and France, gave the land to one of her knights, Robert Le Saucier. Why he left us only this beautiful (recently restored) gatehouse, I don't know. Perhaps there was a palisade. There was also a manor house nearby, it burned down in 19th Century.

Avranches Castle

Avranches castle on a sunny day.

 

The Scriptorial in Avranches houses the collection of manuscripts of Mont Saint Michel, deposited in the municipal archives during the French Revolution. It is one of the largest collections of medieval illuminated manuscripts in France, outside national and university libraries.

Living on the ramparts

Houses in Falaise, as in many other old French towns, often sit on top of what remains of the medieval city walls.
To see the famous Falaise castle where William the Conqueror was born click here

The hunting and fishing show at Carrouges

The annual countryside fair at Carrouges castle draws participants and visitors from all over Europe. This year's fête de chasse is scheduled for 1-3 August.

Photo from last year's event sent by Carole Foster

Hidden gems: Chaulieu castle

Medieval castles often perch on top of a hill, but many beautiful chateaux built in 16-17th centuries sit low to be close to rivers and lakes.