Bed and breakfast accommodation in Lisieux Monasteries

Just outside Lisieux, the magical château of Saint-Germain-de-Livet which dates back to the 1400s. It has a fine group of buildings typical of the county, with the timber-framed manor and the 16th century residence in glazed brick and stone, a corner tower, moat, lake and beautiful gardens. Inside, the castle is as much a museum as a castle and holds an extensive range of furnishing and paintings, particularly of the 19th century.

After the Second World War, which significantly influenced the city, the reconstruction work helped to develop an exceptional heritage. From the timbered houses, to the gardens, to the manors are demonstrating a rich and intense history. And the enchanting home of the History and Art museum of Lisieux maps out the story of the city from Roman times to the present day, a very detailed insight through the history. 

And there is more, as Lisieux is very deep in the Calvados AOC, you will be able to see how this delectable apple brandy is made. You will have the choice between a few domains to pick for your tour, and naturally you will get to taste the calvados at the end. 

Events 

In July and August, the Sanctuary organises a one day pilgrimage tour in Lisieux. This 3 hours long pedestrian tour links every Theresian site in the city center : Basilica, Cathedrale, House of Les Buissonnets and Carmel. Departures are every day from the Basilica at 2pm (even at 10/07 and 15/08). Free tour. No need to book.

Access by train

The Garde de Lisieux is the main train station for the town, and is offering a direct connection to Paris Saint-Lazare every day. But the station is also served by Caen, Cherbourg and Trouville-Deauville. 

Access by plane 

There is no airport in Lisieux, the closest airports will be in Paris. There is no direct bus from Paris to Lisieux. However, there are trains departing from Paris CDG Airport and arriving at LISIEUX: clemenceau via LE HAVRE: gare routière. 

How to get around Lisieux? 

It is very easy to get around Lisieux, everything can be done by walking. However if you wish to visit the surroundings, you can always get the bus to take you to the sea or other towns. 

The Basilica of Lisieux was built in Saint-Thérèse honour, it is the second most-visited pilgrimage site in France with more than two millions visitors a year. Saint-Thérèse was a Roman Catholic French Carmelite nun greatly loved in our modern times. She is prominently known as "The Little Flower". She has been a persuasive model of sanctity for Catholics and others because of the straightforwardness and reasonableness of her way to deal with the otherworldly life. Thérèse felt an early call to religious life, and in 1888 at the early age of 15, she turned into a nun in the cloistered Carmelite community of Lisieux. After nine years as a Carmelite religious, she passed away of tuberculosis at 24 years old. Her feast day is on October 1. 

The home of Sainte-Thérèse « les Buissonnet » is a lovely 18th century property in Lisieux, Thérèse used to live there from the age of 4 to 15 years old. A few possessions and the statue memorialising when she asked to join the Carmelite Couvent can be checked at. 

Still to follow Therese trail, you will be thrilled to know that she used to come to pray at the Cathedral of Lisieux, it is one of the only monuments to have come through the war without bad damage. The Norman Romanesque and Gothic building has got inside very high vaults in the knave, which are similar at the Notre-Dame in Paris. 

Saint-Thérèse's last home was the Carmel Couvent, where she remained until she passed away in 1897 at just 24 years old. The place is still occupied by Carmelite nuns, but there is also an exhibition about Thérèse and a chapel to visit her reliquary.