Location: Carentan, Lower-Normandy, France, Europe (Ste-Mere-Eglise 12mins, Utah Beach 30mins Cherbourg 30mins)
Accommodations: Bed & breakfast, 3 Bedrooms + No additional sleeping rooms avail, 3 Baths (Sleeps 8)
Keywords: Manor House B&B
A Quality honey colored granite stone built House 1875, a few minutes from St Mere Eglise in the D-Day zone and area where the Battle of the Hedges took place. Battlefields, strategic sites of encampments still with evidence of yesteryear in place; vital routes of liberation all on our doorstep. Beaches, museums, monuments and all forces cemeteries within an easy drive.
WHITE CROSS MANOR was built in the late 19th century in the small village of St Jores in the area where the 82nd/101st Airborne divisions dropped on the night of the 5 to 6 June 1944.
Two king bed rooms en suite available and refurbished in 2007 whilst retaining the character of a French country house. Rooms are large and light. All rooms have English satelite tv. Separate Gite Cottage accommodates 2/3 for B&B with main party or for let only.
Continental breakfast with selection of meats, pastries, home made breads and jams, cheeses, fruits, juices and beverages. Bedroom tray with coffee/tea, biscuits & fruit bowl.
Commodore K.B.Estlin, Royal Navy, conducts private Battlefield tours for our guests only. Keith has extensive NATO experience. Penny has been in quality catering for many years specializing in Victorian cuisine.
Keith and Penny Estlin have lived in Normandy for five years.
Join us for 'Wine time' 6.15-7pm, before you set off for your restaurant, (which we can book for you). Meet other guests and tell us of your adventures, and ask Keith to help with your route planning for the next day; or book him for a tour, either half day or full day and discuss which area you wish to cover. At the moment the 'Band of Brothers' is popular and just down the road from us, literaly!
There are many excellent restaurants and cafe's close by at La Haye du Puits, Carentan or down by the river Douve. Daily markets in any direction from White Cross.
June '08, from USA - 'Gracious Host & wonderful place to enjoy. 'Excellent! Wonderful Host & Hostess and beautiful place to stay'USA. American Army in Germany. 'Brilliant, you really have put the icing on the cake'
Please drop in on our guest book.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer : Clothes Washer in the Gite.
- Linens Provided : All Linen Provided
- Off Street Parking : Private Courtyard Parking
- Parking for RV/Boat/Trailer : Private Courtyard Parking
- Wood Fireplace
- Wood Stove : Wood Burning Stove in the Gite
- Beds
- King Bed : 72 Inches. Option of Two 36 Inch in One Room.
- Twin/Single Bed : Gite Has Three Single Beds with Third Bed in a Private Alcove
- Child Bed
- Crib
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV : Gite Lounge Has English Programmed Satellite TV
- DVD
- VCR
- Video Library : Extensive DVD's
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen : Microwave Also Fitted in the Gite Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Microwave : Fitted in the Gite
- Outdoor Features
- Charcoal BBQ Grill
- Deck/Patio
- Communications
- Telephone
- Free Long Distance
- WiFi (Wireless Internet)
- Other Amenities
- Extensive Garden with Fish Pool, Averies and Hens.
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Smoking Not Allowed : Smoking on the Patio or in the Grounds
- Activities
- Golf
- Shopping
- Sailing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Mountain Biking
- Fishing
- Shelling
- Restaurants
- Museums
- Other Activities
- In the Area Where US Paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division Dropped on the Night of 5 to 6 June 1944. Ideally Situated for Battlefield Tours.
Rate Details (In Euros)
Room rates vary from 80 euro per night downwards depending on the season.
Rooms take 2 or 3 people and discounts are available. 25% deposit by Paypal on
booking with the balance in Cash Please, Euros Preferred.
Battle Site Tours, half day tours 100 euro for 4-6. Guidance given for unattended
tours. Guide - Commodore Keith Estlin Royal Navy, house guests only.
Tour Transport with guests. Help with Arrangements can be Given.
Any Entry Fees Not Included in the Tour Price.
Booking Deposit Refunded Over 3 Months in Advance or if Relet.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Owner's Profile
Owner Description
Year Purchased: 2002
Penny & Keith moved to France on retirement.
Keith was a career officer in the Royal Navy retiring in the rank of a one star Admiral. He now enjoys giving tours of WW2 US battlefield sites for house guests only.
Penny, a career lady with proprty development and catering experience, enjoys the quieter pace of life in Normandy. They enjoy receiving guests and providing a happy home from home.
Why the Owner Chose Carentan
We are often asked this question, put simply, we enjoy the peace, tranquility and traffic jam free roads. No-one is having a nervouse breakdown and our chickens lay huge organic eggs - which we serve at breakfast! The local 'Normans' love us, and the Americans, who liberated them and each village celebrates each year with flowers from the children, who place them on the memorials with the Mayor telling them 'not to forget' what was done for them. Normandie is an amazing place, a 'country' of villages.
The Unique Benefits of this Bed & breakfast
White Cross Manor is in a quiet rural location but within easy travel to market towns of La Haye du Puits, Carentan, Periers and many restaurants, beaches and WW2 sites of St Mere Eglise, Utah, Carentan (Band of Brothers) and Omaha.
We are situated in the centre of the Manche and so within reach of everything interesting, and just over an hour from Mont San Micheal and Caen.
Property Photos
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- White Cross Manor - France Manor House B&B Vacation Rentals
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- Cottage Gite and patio - France Manor House B&B Vacation Rentals
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- Bedroom in Main House - France Manor House B&B Vacation Rentals
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- Bedroom in main House
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- Gite Lounge
Traveler Reviews (25)
Great hosts, disappointing accomodations (please see disclaimer in review below)
Guest: traveladdict911
(Silverton, OR)
Date of Stay: 09/12/11
Review Submitted: 01/05/12
Our hosts were great, the breakfast was great, and the cocktail hour was awesome. So why did I mark this location as average? Because of our room. It was not as advertised in the photos on line. Now, I wish to add a disclaimer. We were traveling with two other couples and one single companion. I didn't actually book this place and was not privy to the conversations or emails at the time of booking. I looked at all the photos on line and thought the place looked sweet and couldn't wait to arrive. Apparently, White Cross Manor was not equipped to handle the 7 people in our reservation, but did so anyway. They were in the process of remodeling a third floor attic space. At the time of our arrival, the space was primarily plywood and concrete and insulation. Thick fabric was hung over plumbing and the closet area. You could hear the loud swish of water whenever the bathroom was used. Fabric covered some of the bathroom walls.The furnishings in our room were Goodwill at best (and that is being generous). The rest of the house was decorated fine. From what I understand, the two main rooms in the house looked like the pictures on VRBO. Those rooms went to our traveling companions. We shared a bathroom with one other person. The bathroom had exposed stud walls in some places. The flooring did not appear to be permanently installed. I took pictures because I knew no one back home would believe the condition.So how could this have been resolved? Well, I should have been proactive and had a hand in the reservation. Or if we'd known in advance (like received an email stating that we were staying in unfinished areas) we would have been aware of the situation. Or had the cost of the unfinished room been reduced for the inconvenience of staying in unattractive surroundings, my review would be different. We'd never stayed in this part of France before. The grounds were lovely. Again, the hosts were friendly and informative. We spent one day on a tour with Keith who was quite knowledgeable about the area. The tour was extra, but reasonably priced. I'm very careful when I pick out my traveling b&b's. I spend hours making sure it is a place I want to stay. The attic would not have been my first choice if I'd known it was unfinished. I thought I was staying in something that looked like the pictures. Once the attic is finished, it will likely be warm and welcoming like the rest of the house. Until then, be sure and ask which room you will be assigned.
Recommended for:Age 55+, sightseeing.
Great Stay.
Guest: Chris
(Germany/from USA)
Date of Stay: 12/17/11
Review Submitted: 12/22/11
Anyone looking for a quiet place to stay that is centrally located in the Normandy invasion area with great hospitality then Keith and Penny's B&B is the place for you. From the time we arrived until the minute we left, they welcomed us into their home as more than guests. Breakfast was always more than filling with a nice variety of foods. Each night they invited us to join them for drinks to chat, discuss the sites we visited, and recommend sites for the next day. The books and maps Keith provided were great and enabled us to see more than just the normal Normandy sites. The maps allowed us to venture on the road less traveled but very important to the Normandy invasion. The family greatly enjoyed the nightly chats with our English host and their lively English language where you may hear things like “Cheeky Monkey”! Keith and Penny’s is great for all ages—we had my parents (60s), us (30s), and my kids who are 5 and 7.
Recommended for:Sightseeing.
Late summer visit
Guest: Tom
(Spokane, Washington)
Date of Stay: 09/12/11
Review Submitted: 10/17/11
The property is as advertised and the hosts were superb. Breakfast was great and the wine and beer, in the late afternoon was an added treat. The hosts handled reservations and provided information about side trips. We paid for guided Normandy tour and Keith was an excellent guide and source of information. The free telephone calls to the states was a bonus.
Recommended for:Age 55+, sightseeing.
Delightful
Guest: Pat and Frank
(Kansas City, MO USA)
Date of Stay: 09/23/11
Review Submitted: 10/13/11
What a perfect location - our stay in Normandy was the highlight of our trip. Keith and Penny are fabulous hosts - from dinner suggestions, yummy breakfasts, fascinating tour, and enjoyable conversations, not to mention our nightly glass of wine - they made our stay truly DELIGHTFUL. Can't thank you enough - We shall return.
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, sightseeing.
Just what we needed!
Guest: Jonathan Inch
(Durham, UK)
Date of Stay: 08/01/11
Review Submitted: 08/08/11
Three lads on a D-Day tour, we stayed with Keith and Penny for three nights in the adjoining gite. Despite turning up near midnight, Keith had very kindly left some cold beer in the fridge which was a lifesaver. Our next few days were full of good breakfasts, invaluable tour advice, heartfelt welcome and numerous glasses of white / red / rose supplied by the hosts! Keith and Penny are genuinely lovely and interesting people who bent over backwards to help us, whether it was booking a local restaurant or supplying a routemarked map for our D-Day exploration. The gite was ideal for the three of us and very good value. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend White Cross Manor.
Recommended for:Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children.
Home Away From Home (Seattle, Washington )
Guest: Dave and Marilyn
(Seattle, Washington)
Date of Stay: 07/08/11
Review Submitted: 07/18/11
We are so happy we chose this place to stay. Thee were six of us that drove from the ferry at Calais. We were late arrivals, yet Keith greeted us with kindness and understanding. He even popped out a bottle of wine to celebrate our arrival. The rooms are decorated with old world charm and color that only Penny can give them. The house is a treasure. She is an excellent hostess and chef. Best ever soft boiled eggs. We had limited time to be in Normandy and if it was not for Keith we would have never seen all that we did. He had our time and places mapped out every morning. Listen to what he says, he is an expert. If you follow his directions you will stay on course and see everything you chose to see. Don't miss the cocktail hour in the afternoon. Both Penny and Keith are a wealth of information. We will never forget our stay with them. We hope to return.
Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, age 55+, tourists without a car, sightseeing, families with young children.
Lovely B&B - Lovely Owners
Guest: Tim and Mary
(Orange, California - USA)
Date of Stay: 07/08/11
Review Submitted: 07/17/11
There were six adults in our group so we used the two lovely bedrooms and the gite. We loved staying with the Estlin's. Both Penny and Keith were so helpful in providing information for our time in Normandy. The breakfast was delicious and we became hooked on the soft boiled eggs (even bought egg cups to take home)! Since we did not have a GPS we did have a little trouble finding the manor. So our only advice would be to have a GPS, then enjoy your stay with Penny and Keith!
Recommended for:Families with teenagers, age 55+, sightseeing.
Truly a Home Away From Home
Guest: Happy Traveler
(Washington State)
Date of Stay: 07/01/11
Review Submitted: 07/13/11
Mu husband and I stayed with Keith and Penny very recently on our own tour de France and could not have been more happy with our choice of lodging. We had reserved the blue room and upon arrival were asked if we would prefer the gite since there had been a cancelation. We loved the blue room it looks like it should be in Versailles it was so wonderfully decorated but the lure of a kitchen to cook our own dinners should we want to was very enticing so we decided on the guest house which was absolutely wonderful. Keith and Penny were the most gracious and fun hosts you could ever hope to find. We very much looked forward to cocktail hour each day to chat with them about where we had been that day and where we intended to go the next. They had so many helpful suggestions about various WWII monuments that the guidebooks leave out, our favorite and highlight of our trip is the memorial to Easy Company that Keith's never fail map led us directly to. Breakfast every morning was fantastic with eggs fresh from Gertie, salmon, bread and so much more. You will not find a better breakfast at a hotel especially with great company over coffee like you will at White Cross Manor. You will enjoy your stay immensely and wish that you had more time. Thank you Keith and Penny for making Normandie an unforgettable experience for us.
Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, age 55+, sightseeing, families with young children.
Great Experience
Guest: Diane
(New Orleans, Louisiana, USA)
Date of Stay: 06/12/11
Review Submitted: 07/07/11
We had a wonderful time in Normandy, in large part because of Penny and Keith. What gracious hosts they are! White Cross Manor offers spacious, comfortable and private accommodation (we were a party of six). Penny's breakfasts were a hit with everyone, especially the fresh eggs from her hens. Keith's knowledge of all the battlefields made our day trip with him one to remember. I can't imagine a more enjoyable way to spend a few days in Normandy.
Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, age 55+.
Super!
Guest: Betsy
(Houston, TX)
Date of Stay: 05/23/11
Review Submitted: 06/04/11
We stayed at White Cross Manor for four nights. The owners, Penny and Keith, are delightful hosts, doing everything possible to accommodate the six of us who stayed there. Their daily breakfasts were sumptuous! Keith took us on a half-day tour of WWII sites, including places that would probably be unavailable on another tour. The manor is beautiful inside and out. Highly recommend it!
Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, age 55+, sightseeing, families with young children.
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #190550
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