Manor houses in Normandy

The Pays d`Auge is a region of undulating woodland and lush meadows in Normandy, famous for its cheeses. It extends almost to the River Orne in the west, brushes the departements of the Eure in the east, and embraces almost a third of Calvados. It is also a treasure-house of architectures, in which the manor houses rank among its best-kept secrets. Built of timber or brick and stone, as medieval country houses or aristocratic mansions, they number several hundred. Some are surprisingly small, some are quite grandiose. What they share is a spellbinding charm and astounding architectural quality.