After a day of visiting the war sites, we were ready for some peaceful countryside. Kristen explored the rural area near our B&B on horseback, riding along the prickly hedgerows, sometimes too close. Ouch! Jerry and I went off in search of the history of the nearby area.
We found the 17th century chateau of Balleroy, the name from Bois le Roi, King’s woods. Mansard (of roof fame) designed the chateau and the neighboring town for the King’s Chancellor. The backyard is a lovely forest with ancient trees and walking paths. The place is now owned and being restored by capitalist near-royalty, the family of Malcolm Forbes.
Going back in time even more, we explored the 11th-century abbey at Cerisy-le-Foret. Parts of it were in picturesque ruins, but the church was intact and was, in fact, being used for a wedding. We enjoyed hearing the church bells as we walked the exterior and marveled at the intricacy and variety of the stonework.
There are many beautiful walking paths here that we did not have the time to take. We’ll have to come back.