Originally published on September 21, 2025.
Well, show of hands—who’s still following this adventure? I know we’re at the point where you might wonder if we’re ever coming home. We are, I promise. But today we said goodbye to Rouen, a city we grew fond of, and headed toward Lisieux. Of course, we didn’t take the straight route.
Our first stop was Le Bec-Hellouin, a village so picturesque it’s on the official Most Beautiful Villages of France list. Its Benedictine abbey, founded in 1034, was once among the most influential in Normandy, and monks still live and pray there today.
Next came Les Jardins du Pays d’Auge in Cambremer. Pulling into town gave us a funny déjà vu—we realized we’d been here three years ago with April, though we missed the gardens then. Big mistake! They’re not only filled with flowers and plants, but also dotted with traditional Norman half-timbered buildings, making the place feel like a living museum.
Our final stop was the elegant Château de Beaumesnil. Built in the early 1600s in the Louis XIII style, it’s surrounded by a moat and lush parkland. With its decorative brick and stone, it feels more like a stately mansion than a fortress.
At last, we reached Lisieux, climbing our way to the top floor of a four-story walk-up AirBnB (a booking detail I clearly overlooked). Tomorrow promises another big day—time to rest these legs!
