Our pick of 8 gîtes in northern France, perfect for embracing the slow life
Sawday's Expert
5 min read
The magic of a gîte holiday stems from life’s simple pleasures. We slip into life lived at a slower pace: browsing markets for regional cheese, gently rolling down country lanes on two wheels, and breathing in deep lungful's of sea-air on relaxed coastal walks. We've selected 8 gîtes in northern France that are perfect for embracing the slow life, each personally inspected by a Sawday’s expert and offering an unhurried base for living well, eating locally and exploring at your own speed.
Sawday’s France expert Nicky deBouille has helped shape this selection, drawing on years spent exploring northern France and staying with owners who know their patch inside out.
Le Domaine de Courances, Essonne
Staying within the grounds of Château de Courances feels like stepping gently out of everyday life. Choose from five light-filled houses, each with its own outdoor space, and spend days wandering the famous gardens, circling lakes and tree-lined avenues, or pedalling into the Forest of Fontainebleau. Cooking is easy and unrushed, with space to linger over meals. You’re close enough to Paris for a day trip, but it’s the quiet rhythms of the estate, morning walks and long afternoons outdoors that define the pace here.
Villa Rosehill, Vernon, Eure
This elegant townhouse lets you live slowly right in the heart of Vernon. Start mornings with croissants from the bakery, browse the lively weekly market, then wander along the Seine or cycle sections of La Seine à Vélo. The garden is a calm retreat, shaded by magnolias, with space for long lunches and evenings outdoors. Inside, the house is generous and comfortable, ideal for gathering friends or family. With the train station a short walk away, you can leave the car behind and travel lightly.
Le Sémaphore de Lervily, Finistère
Life slows naturally at this former lighthouse keeper’s cottage, perched above the Atlantic. Days revolve around coastal walks on the GR34, beach swims, watching surfers and following the light across the sea. Pick up croissants in the nearby village, seafood in Audierne, then retreat to cook, read or simply watch the waves roll in. Evenings are for the fire pit or the wood-burner, with nothing on the agenda but wind, weather and stars. It’s wild, elemental and wonderfully absorbing.
La Grange d’Isidore, Côtes-d’Armor
This modern barn conversion on an organic farm is made for slow, food-led stays. Days begin with a breakfast basket, herbs picked from the garden and children collecting eggs, and end with barbecues and sundowners by the glasshouse. There’s space to spread out, play and relax, with beaches a short drive away if you fancy a change of scene. Owners Liz and Corentin’s love of good food runs through everything, making this an easy, nourishing place to settle in and stay put.
La Loge de l’Armateur, Côtes-d’Armor
This characterful apartment overlooks the tidal Rance and encourages an unhurried way of being. Watch boats drift past at breakfast, wander riverside paths, or paddleboard and sail straight from nearby slipways. Inside, heritage details and soft comforts make it tempting to stay in, while the well-stocked village nearby means everything you need is close at hand. Evenings are for good food, local cider and changing light on the water. A quietly romantic base for exploring Brittany at its gentlest pace.
Château Côte de Nacre, Calvados
Set within landscaped gardens, this château offers the rare mix of countryside calm and village life. Walk into town for pastries, cycle to the beach, then return for afternoons in the garden or time in the small spa with its indoor pool and sauna. Apartments are light, spacious and well-equipped, making self-catering feel effortless. With hens to visit, goats in the woods and barbecues by the lake, it’s an easy place for families or friends to slip into a slower, outdoorsy rhythm.
Villa Pier’Art, Trouville-sur-Mer, Calvados
Tucked into a peaceful hillside estate above the coast, this contemporary villa offers space to properly slow down together. Days drift between the heated pool, terrace lunches and quiet moments in shady corners of the garden, with the sea just visible beyond the trees. Interiors are generous and comfortable, designed for long stays rather than hurried breaks. When you’re ready to venture out, beaches, markets and restaurants are close by, but the real pleasure lies in lingering at home, stretching time and doing very little at all.
Gîte de la Motte Féodale, Eure
This former hunting lodge sits quietly within two acres of historic countryside, where birdsong and grazing sheep set the pace of the day. Indoors is all space and elegance, with fires to read by and long tables for unhurried meals. When the weather turns, retreat to your private spa with pool and jacuzzi; in summer, life spills out onto the terrace for barbecues and big-sky views. Borrow bikes, walk to nearby villages for bread, or simply stay put and enjoy the deep calm of the setting.
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Nicky deBouille
Sawday's Expert
Nicky has gone from roots in the mountains of New Zealand to her home in an 18th century merchant’s house on the banks of the Loire. Armed with an eccentric soundtrack from Bach to Radiohead via Beirut and Herbie Hancock, she goes on the road for weeks at a time, in search of new special places. What matters most to her is connecting with the owner, because it’s the person that creates the place. She loves that she can give them an alternative to booking.com, and they love the fact that she’s “gone native”.
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