La Hoguette, La Basse Normandie 14700

A listed 14th-century monastic guesthouse, with almost 2 hectares of grounds in the Falaise region, on the borders of Normandy. Located in La Hoguette, the former Cistercian abbey of Saint-Andr-en-Gouffern was founded by Guillaume Talvas in 1130. In the 13th century, the monastery's growth was boosted by its vast estate, which included vineyards, saltworks and mills. Its influence extended over the entire region. Today, some fine remnants of the complex remain, bearing witness to its former splendour, such as its monastic guesthouse. From the centre of the village, a small road winds for 2 km, lined with meadows and woods, leading to a wooden gate flanked by stone pillars topped with decorative finials. This gate opens onto the wooded grounds, revealing the guesthouse, dating from the early 14th century. The gothic edifice has been painstakingly restored, retaining its ribbed vaults. At the edge of the park, there are a coach house and a former lodging. On the opposite side, a pedestrian gate leads to a path through a wood with a pond. The estate also includes a barn and its meadow, surrounded by a wall, around 100 m from the main house. The guesthouse overlooks a rolling, green landscape fringed with woodlands, where the Trane-Feuilles stream gently burbles.