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NORMANDY
I
live in the heart of the Bay
of Mont Saint-Michel, where
Normandy and Brittany meet.
It is a special part of the
world set between a beautiful
coastline with pristine beaches and
lovely rolling countryside dotted
with picturesque lakes. My area
in the north includes the town
of Granville - the only town in
France to count an archipelago in
its municipality. One of the things
I enjoy most is a year-round list
of festivals and events to attend,
including many equestrian shows -
which is my passion.
I came to France in 2004
to work for a large horsebox
manufacturer but gravitated into
real estate a few years later. My
knowledge of the equestrian
industry has helped, as we have so
many buyers who share my passion.
France is considered a leader in
breeding in the equestrian world.
Indeed it is the top exporter of
Claire Murphy has lived in Normandy for 17 years; she lets us
access her address book of favourite places.
horses to other parts of the world.
Le Pin National Stud in Normandy
provides 40% of all French
racehorses. One of my favourite
local facts is that Normandy has a
beautiful 60km long stud farm trail,
as well as over 300 horse riding
centres and 31 hippodromes - it is a
dream for me.
It is not just equestrian property
that is popular with both domestic
and international buyers. Normandy
boasts a wide variety of architectural
styles, and our portfolio of listings
has something for everyone. There
are five departments in Normandy,
and each has a unique landscape
and feel to it. Property prices vary
considerably - the rule of thumb is
that if you are looking for property
in a city or on the coast, you will pay
a premium price. Average property
prices should be treated as a guide
only. For an accurate picture, you
should speak to one of our local
agents on the ground.
The Bay of Mont Saint-Michel
is in the department of La Manche.
It is a UNESCO world heritage site
visited by more than 3 million tourists
every year and has more than 60
protected monuments historiques. In
our department is the historic town
of Saint Lo, the biggest town is the
famous city of Cherbourg. La Manche
has lush, green countryside and
wonderful sandy beaches, perfect for
a family holiday.
To the east, you will find the
department of Calvados, which
has some of the most prestigious
Mont Saint-Michel
Port Racine, Cotentin