Basse Copette for Bird Lovers

Posted on April 6, 2009 by Thomas

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 →

Hortillonnages d'Amiens

Posted on March 30, 2009 by Thomas

Boat trip on the canals

The only way to visit les hortillonnages is to take a ride on a flat-bottomed boat and navigate the canals separating the plots of land that have been used to grow flowers and vegetables for thousands of years. Anyone who has read the wonderful novel Birdsong, by Sebastian Faulks, will remember the Azaires’ family picnic in the “famous water-gardens”; les Hortillonnages are the very same water-gardens. Originally marshland, with rich alluvial soil, les hortillonnages is an area of 300 hectares in the centre of Amiens that is still today used to grow flowers and vegetables – they are Picardy’s original allotments. These allotments date back to Roman times at least. Ceasar’s soldiers called the gardeners the hortulano, now les hortillons, and hence les hortillonnages for the parcels of land. This area of Amiens features regularly in the various historical documents of the city, and today they are one of the city’s most popular family tourist attractions. Continue reading →

Oceanarium at Boulogne-sur-Mer

Posted on March 24, 2009 by Thomas

Oceanarium Touch Pool

On 1 March 2009, Nausicaa, an amazing oceanarium in Boulogne-sur-mer, had its 11 millionth visitor. The oceanarium has been open for 17 years, and makes a great effort with a varied programme of events to raise awareness about the seas and their resources, to capture the imagination of the deep for visitors of all ages. There are over 35 000 animals there, from sea lions to sharks, in some 4,5 million litres of water and displayed in 5000 square meters of exhibitions and aquariums. Treat your children to the unique experience of petting the stingrays in the touch pool! The touch pool is a truly unique experience. In the pool there are pollack, cod, dogfish, turbot and stingrays, all swimming at eye level for both adults and children. If you put your hand in the water and move it slightly, the stingrays come over and rub against it. These fish also lift their head out of the water and allow you to touch them. Continue reading →

Le château Rambures

Posted on February 2, 2009 by Thomas

Le château Rambures is a 15th Century military fort that once played an important defensive role at the end of the Middle Ages. The castle is set in very well kept gardens. There is also an interesting rose garden that dates back to the 1920s, with an impressive collection of old and modern roses – some 390 varieties. Continue reading →

Fishing at Basse Copette

Posted on January 27, 2009 by Thomas

Fishing on the Bresle River

… well two kilometres away in the Bresle river. For those people who enjoy a quite day beside a lake or a river fishing, there are a number of options available for you while staying at Basse Copette.

Two kilometres down the road is a great fishing spot on the River Bresle, one where the locals can often be found when they fancy trout for lunch. All that is required is a permit, and these are easily obtained. This kind of fishing is restricted to certain times of the year.

Also, there are a number of private lakes along the River Bresle, specially set up for fishing, to suit all tastes. Some are more family oriented, while others are for the serious minded fishermen. Rather than buying a local permit, all you do is pay a fee, full day or half day and fish ’til your hearts content. Continue reading →

Historic Steam Train on the Somme Bay

Posted on January 26, 2009 by Thomas

The Somme Bay is a popular attraction, and has much to offer visitors to the area. And an attraction that suits all ages is a journey around the bay on the steam train, known locally as ‘Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme‘ or the iron path of the Somme Bay. This is not only an opportunity to travel on a historic form of transport, but a wonderful way to see the Somme Bay. Continue reading →

Basse Copette, Monet's Garden and Impressionist Art

Posted on January 24, 2009 by Thomas

For those interested in art, in particular Impressionist art, Basse Copette is an ideal base to explore this part of Normandy’s association with the Impressionist school of painting. Of course, there is the well-known and unmissable house and gardens at Giverny where Claude Monet lived from 1883 until his death in 1926; but also the coastline north of the mouth of the River Seine was a source of inspiration for Monet and many other Impressionist artists, as were many other parts of Upper Normandy; Rouen’s Cathedral was frequently painted by Monet; and Rouen’s Museum of Fine Art has a modest but wonderful collection of Impressionist paintings. So if impressionist paintings is your thing, Basse Copette is your place to stay, whether for a midweek/weekend break or a holiday in a self catering Normandy style gite or luxury B&B. And don’t forget Paris and the Musée d’Orsay is a wonderful day trip from Basse Copette. Monet’s house and gardens is a wonderful place to start. Continue reading →

Basse Copette to Paris

Posted on January 21, 2009 by Thomas

Enjoy all the attractions of Paris

Basse Copette is in an idyllic rural location. But not so rural that it is isolated from some of the best attractions that northern France has to offer. Basse Copette is ideally situated on the Normandy/Picardy border making all the attractions those two regions have to offer accessible, such as the World War I and II memorials, the Bayeaux Tapestry, Monet’s Garden in Giverny, you could even enjoy lunch in the beautiful seaside town of Hornfleur. So if you are looking for a quiet rural retreat, but would like to have easy access to cities and well-known attractions, Basse Copette has just what you are looking for. A day trip to Paris is very popular with guests staying at Basse Copette, whether in the self catering cottages or the B&B. Such a trip need not involve driving in to Paris itself. On the contrary, getting to Paris is hassle free and adds the sense of adventure of a train ride. Continue reading →

Le Gros Horloge, Rouen

Posted on January 14, 2009 by Thomas

The city of Rouen is a favourite day out for both self catering and B&B guests staying at Basse Copette. Rouen is about 45 minutes away, and is easy to find and get to. And besides, there is much to do and see. But the one thing everyone sees is Le Gros-Horloge as it is set on the side of a 13th Century building that goes across the street. This is one of Europe’s oldest working clocks. Continue reading →

St Saëns Golf Course

Posted on January 2, 2009 by Thomas

The clubhouse

There are a number of great golf courses in northern France, and one of the prettiest of these courses is said to be at St Saëns, on the road towards Dieppe. The clubhouse is a 19th Century Chateau and is visible from a number of holes, but provides a particularly spectacular backdrop to the 18th. If you enjoy a round or two on your holiday, then Basse Copette is the place to stay. A number of previous self catering and B&B guests have played at St Saëns, and it lives up to expectations. Reserving your game is easily done, and St Saëns is about 30 minutes from Basse Copette. And when you have finished your round, there is a good quality restaurant in the Clubhouse. Continue reading →

Basse Copette

Luxury B&B and gîte with heated swimming pool, Normandy, France

Category Archives: Summer Activities