Category Archives: Family Activities

Local activities and attractions available for families staying at Basse Copette

The Ultimate Summer Festival for Your Normandy Holiday

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Rouen Cathedral by Night

Rouen Cathedral by Night

For those of you with a passion for art, particularly impressionist art, this summer you have the ultimate festival to make your Normandy holiday that extra bit special this year. From April to November Normandie Impressionniste 2010 offers an amazing programme of events to celebrate Normandy’s Impressionist heritage. Most people know that Monet’s Giverny house and garden is in Normandy, but few realise that Normandy was a central focus for many Impressionist artists. Many lived in the region, and others frequently visited the cities, such as Rouen and Le Havre, and the coastline – the striking white cliffs being a favourite subject. But, it is not just a festival of museum exhibitions, there really is something on the programme for everyone, even the children. Continue reading →

French Christmas Markets: Amiens

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French Christmas markets ... in France

French Christmas markets ... in France

French Christmas markets are a great part of the build up to Christmas, and the best way to experience one is of course in France itself. The city of Amiens hosts the biggest and most spectacular one in northern France. From the last weekend in November to just after Christmas the streets of the city are filled with over 120 individual stalls and all sorts of rides and attractions to amuse the younger visitors. And during the month of December, the façade of the Cathedral is lit up to appear as it would have done in medieval times. So if it is a quiet romantic few days away you are looking for in the lead up to Christmas, or a pre-Christmas treat for the children, a weekend Christmas break is a must. Only 35 minutes away is the small hamlet of Basse Copette. On offer, luxury but affordable bed and breakfast or self catering accommodation, for a weekend or a few days in the week. A Christmas market break at Basse Copette offers a great deal. Continue reading →

Abbaye de Jumièges

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Abbaye de Jumièges

Abbaye de Jumièges

Sometimes, particularly during busy periods, I get the feeling I do not get out much. The upside is that I get good reports from my guests of the local attractions I have not seen; and after 5 years there are still many. This was the case with the Abbaye de Jumièges: recent guests visited the ruined Abbey on a day out to Rouen from Basse Copette and returned saying what a great time they had had there. It is very definitely well worth a visit. The Abbey is widely said to be ‘the most beautiful ruin in France’, and occupation of the site dates back to the 7th Century, and in its heyday was the biggest Benedictine monastery in the West. The Abbey is on a large island formed by a loop in the Seine River, in the town of Jumièges. The Seine river has many of these loops (boucles) before it enters the sea, and this area has been designated the Boucles de la Seine Normande Regional Park. Continue reading →

Summer Holidays in Normandy

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Summer Festival Queen

Summer Festival Queen

Rural areas of France provide wonderful summer holidays, and Normandy is no different. Basse Copette is a small, rural hamlet in the Bresle Valley of Upper Normandy. There are only 6 residences, and very much off the beaten track. What it lacks in on-the-door-step attractions it more than amply makes up for in rural charm. We are close to some great attractions (Monet’s Garden in Giverny), and others make for a great day out (Paris, Disneyland), but there really is something unbeatable about being in France profonde. For example, each year from the the end of spring to the beginning of autumn most Communes and bigger villages host their own particular summer festival. And then there are the rather unique and often quirky ways of celebrating national events. These add a wonderful and often unexpected quality to a holiday. Continue reading →

France Christmas Markets: Rouen

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France for Christmas Markets

France for Christmas Markets

France has wonderful Christmas markets, and the Marché de Noël in Rouen has a most spectacular backdrop: the cathedral that Monet has made so famous. Directly in front of the Cathedral is one of a couple of skating rinks available, which is surrounded by numerous stalls selling all sorts of drinks (of course there is mulled wine) and food. Then scattered throughout the streets of this older part of the city are various stalls selling all sorts of things that make great gifts. Most Marchés de Noël start during the last weekend of November and go through to the first week of January. Basse Copette is close to two great French Christmas Markets: Rouen and Amiens, and on offer are inclusive 3-day breaks to give you the opportunity to enjoy both! Bring the children, or as most couples do, take a break from the maddening rush that is the lead up to Christmas and relax at Basse Copette. Continue reading →

Thiepval Monument to the Missing of the Somme

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Thiepval Monument

Thiepval Monument

One of the most moving monuments for the First World War is, I believe, that monument at Thiepval dedicated to the ‘missing of the Somme. The Franco-British Memorial at Thiepval is an impressive memorial some 45 metres high and visble for miles around. It was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and commemorates the 73 367 men, known as the Missing of the Somme, who have no known grave today. The names of these soldiers are inscribed on the 16 pillars that form the base of the structure. And so this monument provides a focus for the many families who have no grave to visit. Buried adjacent to the monument are a number of British and French soldiers in unmarked graves, just a tiny fraction of the missing of the Somme who fell between July 1915 and March 1918 who have no known grave. Continue reading →

Parc Asterix

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Golden Asterix

Golden Asterix

There are a number of theme parks within easy reach of Basse Copette that make for a great family day out. The two most well-known are EuroDisney, on the outskirts of Paris, and Parc Asterix. Parc Asterix, the closer of the two at about and hour and a half away, is based on the comic character of Asterix and friends. A few of Basse Copette’s B&B and Gite guests have been to both attractions, and all say Parc Asterix is better than EuroDisney in a number of respects – not least the entrance costs, the costs of food and drink, and the crowds and length of queues for the various rides and attractions. But I have never heard any of the younger children complaining about their day out at EuroDisney! A popular option is to visit Parc Asterix after leaving Basse Copette, and then after a day on the rides heading up the A1 to Calais and crossing over to the UK.
Continue reading →

Horse riding

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There are a number of very good equestrian centres near Basse Copette that cater for people on holiday. Between them they offer a variety of services, and are, according to previous guests, very reasonably priced.

I shall post some pictures and more details soonest, I am posting this brief comment now simply to let prospective guests know what is on offer in the area.

Brocantes, Vide Grenier & Foires à tout

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A typical foire à tout

A typical foire à tout

From just after the start of Spring to the end of Summer most towns and villages in France organise a Foire à tout, literally – a market for everything, or a vide grenier - empty attic. And, like any car-boot or garage sales, this is where if you are lucky and manage to beat the dealers you can pick up some great secondhand goods, or brocantes. And like all car-boots, there is a lot of tat. Some of the bigger towns organise more than one in the season. Most local newspapers have a list of the Foires à tout in the area, but just driving around the area you will see posters advertising the date of forthcoming events, including foires à tout. And, at most of these events, there is usually someone selling frites and BBQ saucisses, and even candi floss for the children! Continue reading →

Basse Copette for Bird Lovers

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Experience the park by horse drawn carriage

Experience the park by horse drawn carriage

La Baie de Somme is an estuarine nature reserve over 3000 hectares in size. Just one part of this coastal reserve is Le Parc Marquenterre, an essential migratory stop for thousands of birds each year. And with the great diversity of natural habitats, including freshwater and saltwater marshes, dunes, meadows and wooded areas, the area is also home to a large number of amphibians, insects and mammals. Visitors are free to follow a number of marked out paths, or take a guided tour, on foot or by horse-drawn carriage, to discover the remarkable bio-diversity of the park. There are two main footpaths, one for an easier and shorter ‘discovery’ walk, the other a longer ‘nature trail’, with 14 observation posts and observation blinds that look out across fresh water and salt water marshes, as well as reed marshes. Here visitors are invited to observe birds such as egrets, greylag geese during migration, wintering or nesting in the area. Continue reading →