Atypical activities in the Pays d'Auge countryside in Normandy

Discover the Cabourg and Pays d'Auge region, other than by getting into your car? Yes, it's possible, especially with these activities that are out of the ordinary.

Adventure lovers, the following is for you! Make way for atypical adventures that will make your stay in the Pays d'Auge a memorable and exceptional moment. On the program: a horseback ride, a hike or a visit to the farm, all of which ends with a night in a castle (no thrills guaranteed). You can take advantage of these moments to also discover the gastronomic landscape of the region: most of the products can be tasted on site (in farms and small local shops), or at home.

Visiting an educational farm

If you were looking for an activity to do with a group of children (or a handful, it depends), the following should suit you. Go to the lands of Lieu Roussel, a educational farm located in Douville-en-Auge, equidistant from Cabourg and Beuvron-en-Auge (about fifteen minutes by car).

The farm is our workplace. We will welcome you to help you discover our job as a farmer and the origin of the products we eat.

Two tour options are available:

a guided tour (by reservation only) made by the farmer
a free visit, where you will learn independently.

In both cases, you will be in contact with farm animals (donkeys, sheep, pigs, cows, goats, rabbits, to name but a few). A questionnaire will be given to you on site: to fill it out, you just have to follow the signs. Before leaving, stop by the shop to come home with your hands full of apple juice, cider vinegar or even honey.

A horseback ride

Notice to experienced riders or beginners: it is possible to explore the Pays d'Auge on horseback. Meeting at the equestrian center The Six Paths, in Saint-Jouin, for a getaway in the countryside, or a slightly sportier hike in the forest. And for the children? Take the direction of Basseneville, and the equestrian center of Pecks.

A hike

Have you packed your hiking shoes in your suitcase and haven't forgotten your windbreaker? Go on an adventure by following one of the hiking routes offered by Rando GPS. Several departures are available to you:

from the seaside, west of the Casino de Cabourg, to follow the Normandy coast and discover the marshes,
from Chemin de l'Anguille, at Varaville, to discover the sleepy villages full of charm in the Pays d'Auge
starting from Houlgate, for a loop circuit full of pretty climbs, to visit the villages of Grangues et Gonneville sur Mer.

Whatever your route, don't forget: a water bottle, to stay hydrated throughout the activity, and a few sweet treats to nibble on, to avoid slack mid-course.

GPS hiking — All the hiking routes in the Pays d'Auge can be found on website.

A royal night

heading for the Château de la Bribourdière . Installed in Putot-en-Auge, on the iconic Cider Route, it is surrounded by no less than 12 hectares of greenery — including three-hundred-year-old trees. An ideal place for a quiet weekend, it is made up of a handful of tastefully decorated rooms. Bonus: the large windows offer a breathtaking view of the castle grounds.

And if you, the castles, it's not necessarily your hobby, good news: the Pays d'Auge is full of mansions. Second good news: it is possible to spend the night in several of them. Located in one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France (Beuvron-en-Auge), the Manor of Sens is open year round. To the delight of lovers of calm: spend the night in one of the bedrooms of this sublime half-timbered building. After a bit of well-deserved rest, you can stroll through the heart of the village, located just 800 meters away. Enough to take a gourmet walk (or not).