Le Pressoir in Fontaine L Abbe, Bernay, Normandy, France

Francophiles from Georgia Atlanta, GA, USA Review Submitted: June 29, 2010 Date of Stay: June 2010 We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this delightful house. The village is lovely with a magnificent chateau and colombier and attractive church. The house in an enclosed property is stunning with a profusion of flowers as well as ripening berries. Fruits and walnuts would be on the trees a little later. Due to a cold snap we were able to make use of the outstanding fireplace which draws so well you don't even need to know how to build a fire. The kitchen is extremely well equipped and easy to use. The whole house is well furnished with all that one might wish--great bedding, plenty of towels, tablecloths and placemats, lap rugs, flashlight, etc. A telephone and wireless internet throughout the house were a huge plus for us. The DVD was easy to use with a nice selection of movies. The hosts were very enjoyable and accommodating and made us feel very welcome. We felt very fortunate to have found such a charming and commodious place, well situated for our stay in Normandy. Recommended for: Age 55+, Adventure Seekers, Girls Getaway, Sightseeing, Families with Teenagers, Families with Young Children, Romantic Getaway

Liz L Chatham, Kent. UK Review Submitted: January 8, 2010 Date of Stay: August 2009 We have stayed at Le Pressoir on 2 occasions (once with children, once without) and had the most relaxing, peaceful holidays we could wish for. The farmhouse is stunning, with large, beautifully furnished rooms on several different levels, oak beams and huge fireplaces and it has a warm, family feel. The garden is large and secluded with an orchard and there is nothing nicer than sitting on the patio or around the remains of the old, stone cider press on a warm, sunny evening. Although it is situated in a quiet, picturesque village, there is a nearby town with all the necessary amenities and we found all the attractions Normandy has to offer were easily accessible. The children loved the house and we could leave them to play safely outside, the main attraction being the horses and cows at the bottom of the garden. It is also a perfect grown-up getaway and near enough to the UK for a short break. Our holidays here have been fabulous, everything we needed was provided and we were made to feel very welcome by the owners - nothing was too much trouble. We have no hesitation in recommending Le Pressoir. Recommended for: Age 55+, Sightseeing, Families with Teenagers, Families with Young Children, Romantic Getaway

marjanbozic Kamnik, Slovenia Review Submitted: August 26, 2010 Date of Stay: July 2010 What can I say? We spent 10 perfect days there, and we had really hard time to adjust to our home :) The property is just wonderful and house is just filled with everything you need. Ian and Sue were very helpful and just that kind of people you would like to meet. We visited lots of nice places around and even went to Paris. All nice places are about an hour from the village, which is perfect for relaxing, because it is really quiet, except of the train. What can I say? It is just a place we were looking for. Thanks again. Recommended for: Adventure Seekers, Sightseeing, Families with Teenagers, Romantic Getaway

Rallisalli & Husband Doddington, Cambridgeshire, England Review Submitted: August 10, 2010 Date of Stay: July 2010 There is very little to add to previous reviews of Ian and Sue Kellitt’s lovely Normandy home in Fontaine L’Abbe. Four of us spent a thoroughly enjoyable week there finding it a wonderful place to relax, and a great central point for exploring the regions of the Eure, the Pays d’Auge and the Normandy coast. Amongst other places we visited Monet's Garden at Giverny, the Chateau de Breuill Calvados distillery, the Chateau du Vendeuvre, Cormeilles ( great for antiques), and the beautiful port of Honfleur. We were greeted warmly by Ian and Sue, and given a comprehensive tour of the spacious premises - everything you could possibly need was provided. Although we had brought food (some) & drink (lots!) we were impressed by the provision of basic supplies – very handy for those unaccustomed to the limited shopping hours in France. We sampled croissants and bread from both the excellent boulangeries in nearby Serquigny and patronised the Le Clerc in Bernay which surprisingly is open on Sundays in July & August. The two recommended restaurants in Beaumont le Roger were both superb (check their opening times – neither is open every day) While we found the varying floor levels accessed by short flights of stairs no problem, we agree with a previous comment that anyone with a mobility problem may find this a bit of a challenge. With revised directions this secluded property should now be easy to find (Thanks Ian!). (Our GPS ran out of instructions about 1 km east of Bernay!) Like others before us, we have absolutely no hesitation in recommending ‘Le Pressoir’ as a great place to stay in Normandy. Recommended for: Age 55+, Girls Getaway, Sightseeing, Families with Teenagers, Romantic Getaway Owner's Response: We are very pleased that you enjoyed your stay. We will make an effort to improve labelling and instructions for recycling as you suggested!

Ray and Helen Devon, UK Review Submitted: June 30, 2010 Date of Stay: May 2010 Well, we must be honest - we are an older recently married couple. As such we were looking for a slice of Normandy peace to balance the happy chaos of the previous weeks. And that's precisely what Le Pressoir has to offer. Ian and Sue, our English hosts, were warm, welcoming and generous. Nothing was too much trouble and they were genuinely happy to share their home. The house is set in a large orchard situated in a small rural hamlet. We had difficulty finding it, but the locals were extremely helpful - we hadn't organised ourselves properly with a good map. The property is peace itself - with the exception of occasional passing trains! The house is quirky but charming, being lovingly restored by Ian and Sue. It would not suit less mobile people, with the accommodation being on split levels. The kitchen is a cook's dream, stocked and ready to roll; we were simply asked to replace what we used. There were maps and guidebooks to help us on our way to Paris, Monet's Gardens, the Normandy beaches and the odd chateau or two. It really is ideally situated. We spent a very happy week here and would certainly recommend it to anyone looking for rural tranquility. Recommended for: Age 55+, Girls Getaway, Sightseeing, Romantic G