Domfront and its surrounding area is steeped in history in the middle ages the town formed part of the kingdom of England and was visited regularly by Henry II.
Today the town is the perfect base to explore the surrounding Normandy countryside and discover the many attractions in the area.
The town has a wide range of shops and just a few steps away from the gite is a boulangerie for your daily baguette and croissants. The local grocer Aox Quatre Saisons is just opposite the church and supplies fresh products, ciders and poire and other essentials.There are supermarkets close by and every Friday a market is held and is just a 5 minute walk down the Grand Rue to the lower part of town.
So Much to See and Do
Within easy distance there are many interesting places to visit. Normandy is steeped in history and there are numerous places to visit. If you're into walking or cycling you will be spoilt for choice there are many pathways to discover for all abilities from easy pathways along old railway tracks to more challenging climbs. You will find on our Links page connections to a variety of sites to enable planning of places to visit
Medieval Festival - August 2021
Gite St Julien is situated right in the heart of the historic area of Domfront. In early August every two years the town holds its magnificent Medieval festival which attracts many visitors. The locals dress in authentic costume and the event takes you back to the period. Book early to ensure you experience this wonderful festival right on the doorstep.
There is a medieval market in the main town square with interesting and unusual items on sale. The main event takes place in the castle grounds where you will find encampments of re-enactors in medieval dress livings as our ancestors would all those years ago. Knights parade through the town on horseback, you can see how a knight prepares for battle. the streets are alive with music from groups of roaming minstrels.
In the castle grounds you can see the spectacle of the Tournament with knights battling with swords and on horseback jousting. It gives a wonderful insight into medieval life. In the evening you can attend the banquet and be serenaded with medieval music. Check the official website
You can be right in the heart of the action by booking a stay check out our availability here.
Bagnoles de l'Orne
Just a 20 minute drive away Bagnoles de la Orne is situated in the heart of the forest and is a spa/casino town developed in the early 20th century. A great place to just walk around the lake or have a flutter in the Casino. Plenty of places to eat and drink and there are all year round events with antique fairs in the summer.
Mont St Michel
The UNESCO World Heritage site is just an hours drive away one of the most visited places in France it is spectacular at any time of the year.
D-Day Beaches
For anyone into military history a visit to the D-day Beaches is a must. Dotted along the coast you will find many war-time sites along with a range of museums to trace events of the 6th June 1944
Fougeres
Guarding the Brittany border Fougeres lays claim to being the largest medieval fortress in Europe covering 2 hectares and with 13 towers it is certainly large. The town is quaint and every Saturday has a busy market in the centre.
Chateau Falaise
Falaise is the birthplace of William the Conqueror and you can visit his medieval castle. Severely damaged during the WW2 near to the town was some of the most ferocious fighting. With the German army in retreat they were close to being surrounded by the Allies in what was know as the Falaise pocket.
Cycling
The region is very popular with cyclists and there are many trails through the forest or along redundant railway tracks. Alternatively you can just use our cycles and set off from the Gite discovering the local area. The choice is varied and cycling guides for trails are available from all tourist information offices. At the local tourist office just two minutes walk from the gite there are electric cycles available for hire at a very modest fee.
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