Our Gourmet weekends were a great success - we plan to offer them again in Autumn 2023. If this is of interest. Please contact us and once we have details we will contact you. 

This Autumn we are offering 4 night "Weekend Gourmand" breaks staying at La Martinière.

Staying in our luxury barn renovation, you will have the opportunity to find out how some of the produce of

Normandy and Mayenne are produced plus a chance to discover this region of France.

Included in the weekend break is dinner at the Michelin* Restaurant L'Auberge de la Mine.

WEEKEND GOURMAND 2022 - Is for parties of Four guests (each couple staying in either L'Hirondelle or La Huppe) 

4 Nights Accommodation: Thursday to Sunday Night inclusive.

The Weekend package is for 2 couples to travel and enjoy their time together.

4 Night Weekend Dates:

20th - 23rd October    -    27th - 30th October    -    10th -13th November    -    17th - 20th November

                                ALL RESERVED                                                  

Each of our 4 Night Weekend Gourmand includes:

Accommodation in either L'Hirondelle or La Huppe.

On arrival you will receive our welcome box including wine, bottled water, chocolates, coffee pods, fruit etc.

The wood burner in each gîtes will have been lit making your gîte nice and cozy for your arrival. 

Each morning breakfast is included and chosen from our menu card the night before. With a choice of Petit-Déjeuner Français and or a Cooked Breakfast, Charcuterie, Fruit, Cereals etc.  

Weekend Gourmand Itinerary:

THURSDAY:

Travel and Arrive in the evening - We will welcome you to La Martinière and after settling in will serve you a light supper in your gîte:

A homemade Normandy Duck Cottage Pie serve with a fresh mixed salad and a dessert from our local patisserie. 

FRIDAY:

Friday morning - Breakfast 08h30 before departing to visit .....

Friday morning - Visit an Artisan Cheese maker and discover how a selection of cheeses are made and aged.

After your tour you will have the chance to taste a selection of the cheeses   1 hour drive from La Martinière

Friday afternoon - Visit a Calavados and Cider producer - Calvados Lemorton - See the orchards and discover how Didier and Martine produce their Cider, Calvados and Pommeau. After the tour your chance to try a variety of their products. 15 mins drive from La Martinière

Friday evening - 4 course dinner served to you at La Martinière. Pre-dinner drinks, starter, main course, cheese and dessert. 

Lunch is not provided but we can recommend restaurants offering their daily Plat du Jour or provide you with a picnic to enjoy.  

These visits are self-drive - Full directions will be given to you. 

Both the Cheese and Cider Tour will be in English and exclusively for your party of 4.

SATURDAY:

Saturday morning - Breakfast 09h00 before departing to visit .....

Visit the food market at Fougères in Brittany. Enjoy a coffee in the Café de Paris with the locals, before wandering around the market viewing a variety of stalls offering vegetables, meats, seafood, cheese, pasta, bread and pastries etc.

If you wish after strolling through the market, you can take a walk through the botanical gardens and visit the medieval castle. 30 mins drive to Fougères.

Saturday evening - Enjoy dinner at the Michelin * Restaurant L'Auberge de la Mine - Enjoy the 8 course Taster menu prepared by Chef Hubert Nobis.

Drinks at L'Auberge de la Mine are not included - Chef Nobis has selected wines to compliment the 8 course menu and is available for 32€ per person or choose from their Wine list. 

Drinks and wines are payable directly to the restaurant.

Visit to Fougères market is self-drive. Lunch is not provided but we can recommend restaurants offering their daily Plat du Jour. There is a charge to enter the castle.  

A Taxi is included to drive you to L'Auberge de la Mine and return you after your dinner to La Martinière - 30 mins. taxi ride each way. 

SUNDAY:

Sunday morning - Breakfast at any time you wish. ( A Day of Discovery )

A chance for you to discover and enjoy the region. La Martinière is located in Northern Mayenne, but bordering both Normandy and Brittany.

Perhaps you may like to visit the coast for some sea air or enjoy a countryside walk. We can discuss your options and make recommendations to you.

Our suggestions are either to visit the famous Mont St. Michel in Normandy.  To reach this UNESCO Heritage site there is a 2km walk along the causeway or you can take the courtesy bus to reach Mont St.Michel. Another suggestion is to visit the beautiful medieval walled city of St. Malo - discovering its narrow streets and take a walk around the battlements.

If you like the freshest of sea food, perhaps a visit to Cancale on the Brittany coast, famous for its oysters and mussels.

We can discuss the options with you to enable you to choose where you would like to go. Lunch can be enjoyed in either of these locations.

Either of the suggested places are just over an hours drive from La Martinière or for country walks, Helen can recommend a number of river/forest walks.

Sunday evening - A light supper in your gîte - Homemade Normandy Onion Soup followed by a platter of Charcuterie, Cheese and Fruit. 

These visits are self-drive - Full directions will be given to you. Lunch is not provided but we can recommend restaurants.

MONDAY:

Monday morning - Breakfast before departing for home.

Depending on your ferry departure point and sailing time. You may have time to visit some of the D-Day sites on the north Normandy coast. 

Price: For 4 People ( 2 couples ) Total € 1800     € 450 per person     £ 380 per person @ 1.18€/£

Price includes all as above ( unless otherwise stated ) - Travel to La Martinière is not included. 

Guest Taxe de Sejour is not payable in Mayenne

Places are limited as only 4 weekends available. If you wish to make a reservation for our Weekend Gourmand or to ask any questions or have any requests, please contact us by email at contact@gitesmayenne.fr or telephone us +33 (0)2 43 03 30 62.

No Deposit is required to make your reservation. However any reservation cancelled within 14 days of your confirmed arrival date will incur a cancellation charge of €100 per person. This cancellation charge is by gentleman's agreement should you need to cancel.

Payment is due before departure and can be made by either Visa/Mastercard, Cash or French Cheque. Invoice to be paid in €uros.

To see details of our accommodation in L'Hirondelle and La Huppe follow the links on our Home Page

We can advise you on travel to reach us - with Ferry/Chunnel options:

Shown are approx. driving times to reach us after landing in France and the fastest routes marked if requiring Péage Toll payments. 

Dover to Calais - 4h15 ( Péage Tolls )

Folkestone to Sangatte ( Chunnel) - 4h00 ( Péage Tolls )

Newhaven to Dieppe - 3h00 ( Péage Tolls )

Portsmouth to Caen/Ouistreham - 1h50 ( Toll Free )

Portsmouth to Cherbourg - 2h20 ( Toll Free )