Erica’s Weekend away from Paris: a Country Cottage in Normandy
September 3, 2010
My French Country Cottage in Normandy – Photos Erica Berman
It can be hard to get Parisians out of Paris for a weekend. We think we want to go somewhere, but when push comes to shove it just seems so complicated that we prefer an apéro, a resto, or a leisurely dinner with friends. We save our energy for big trips to exotic and far away places. Also, being snobs, we think that anything close to Paris won’t be interesting or worth the hassle of the drive.
Bikes by Sharon’s French Country Home
This weekend I managed to make an exception to this rule. The lure of a French cottage in Normandy, a walk in the forest and a few early morning flea markets was calling me since Sharon, the cottage owner, promised all of this at less than an hour’s drive from the center of Paris. Could it be true?
Sharon’s French Country home
Tip 1. Never rent a car that you need to pick up on a Saturday afternoon in August at Gare du Nord. We waited over an hour in a long line to get the rental.
Tip 2: Never try to drive out of Paris on a Saturday afternoon from Gare du Nord – bumper-to-bumper traffic and over an hour just to get to the highway.
Typically Parisian and true to form, we complained until (two and a half hours after leaving home) we were finally on the highway. Once ON the highway we were in Normandy in a jiffy. It was truly less than an hour!
Welcomed by Sharon and Eric with tea and friendly chatter (she is from the UK and he is French) we were thrilled we persevered despite the obstacles we encountered! A chipper jaunt in the leafy woods cheered us up after our traumatic car rental experience.
The darling cottage, located across the yard from the main French Country home, was decorated by Sharon with a sprinkle of antiques and flea market finds along with comfy beds and couches. The property included stables for two horses, the rental cottage, the gorgeous main house, a large lawn for lounging, a patio for outdoor dining, and a potager (a herb and vegetable garden) that Sharon’s son (one of her 4 children) tends.
After a fab dinner, we were off to bed to awaken before the crack of dawn and head off to three different flea markets in surrounding villages.
Flowers in my cottage
Below are some of my brocante finds!
Brocante (little antique shop) in Normandy
Old French Magazines
Amazingly cheap French porcelaine that I should have bought
Would we do it again? In a heartbeat!
Would we stay longer? Of course!
Would we attempt the drive out of Paris again on a Saturday afternoon? Not a chance.
House on the bridge in Vernon (Normandy)
Where do you go to escape your daily grind? Inquiring minds want to hear about your favorite weekend getaways!
Relates links:
- How to rent Sharon’s Cottage & her fab French Country Home Blog
- Do you have the Brocante bug? Tongue in Cheek does!
- Eight Great Restos in Normandy from Gourmet
- Trip Advisor off the Beaten Path Normandy
Written by Erica Berman for the Hip Paris Blog. For our amazing rentals in Paris, Provence & Tuscany check out our website Haven in Paris.
Written by Erica Berman
Erica Berman grew up in Lexington,Mass. After graduating from Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Journalism and an intensive summer at Middlebury College (Vermont), Erica came to Paris with hopes of submerging herself in French culture and perfecting her French -- and she never left. Erica is the founder and owner of Haven in Paris and the blog HiP Paris. She now splits her time between Paris (Montmartre), Maine (Damariscotta), Massachusetts (Lexington) and Italy (Genova). In her all-too-rare free time, Erica likes to travel off the beaten track, explore Paris, read, take photos, cook, ski, hike and enjoy long Sunday brunches with her friends.
Website: Erica Berman
Tags: Cottage, Countryside, flea market, My French Country Home, Normandy, Vernon, Weekend Gettaway
Posted in Homes, Parisian Living, Travel | 13 Comments »
Heavenly! Absolutely best vacation stay, even just reading about it is wonderful. xo Lidy
Hi Sharon. Thanks so much. We WILL be back! How was Maison Objet? And the blogger meet up? I was sorry to miss you! Erica
Hi Erica
Thank you for this lovely post about our cottage. It was a delight having you both to stay, I’m glad you chose a weekend with so many brocantes going on in the area.
You are both welcome back whenever you wish
Sharon
Well my dear, you know you are welcome anytime and then we can make a road trip. But before that… Italia! Baci – Erica
Tomorrow is the huge brocante de Lille… miles of flea market! I am considering. Ithink both Normandy and Brittany are great. Normandy just happens to be closer. -Erica
Oh wow. Normandy and Brittany are still on my must-do weekend getaways. And I think, with these photos (those wildflowers?? the brocante!), Normandy just trumped Brittany.
For better or worse, I usually head to the cities. I’ve loved Nantes and Lille, and, more of a haul, Biarritz is ace! xo
exquisite photographs, as usual, erica
and i am very jealous of that weekend trip you took
maybe one day…
Please pardon the over abundance of Happy Faces in my post ..
I love this , I love the photos, I am sick of rain but perhaps if it were raining in Paris I would not mind so much
I loved the Le Petit Echo de la Mode
Sharon’s place is really lovely Vicki! I am bummed I did not buy the dishes. The set was really cheap. Argh, antique regret!
It looks like heaven…sorry about the Saturday afternoon getaway…that’s no fun, xv.
PS…yes to that gorgeous porcelain….
Hi Lindsey,
Yeah I loved it when you posted it and then was amazed when we stopped for lunch in Vernon!! Erica
You got the same shot of the house on the water I did!