Visit the fabulous town of Villedieu-les-Poêles in the department of Manche, Normandie

 I haven't posted for ages  - for many reasons...

Today, I am going to post about a town that I have visited many times over the past 25 years - Villedieu-les-Poêles in the Manche department of Normandie.

This town is historically famous as a town that made bells of all shapes and sizes and pretty much anything else made from copper. At one point, many of the shops sold copper pans etc., but now the town has undergone something of a revival as an artisan town with specialist shops like potteries and so on.

Visit the Tourist Office: http://www.villedieu-les-poeles.fr/index.htm

There is a  museum for Normandie style furniture -  virtual link here https://my.octopus3d.com/tour/5985aa79     

The actual museum is in the town centre at Meuble Norman 9 rue du Reculé - 50800 Villedieu-les-Poêles   Tél. : 02 33 69 33 44

Visit this internet site for a history of the town and lots of useful information:

http://www.villedieu-les-poeles.fr/histoire-ville.htm

Also, Musée de la Poeslerie et Maison de la Dentellière at 25 rue du Général Huard - Cour du Foyer - 50800 Villedieu-les-Poêles

Tél. : 02 33 69 33 44   

  

This museum has regional lace displays.  Lace is still produced at the lace making school in the town, and it is possible to take lessons to learn dentelle aux fuseaux (bobbin lace).  I myself learned bobbin lace and needle lace at the Conservatoire de Dentelle in Bayeux, and it was a very rewarding skill to learn - whilst also keeping a huge part of Norman culture alive.  I will do a post on lace making in the future.

Visit: http://www.villedieu-les-poeles.fr/ecole-dentelle.htm

Here is a link to all of the museums in the town:

http://www.museesvilledieu.sitew.com/Nos_musees.C.htm

It is possible to visit the bell making foundry (La Fonderie) in the town - here is the link to their website:

http://cornille-havard.com/

As for dining - lots of establishments here from crepes to haute cuisine and food to suit all price ranges and tastes.  The main street is a really pleasant place to visit - plenty of interesting shops and buildings - lots of cafes to sit at and take in the ambiance and a rather magnificent town hall (Hotel de Ville).  Everywhere you will see evidence of the history of the town - copper features on many buildings.

Here are some photographs to whet your appetite:

town centre

The following photographs were taken in August 2022 by my friend Liz Yates who has given her permission for them to be reproduced here:

There are lots of B&B (chambres d'hotes), hotels and gites in the area for a prolonged stay.  There are nearby campsites and an aire for motor homes (camping cars).  

The coast at Granville is about a 30 min drive and en route there is a zoological park - at Champrepus   https://www.zoo-champrepus.com/

Looking for gite accommodation - check out Gites des Jonquilles run by a British family http://gitesdesjonquilles.com/

Above all - have fun!