GROW WITH SARAH GRACE

When I moved to France, I knew that I was going to miss out on some holidays and traditions. I was able to go home for Christmas which was a blessing but one of my favorite holidays has always been Thanksgiving and last year, I had to accept the fact that I was going to miss my first one at home. 

I have a few American friends here in Paris and one British friend who is an honorary American at this point. We were at a cafe when I proposed the crazy idea of going to a cottage in the middle of nowhere in Normandy, France to celebrate the American holiday. The inspiration was the movie “The Holiday” and we took that idea and ran with it. Within an hour of suggesting it, we had booked our Airbnb, and my dream of having a (french version) Cameron Diaz moment was happening before I knew it. 

We found “Domaine du Silence”, a cottage on a horse farm in Saint-Georges-de-Rouelley on Airbnb for around 102 euros a night. Honestly, the photos, description and price all felt way too good to be true but I am happy to report that it was truly the perfect getaway. Of course, with most AirBnb’s there were small details that weren’t perfect but nothing that ruined our experience.

As far as location, the cottage is around a 3.5-hour drive from Paris, and depending on what route you take, it’s a fairly easy journey. My friends and I got a rental car from the Gare Du Nord train station which is the preferred method of going to Normandy as it’s easier to explore surrounding areas this way. The cottage itself is surrounded by acres of farmland which gives it the perfect secluded feel but getting into town and other attractions nearby would be difficult without a car.

When I say secluded, I truly mean that. There are neighbors within a mile or so of the house but if you imagine a French countryside, this would be the perfect photo. One evening, my friends and I took a stroll through the neighborhood and found a farm with cows along one of the windy roads. While the surrounding greenery is great, you can find other attractions like Mont Saint-Michel an hour drive away and there are nearby villages for grocery shopping and cafes. 

The house itself is spacious and looks just like the photos provided on the AirBnb website. While you have an entire home to yourself, the host, Nathalie does live in a bigger home just a few feet away which is helpful when you need anything but you could easily never see her also as it’s a private home. The house has a rustic feel to it that flows from the exposed wooden beams interior to the brick exterior. 

The house has two soft beds that can sleep four and three cozy couches in the living room. Upstairs, there is a bathroom to be shared by all that has an ample-sized shower and vanity unit. We used the kitchen liberally as we cooked an entire Thanksgiving feast and it offered plenty of counter space. The appliances work well and the dining room table is the perfect set-up for a nice sit-down meal. Like the photos on the website show, the kitchen is spacious which allows for multiple people to cook without feeling cramped.

If I had one complaint about the entire AirBnb, it would be the Wi-fi. It was spotty and it was hard to watch movies sometimes as it would just stop working altogether. The television also had some damage that hindered the screen and viewing experience but this didn’t ruin our weekend in any way and Nathalie let us know about the unstable Wi-fi before our arrival. 

Just outside of the house is a growing vegetable garden and a parking spot for a couple of cars on gravel. Along with this, there are gorgeous farm stables and animals. Not all AirBnb’s come with an animal “review” but as advertised on the AirBnb site, this property is home to quite a full farm including five horses, nine chickens, four roosters, four ducks, seven goats, and one cat. Nathalie has four dogs that live in the main house with her. 

Our stay at “Domaine du Silence” was short – three nights – and during that period, we only saw the horses and a few chickens out back. The one animal that we saw a lot of was Jerry, the cat who was friendly and social. He will most likely come and go as he pleases and usually just lays around the living room. While he loves to mind his own business most times, he does enjoy some cuddles from guests. The biggest warning that comes with Jerry is that he will steal food any chance he gets so be weary when using the kitchen.

Aside from Jerry, this house does sit on a horse farm which is a big reason why we booked it. While you can’t ride the horses, they do tend to be outside in a fenced area and you can pet them. If you plan on bringing pets of your own, as stated on the site, you are allowed to bring two dogs but they must be leashed on the property. 

Nathalie, the host, is truly spectacular. I was granted the spokesperson for my group when we booked so I was in contact with her via text leading up to and during our stay. She knows English, which was helpful and she explained all the rules very well and concisely. During our stay, we ran out of toilet paper and she dropped some off for us within ten minutes. 

As far as her AirBnb profile, she is a superhost and has been welcoming guests into her home for three years. She is very attentive and during our long weekend stay, she was almost always on-site either helping with the animals or there to help us. She was truly remarkable.

When you think of France I’m sure Paris or even the south of France would come to mind before Normandy but after the most serene and picture-perfect weekend I had, I think it’s time to reconsider that list. Adding Normandy, France to your travel list allows you to enjoy a cozy weekend like “The Holiday” but also see majestic sights like Mont Saint-Michel. You don’t need an American holiday to celebrate as an excuse, just go and when you do, stay at “Domaine du Silence” and tell Nathalie and Jerry I said “Bonjour!”