We spent a few days exploring southern Normandy this June. Fortunately, our trip was the week after a 39-degree heatwave swept the area and we enjoyed pleasant warmth instead.
Driving around the area, we were always spotting examples of local buildings - large and small - which reminded us that we weren't in England.
Falaise is pretty little town which was the birthplace of William the Conqueror and has an imposing castle overlooking the town.
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The Gothic church and main square in Falaise - ornate on the outside but surprisingly plain inside
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The castle viewed from the town square
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The imposing castle approached from the town
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The view from the top of the castle
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Looking down on the town square from the castle
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We stopped off in Lonlay l'Abbaye, a village with a beautiful abbey and square. As usual, we arrived around lunch time and had the place to ourselves.
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The abbey
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Arches next to the town hall
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An old barn which is now a small cider museum
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A cider mill stone and apple press (background)
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The abbey viewed from another angle
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The town hall and its gardens, next to the abbey
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Typical Normandy farm building - no straight lines!
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We drove through many villages and hardly saw any people or traffic
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Another quiet square
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Chateau de Lassay, viewed from across its moat
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The chateau is still lived in and in good repair
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A stone-mason's ornament on a town-centre building
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We were fortunate that the ruined Chateau du Bois Thibault was open to visitors
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Interior of the ruined chateau which is still used for music events
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The ruined chateau, dropped into Normandy farm land
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