10/10 · 29 Google reviews · Booking, Airbnb, ThirdHome

Villa in Falaise, Normandy

A rare residence in Normandy with the soul of a true family home

Built of Caen stone in the second half of the 19th century, Domaine de l’Ormeau is one of the few great houses in Falaise to have survived the destruction of 1944. Acquired by the current owner’s family in 1956, then restored over five years from 2021, the house today combines the character of a place with a century and a half of history and the comfort of a contemporary stay.

The house sleeps up to 14 guests in 7 bedrooms, ideal for two or three families or a group of friends. It stands 400 metres from William the Conqueror’s castle, in the heart of a Normandy waiting to be explored.

More about the house

What makes L’Ormeau unique

The comfort of a luxury hotel, the intimacy of a private home

High-end bedding, refined décor and linen, elegant bathrooms and porcelain tableware make for a unique experience, with every detail designed to meet the standards of a fine boutique hotel without losing the house’s personality.

A private indoor wellness area

At the heart of the property: a heated indoor pool, massage jets and a sauna. A space entirely for your exclusive use, and unique for a private house.

Remarkable grounds in the heart of Falaise

Majestic sequoias, giant thujas and century-old trees create a rare green setting, offering calm, privacy and wide open spaces right in the historic centre, with the shops and market just a few minutes' walk away.

The house’s address book

Private chef, massages, tastings of wine, cider and Normandy calvados. The team shares its favourite addresses and can advise on planning your stay.

spa & private pool

A wellness area just for you

A few steps from the house, a large glass pavilion shelters the 15-metre indoor pool, which opens onto the grounds, along with the sauna and hydrotherapy facilities. The pool is heated to 29 °C from April to October and is reserved exclusively for L’Ormeau’s guests. After a day on the D-Day beaches, in the Pays d’Auge or in the Suisse Normande, this is often where everyone gathers before dinner.

DISCOVER THE POOL AND SPA

a villa in Normandy

The luxury of a private estate, the freedom of a house that moves to your rhythm

A whole private estate, all to yourselves

L’Ormeau welcomes only one group at a time. Throughout your stay, the seven bedrooms, the drawing rooms, the grounds and the wellness area are entirely yours. Life here follows your own rhythm, as in a family home, with no other guests to share the place with.

The quality and service of a high-end hotel

Bedding and household linen chosen with the same care as the furniture and objects in the house. Private chef, breakfasts, tastings or massages are available as optional extras through our partners. You shape your stay as you wish, with no set package.

A base for exploring Normandy

Falaise puts L’Ormeau at the crossroads of several Normandies. William the Conqueror’s castle is 400 m away; Caen, the Suisse Normande and the Pays d’Auge around 30 min. The nearest beach is 35 min away (Ouistreham); the D-Day beaches, Deauville and Honfleur around 1 hr; Mont-Saint-Michel 1 hr 30.

a private estate in the heart of a historic town

A morning in the two-hectare grounds, a stroll to the market or the shops in Falaise, lunch in town, then the pool before dinner. Few houses combine the space and privacy of an estate with the freedom to do everything on foot to quite the same degree.

in the press

L’Ormeau in Architectural Digest

Architectural Digest France has devoted two features to Domaine de l’Ormeau, its restoration and its interiors by interior architect and decorator Lauranne Elise Schmitt. In its Visites Privées section, the magazine looks back at the transformation of this 19th-century family home, restored over five years. A second feature showcases one of the Domaine’s bathrooms.

a manor house of understated elegance The 8 most beautiful bathrooms by interior designers the architect behind the restoration

guest reviews

In their words

    
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Edina Tanovic 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Dream vacation!!

We stayed at Domaine de l'Ormeau for a week with a group of nine adults, and it exceeded every expectation. The house is stunning: professionally designed, with beautiful antiques throughout, yet fully equipped with every modern amenity. It feels luxurious and special, like a private resort. The grounds are a highlight. The large garden gave us plenty of room to spread out, and the private pool and sauna were a treat we kept coming back to after long days of sightseeing. With nine of us, there was always space to gather or to find a quiet corner.

The location made an excellent base for exploring. We enjoyed the nearby towns of Falaise and Saint-Pierre-en-Auge, and took day trips to the cliffs of Étretat, Omaha Beach, and Mont-Saint-Michel, all manageable by car and each one memorable.

The hosts deserve special mention. Communication with the owner was easy from start to finish. We were greeted when we arrived, and a wonderful meal was prepared for an intimate anniversary celebration at the house, a thoughtful touch that made the occasion unforgettable.

We would return in a heartbeat and recommend it to anyone looking for a special stay in the beautiful countryside of Normandy, whether for a family gathering, a celebration, or a group of friends.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Ashlie Woods 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. A truly wonderful stay! The property was beautifully appointed and a perfect fit for our group. The gorgeous grounds felt like our own private park, and the pool was a huge hit with the kids. Farida, the lovely housekeeper, made our stay extra special by taking care of breakfast and most dinners. The town is charming, and the location made day trips throughout Normandy easy. We’re already hoping to return!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Stefank 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. An incredible elegant mansion with an amazing park and swimming pool in the heart of Normandy. The perfect place to recover energies and breath
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Rosanna Chifari Negri 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Una bellissima dimora . Charles un entusiasta padrone di casa sempre pronto a dare ottimi suggerimenti e  presente nel soddisfare le esigenze degli ospiti
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Manuel Sousa Pinto 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We spent 8 wonderful days at Domaine de l'Ormeau as a group of 14 across four families, and we couldn't have loved the house more. The property is spacious and absolutely full of activities to keep everyone entertained: an indoor pool, hot tub, movie and game room, and a lovely garden equipped with swings, outdoor tables, and football goals. Everything was meticulously maintained and genuinely invited us to try it out and enjoy every space.

The house is exceptionally well-equipped with thought given to every detail. From a fully stocked kitchen with more than enough tableware for a large group, to modern TVs and pristine bathrooms, we truly had everything we could possibly need for a comfortable stay.

Above all, what made our trip so special was the incredible hospitality. The owner, Charles, was constantly attentive, remarkably kind, and eager to help with whatever we needed. A huge special mention goes to Farida, who prepared phenomenal breakfasts and dinners and was always ready to fulfill our requests. Her energy, warmth, and genuine empathy made all the difference in our experience.

We could not have asked for a better place to spend a holiday with family and friends!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Mélodie Bécot 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Superbe séjour au Domaine de l’Ormeau, de très belles prestations. Merci à Farida pour son accueil et son professionnalisme!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   C Duseaux 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Magnifique séjour au domaine de l’ormeau, l’accueil, le lieu, la propreté, les équipements digne d’un hôtel de luxe. Je recommande sans hésiter. Farida et Charles sont très accueillant et plein de bon conseils pour passer un bon séjour !
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Arthur 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Un domaine d'exception, des prestations haut de gamme. Nous avons passé un super week end entre amis.
Et un grand merci à Farida qui s'occupe du petit déjeuner et du chek out (et bien d'autres choses) qui est très sympathique et pro. Bref tout est réuni pour passer un excellent moment
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Vlad Popach 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Our stay at this château was truly exceptional and easily one of our favorite family vacations we have ever taken.

The property itself is absolutely beautiful. It is clear how much care and thought have gone into preserving the character and history of the château while renovating and maintaining it to such a high standard. Everything feels incredibly special, and the setting is even more beautiful in person.

We were equally impressed by the level of hospitality throughout our stay. Everything was so well organized and thoughtfully facilitated by Charles, Jane, and Farida. We felt genuinely looked after from the moment we arrived.

Farida deserves a special mention — her cooking was impeccable. Every meal she prepared was wonderful, and the care she took of our family made the experience that much more memorable. Having her there was truly one of the highlights of our stay.

We also fell in love with the cider produced by Charles’s brother. We generally don’t drink cider at home in the United States because we find most of it too sweet, but this was completely different — easily the best cider we have ever had. We enjoyed it so much that we purchased additional bottles to bring home with us!

Charles and Jane were incredibly attentive and responsive throughout our stay, from making sure everything at the property was just right to sharing wonderful recommendations for restaurants and places to explore nearby. Their hospitality made the experience feel personal rather than simply staying at a rental property.

Most importantly, this was the kind of place where our family could truly slow down, enjoy being together, and experience the French countryside. We made memories here that we will always treasure.

We cannot recommend this property highly enough and would absolutely love to return next summer. Thank you, Charles, Jane, and Farida, for making our stay so special. It was an unforgettable experience.

video

A minute to step
into the world of L’Ormeau

Images often say more than words. This short video offers a first glimpse of the atmosphere at the Domaine de l’Ormeau: the light passing through the rooms, the sense of space in the house, the calm of the grounds and the elegance of the setting. An invitation to discover the spirit of the house before you stay.

FAQ

The questions we are asked
most often

Up to 14 guests can stay, in 7 bedrooms each with high-end bedding. It is the ideal arrangement for two or three families, or for a group of friends who want to stay under one roof.

In Falaise, Calvados, right in the historic centre: William the Conqueror's castle is 400 metres away, a five-minute walk. Caen and its Memorial are 30 minutes away, Deauville and Honfleur an hour, and Paris 2½ hours by train via Caen.

Entirely. The heated indoor pool, the hydrotherapy jets and the sauna are open only to the group staying in the house, as is the hot tub on the terrace. No other visitors, no slots to book, no set opening hours.

Yes. The house can be hired exclusively for a very intimate wedding, a family reunion, a birthday, a get-together with friends or a residential seminar, for up to fourteen overnight guests. Details of the five formats can be found on the Events page.

The house can be rented in every season, and the wellness area remains open all year. The pool is heated from April to October; in winter, the sauna, the grand drawing room and its piano, and the top-floor cinema room take over.

William the Conqueror’s castle on foot, the Suisse Normande and the Pays d’Auge 30 minutes away, the D-Day beaches an hour away and Mont-Saint-Michel an hour and a half. Our recommendations are gathered on the Destination page.

The region

Falaise, in the heart of a Normandy waiting to be explored

Falaise Castle	5 min on foot
Château de Vendeuvre	15 min
Caen & the Memorial	30 min
Suisse Normande	30 min
Pays d’Auge	30 min
Ouistreham (beach)	35 min
Cabourg	45 min

Bayeux Tapestry	45 min
D-Day beaches	1 hr
Honfleur	1 hr
Deauville · Trouville	1 hr – 1 hr 10
Mont-Saint-Michel	1 hr 30
Étretat cliffs	1 hr 30
Paris (by train via Caen)	2 hrs 30

Discover the destination