16th century thatched cottage in rural setting near Honfleur

The region: Berville is a small rural hamlet close to the River Seine about 10 km from the beautiful harbour town of Honfleur. There is a small shop and bar selling basics, including bread and milk. The nearest supermarket is in Contéville, about 3 km away, and there is a large hypermarket and supermarkets on the outskirts of Honfleur. Normandy is a land of fishermen and farmers and is one of the finest gastronomic regions of France. Fish dishes are a regional speciality, with imposing ranges of fruits de mer served at waterside restaurants in Honfleur and in neighbouring villages.

Honfleur has an excellent fish market and, every Saturday morning, there is also a superb farmers’ market by the church of Sainte Cathérine and a clothes market near the harbour. There are country markets on most days in the region and numerous shops selling cider, Calvados and the world-famous locally-produced cheeses, Camembert, Pont l’Eveque and Liverot.

The village is on the edge of the Brotonne National Park, with walking and cycling routes and picturesque villages and markets. Golfers will find excellent golf courses within easy reach and the region is popular with fishermen. A wide range of other leisure facilities are available locally, including swimming, fishing, canoeing and horse-riding.

A short drive will take you to the coastal towns of Trouville and elegant Deauville, famous for its racecourse, casino, golf courses, film festival and vast golden beaches. The D-Day Normandy landings, the artificial port (Port Winston) and Second World War battlefields are commemorated in the excellent museum at Arromanches. There is also a ‘peace’ museum in Caen, with its beautiful Romanesque church and ruins of an enormous castle founded by William the Conqueror. Beyond lies the Cathedral of Bayeux and the stunning 70-metre tapestry recording the Norman invasion of England in 1066, and the great island monastery of Mont St Michel.

There are many museums and historical monuments in Normandy, including a museum at Fécamp which offers a tour of the only distillery to produce the famous Benedictine liqueur.

Public golf course within 30 minutes drive