Entire home

Traditional Normandy Cottage

Photo gallery for Traditional Normandy Cottage

A stone house with a tiled roof, wooden shutters, and a gravel driveway.
A wooden staircase with stone walls and a wooden ceiling beam.
A room with a stone wall, wooden furniture, and a bed with a headboard.
A stone house with a tiled roof, a garage, and a small patio with outdoor furniture.
A stone-walled living room with a fireplace, a sofa, and a television.

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Bring your furry friends
    Top-rated for creating memorable stays with your pets.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
3 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Pet-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Barbecue grill
  • Deck or patio

Explore the area

View in a map
La Bellière, Normandie
  • Place, Normandie-Maine Regional Natural Park
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Carrouges Château
    ‪22 min drive‬
  • Place, Rock of Oëtre
    ‪52 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed and 1 Crib

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Shower only

Toilet 1

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Traditional Normandy Cottage

An attractive, tastefully converted Normandy barn, located in a half-acre field, in a tranquil, unspoiled area of Orne, near to the medieval towns of Argentan and Sees. Access to the cottage is via a quiet track, usually only used by local farmers and horse riders. It offers a peaceful country hideaway, and is ideally situated to explore the local countryside by car, cycle or on foot, to read, fish or just to relax!

Add dates for prices

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Similar properties

Outdoor dining
In the heart of Normandy, 10 minutes from Bagnoles de l'Orne. WIFI . Linen
Magny-Le-Désert
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Free Wi-Fi
9.8 out of 10, Exceptional, (38 reviews)
In the heart of Normandy, 10 minutes from Bagnoles de l'Orne. WIFI . Linen

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
default

Events

No events allowed
default

Pets

Pets allowed
default

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Property # 8017611
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

La Bellière

Located in La Bellière, this cottage is in a rural area. Sassy Castle and Medavy Castle are local landmarks, and some of the area's attractions include Le Pin National Stud Farm and Jardins de la Mansonière. Fishing offers a great chance to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with cycling, horse riding and hunting nearby.
View more Cottages in La BellièreOpens in a new window
Map
La Bellière, Normandie

What's nearby

  • Normandie-Maine Regional Natural Park - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Carrouges Château - 22 min drive - 19.6 km
  • Falaise Château - 39 min drive - 47.8 km
  • Rock of Oëtre - 52 min drive - 55.0 km
  • Ferme du cheval de trait - 55 min drive - 55.0 km

Getting around

  • Le Chateau-d'Almeneches Surdon Station - 16 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Clérembaux Denis - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Café de la Place - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Le Blason de Mortree - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Cht'is Nous - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Au Bon Accueil - ‬12 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Traditional Normandy Cottage pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Traditional Normandy Cottage?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Traditional Normandy Cottage?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Traditional Normandy Cottage?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Traditional Normandy Cottage located?

This family-friendly La Bellière cottage is located in a rural location, within 3 mi (5 km) of Normandie-Maine Regional Natural Park and Sassy Castle. Le Quai des Arts and House of Dentelles d'Argentan are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 51 out of 74 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 20 out of 74 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 74 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 74 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 74 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.4/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location and lovely hosts,
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A delightful place to stay. Excellent all round. We met the family who were very helpful and lovely people, especially little Charlie who helped carry some firewood for us. If you have young children there is lots of room on the property for then to run off some steam in a very safe, traffic free environment. We would love to stay again if we return to Normandy.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Aug, 2026
Thank you so much for this lovely review. I was great to meet you and would love to welcome you back to Normandy! All the very best Lucy
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very nice and comfortable. Quiet surroundings in beautiful Normandy.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Always a Pleasure!

Second time staying here. Love the seclusion, love the charm, love the proximity to fun things!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Jul, 2025
Thank you so much!! We hope to welcome you back again
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The house was clean and had everything we needed. Our dogs enjoyed the large garden and we enjoyed the peace and quiet. There are some hreay local shops in the area
Stayed 12 nights in Sep 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great for a quiet getaway

Clean and well equipped. Very quiet area close to lots of lovely forest walks. 10 minute drive to closest shops. Owners very friendly and helpful.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Jul, 2025
Thank you Fiona - we are pleased you had a good stay and hope to welcome you back again in the future.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A lovely spot

A wonderful location and a lovely house. Near enough to local towns/shops/restaurants (~ 15 min drive).
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 10 Oct, 2023
Thank you for your review Damian - we hope you will return to stay at St.Iven again!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing location, Cool House

We enjoyed our stay here! So much history with the house, and a very quiet location away from the hustle and bustle of the cities. After fighting through the crowds for the Normandy anniversary, it was nice to come back to our quiet corner of France. Would definitely stay again!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 23 Jun, 2024
Thank you for your lovely review and we do hope we can welcome you back for another visit!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely rural house

Lovely house in a quiet location but close to villages. Our dogs loved the garden and walks
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Jul, 2024
Thank you David - we are pleased you and the dogs enjoyed your stay! We hope to welcome you back. Lucy
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very relaxing cottage

Our stay was very relaxing in this charming old cottage. It was clean and had all the amenities you could want. Quiet rural location and because the walls are so thick it was nice and cool inside when it was 30 degrees outside.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Typically rural Normandy location

Lovely and very quiet location but within good reach of some interesting towns and Cities. Farmhouse has some great walks close by. Locals friendly. We BBQ most evenings - kitchen well equipped.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Jul, 2024
Thank you Sarah, we are pleased you had a good stay and got to discover the local area and our lovely neighbours! We hope you will be back one day. Best regards Lucy
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Restful and calm

This is the second time we have stopped here. The hosts have made a few improvements to add to the general ambience since the last time, but we just love it anyway. It’s peaceful, has all you need and the huge garden is our happy place for the dogs. We will be booking again for next year and can’t wait to come back.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A peaceful place in the country side

We had a good time in the house It is ideal if you have a dog : there is a big garden and you van make nice walks without having to take your car There is a nice food market on Tuesday in Argentan And a very good restaurant La Renaissance also in Argentan There are nice places to visit also The house has enough kitchen tools to cook etc We enjoyed it Ludo and Christine
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Country getaway

Very peaceful stay. Rain couldn't be helped. Well equipped kitchen and everything we required at the property. Wonderful wildlife both at the property and in the surrounding area. Shops are a short drive but plenty of choice. Owners are really helpful and good at communication. The whole family enjoyed their stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Calm and relaxing with a true French ambience.

It was very easy, we did it from Australia and had no problems at all. All communications were fast and efficient.
Stayed 10 nights in Dec 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Jun, 2023
Thank you Mark - we are very happy you had a good stay and look forward to welcoming you again.
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great countryside location

A very peaceful and beautiful setting. The house is very well equipped with everything you need. The negative point for me was the curtains in the main bedroom did not keep the early morning light out.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Jul, 2023
Thank you for the kind review and we shall look into the curtains. We do hope to welcome you back again.
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Normandy Gite

We had a lovely week at St Iven. The rural location meant the peace and quiet was wonderful and was much needed! The gite is spacious and well equipped and within easy reach of some very attractive towns, some stunning scenery and all the humbling history that is associated with the Normandy D-Day Landings.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing traditional French property

This house was lovely. Three bedrooms upstairs and a family bathroom. The largest bedroom has an en-suite shower and sink. The ground floor is open plan and very functional. The best was the amazing huge garden and terrace. We had many a breakfast and evening meal on the patio furniture under the parasol. Listening to the peace and quiet, sound of the birds and nature. Whilst not totally dog proof, it’s almost. Kept our 2 dogs in anyway. There is every piece of equipment you could possibly need in the house. Very well equipped. And very comfortable. Could do with a lock on the ground floor toilet. But other than that the property was fab. The hosts were lovely and accommodating and couldn’t be nicer. All in all we are so glad we have rebooked to come back in early September and enjoy the same lovely forest walks with the dogs that we did last week.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Jun, 2023
Thank you for a lovely review and we are happy you had a good stay. It was lovely to meet you and the dogs of course and look forward to welcoming you back in September. We shall certainly look into a lock on the loo door and appreciate the feedback.
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in
Disliked: Location

Disappointed

There were a number of issues which we discussed with the Manager who looked after the gite. If you take your dogs you need to watch them as they could easily escape. We left 5 days early and came home. The furnishings in the living room are very old and tired and well past their sell by date. No tv channels in English which was in this day and age is unusual, albeit it was in the advert, but I did not see that. Beds needed attention due to very bad quality, whereby the springs were so compressed you virtually laid on the bed frame. My lads bed fell apart in the night, plus it turned out some of the slats were broken. After sleepless nights, we could no longer endure the discomfort, so we came home early, so hopefully these will be replaced. However location was beautiful, but quite a distance from supermarkets. The kitchen was well equipped. But we will not return to France as over the years we have endured deteriorating accommodations which is not really acceptable as the travel from uk to France is now expensive. However in fairness the owner did contact me with a contribution but it was not satisfactory as our holiday was already ruined.
Stayed 10 nights in May 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 19 Jun, 2024
I am sorry that you were so unhappy with your stay at St.Iven and was surprised when I heard about your dissatisfaction with the property as we have had very happy guests to date. With regards to the bed that broke - we are very sorry and did offer compensation for the invonvenience which was turned down - the bed is now replaced. On the sofas, we have had opposite feedback that they are comfortable so perhaps preference based and regarding the TV, our home is in France so we have French channels and have not had any need or comments to provide other languages. To date, all the dog owners who have stayed with us have been delighted with the house and the surroundings where the dogs can explore the garden and have long walks and have often been repeat visitors. Once again, we are sorry you did not enjoy your stay at St.Iven and other properties in France.
Verified review

8/10 Good

Lovely peaceful traditional cottage

This is a really lovely traditional Normandy cottage set in a peaceful field in the countryside. The local town is about 6km away but has very good butcher and bakers and greengrocer on Sunday morning. As previous reviews have commented, the cottage is spidery and cobwebby and could use a deep clean but this did not impede our stay. The cootage itself has been sympathetically restored and is easy to navigate. It is very well equipped and has everything you need. The kitchen area is well laid out and everything was easy to find, access and use. It was great to have sharp knives! Sports equipment is provided and (unlike other places which boast 'games room') nothing was broken or unusable. Our children loved the badminton/ tennis/ cricket stuff provided. We would have loved to use the log fire but it was too hot! As it was so hot, it would have been nice to have a beach nearby but we had deliberately chosen an inland cottage. Beaches are accessible but about an hour,s drive away. Plenty of hot water, great cycling around the forest, an hour or so drive to the D Day historical areas and to Honfleur, quiet roads, friendly locals and peace and quiet - it was an ideal relaxing break for all of us. The town of Argentan was a revelation and we very much enjoyed exploring it as well as the tour of Sassy. Balognes de l'Ornes is also within easy reach - in fact we could have spent a lot longer here exploring the local area. The owners have the property next door and were welcoming and friendly without imposing on our holiday. We were able to have an extra day and it was good to have the flexibility of stay rather than a fixed Saturday to Saturday let.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 28 Mar, 2020
Thank you for your kind comments. We are aware that the cottage can be 'spidery and cobwebby' but this is a hazard of country living. We realise that at times there is a need for a deep clean, but this is very difficult with back to back visitors. We appreciate your comments and will be addressing the situation in future. We are pleased you enjoyed your stay and found the cottage well equipped and the surrounding countryside interesting region to explore. We hope to welcome you in the future. Helen & John Stiven
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Le gîte est vraiment sympa, l'emplacement idéal...dommage qu'il ait été difficile de réchauffer le gîte!
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Séjour très agréable dans cette charmante demeure normande autour d d'un bon feu de bois. Propriétaire très agréable.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wir waren bereits das zweite Mal dort und es war wieder einmal fantastisch. Der riesengroße Garten lädt zum Spielen und Verweilen ein. Das Cottage aus Stein ist urig und gemütlich eingerichtet. Auch bei heißem Sommerwetter ist das Haus angenehm temperiert. Die Natur in der Umgebung ist ideal für Spaziergänge und für Gassi-Runden (wir waren mit unserem Hund dort). Die Vermieterin Lucy war sehr nett und hilfsbereit. Wir kommen gerne wieder!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Leuk vakantiehuis, mooie rustige locatie, fijne gastheer!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Geweldig

Echt Frans huis! Lokatie top! Eigenaren vriendelijke, grote tuin, rust, veel te doen in de omgeving.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

About the host

Hosted by John STIVEN

Host profile image
We are a British couple who first moved to Paris in 1976 with our work, enjoying eight years there in teaching and human resources roles. We fell in love with France, and spent much of our free time playing sport and making the most of living in the fantastic city of Paris, and France generally. Our daughter was born in Paris and as a family we returned to the UK in 1984. Since then, we have spent a lot of time back in France, having bought an old farmhouse in 1979, spending many weekends and holidays renovating this derelict acquisition. In 1989, we acquired a dilapidated barn in the adjoining field to our home, and have been renting it out all the year round since 2006. We know how important it is to be comfortable. We have endeavoured to provide quality, comfort and style.

Why they chose this property

We were attracted to the Orne area by its rural environment and tranquillity. Family and friends were puzzled by our enthusiasm for our home there, until they visited when they became total converts and understood completely our fascination for the area. Why do we like it so much?
It is very private and quiet; we have helpful but unobtrusive neighbours within 400 metres who have applauded our hard work; the village, which has no shops, is sparsely populated (about ten houses). However, within about eight kilometres, there are towns with markets, restaurants, shops, riding stables, chateaux. Also,the Normandy beaches are about an hour away by car, and Paris is about 2 hours by train.
It is easy to reach the cottage from coastal ports, airports and stations.

What makes this property unique

The garden (a field, in truth) has ample space for children and adults to play and relax, with very little passing traffic other than the odd tractor and horses in the nearby lane. Comments made by our visitors – some of whom have returned 2 or 3 times, include: What a wonderful location, far from the crowd and quiet enough to hear yourself think. Had a fantastic time in this gorgeous cottage – visited the chateaux and local markets and chilled – will definitely return again. We have all enjoyed our week here. The children love playing in the garden, we love the wonderful birdsong and fire in the evening. The local area is beautiful to walk around. A delightful and very comfortable gite in a tranquil setting, with a huge range of fascinating places to visit within easy reach.

Languages:

English, French

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback