Today we were thrilled to be invited to view the Château de Pontécoulant located in the heart of the Norman Bocage in Swiss Normandy. I learned today that the “Bocage” is a terrain of mixed woodland, pasture and thick hedges (called bocage) which caused a huge amount of difficulty for the allied forces in WWII after the D-Day Landing. The allied forces often had to use tanks to break through these tall, dense barriers and of course, they served the Germany forces well as natural defences.
The grounds around the Château de Pontécoulant are stunning and the Château itself has been restored to its former glory. The Doulcet de Pontécoulant family settled in the region in the 14th century but the Château was not built until the 16th century and subsequently refurbished in the 18th century.
Château de Pontécoulant
I told our host how much I love “chandeliers” (which I thought transcended from English to French) but I was corrected (very nicely) and I learned a new word. The French for chandelier is “lustre”, makes perfect sense that’s why they fascinate me!
It is open to the public daily and you can either walk through unguided or become part of the tour (only available in French). After treating your eyes to the sumptuously decorated Château you can treat your tummy in the Tea Room with its array of wonderful pastries for which the French are so famous.
Well worth a visit.
