Welcome to the Williamson's Web site. Our goal is to provide you with useful information about our accommodation and activities that we hope will allow you to choose, book and enjoy a wonderful holiday in France, at our recently renovated stone farmhouse.
Our venture was set up in 2007 offering new accommodation and traditional activities in historical surroundings in the heart of France. We specialize in providing our visitors with tailor made advice to gain the most from the local environment and richly historical area. Our attractive accommodation caters comfortably for up to four (2 rooms either 2 + 2 or 1+1 and 2), but which can be adjusted to accommodate more. The apartment is available in high and low season (arrive Saturday afternoon, check-out following Saturday morning). Prices on request.
Today the apartment is fully furnished. It benefits from a fitted kitchen, cooker, microwave, fridge with freezer compartment and electric heating if required. There is a living area with television (terrestrial French T.V.), DVD, and radio. Leading from a small corridor is a large shower room, a separate toilet and a double bedroom. The total floor area of the apartment is approximately 45 square metres. Our gîte apartment sleeps four, organized as two single beds or a double bed in the bedroom, and a double sofa bed in the living area. Bed linen and washing machine can be provided. All floors are tiled. The apartment has been professionally renovated to the latest French plumbing and electricity regulations.
Some History (1066 and all that)
La Bretonnière is surrounded by approximately 6 hectares (15 acres) of private land, and outbuildings. The land is bordered on one side by the River Varenne, another by a country access road, the remaining sides by additional farm land. Access to the main courtyard is via a private road leading from the N176. The courtyard provides ample parking. The apartment is attached to the main house of La Bretonnière which we occupy being permanently resident in France. The apartment began life with a beaten earth floor and bare stone walls with sturdy oak beams which still remain today (not the beaten earth floor). It has been used as a workshop for a local artisan and before that as a grain store. La Bretonnière sits on a rise overlooking the river Varenne and looking up at the skyline of Domfront. The chateau ruins reach for the sky from a picturesque hilltop commanding fine views of the Normandy bocage steeped in history. William the Conqueror and his father Robert, Duke of Normandy were involved in the construction of the chateau at Domfront (15 mins walk away) and the local church Notre Dame sur L'Eau (10 mins walk away). In more recent times La Bretonnière was a victim of the battle for Domfront in the Second World War, during which La Bretonnière and its surroundings were hit by Allied bombs aimed at the now defunct rail yards of Domfront Gare. Instead of striking their target a few of the bombs and incendiary devices struck part of the outbuildings at La Bretonnière, destroying them. In 2004 an unexploded 500 lb bomb was discovered only a couple of hundred metres away, thankfully, it was easily diffused, but not before we had vacated the area as fast as we could! The war still has its consequences more than 60 years later! The outbuildings were rebuilt when peace was declared.
Why not come along and discover more about the history of Domfront and its environs?