If you go to discover Deauville, Cabourg and Honfleur, don’t miss the charming little village of Beaumont-en-Auge.
Located on a hill, it has a lot of charm with its half-timbered houses and its beautiful panoramas on the surrounding countryside and the Touques valley.
Here is our guide to plan your visit: map, tips, best things to do in Beaumont-en-Auge, photos…
This review is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the area anonymously, making our own choices, and paying all our bills in full.
Why visit the village of Beaumont-en-Auge?
Is Beaumont-en-Auge worth it?
Yes, it is worth it.
This village does not have the quantity of half-timbered houses of Beuvron-en-Auge, but it still has some well preserved examples. Moreover, the village is located on a hillock with beautiful views of the countryside and the sea (the Touques valley). This village has an undeniable atmosphere and charm. A nice visit, near Deauville!
We were surprised and charmed.
Why is he famous?
The village is famous because of 2 characters of the history of France.
First, Pierre Simon Laplace was born there in 1749. He trained in mathematics at the Beaumont Military School. His exceptional scientific work is based on celestial mechanics and the calculation of probabilities. He demonstrated the stability of the solar system. Who remembers the mathematical operation called Laplace Transform?
Then, Colonel Jean-Charles Langlois. His famous paintings depict battle scenes during the Napoleonic Wars.
And, because of its charm, Beaumont-en-Auge was one of the candidates for the title of favorite village of the French in 2023.
Best things to do in Beaumont-en-Auge
After the practical tips, we will go into detail about all the places to see in the village, but for a quick answer, here is what we prefer in the village:
- Admire the panoramic view of the countryside, Deauville and the sea
- Stroll through the village and admire the half-timbered houses
- Being perplexed by the church and its different constructions
- Hike the 7 hills
- Discover the charming little stores
Tips and Map – Beaumont-en-Auge, Normandy, France
Where is Beaumont-en-Auge
- In the Calvados department
- Near Deauville
- Caen to Beaumont-en-Auge = 45min
- Rouen to Beaumont-en-Auge = 1h
- Deauville to Beaumont-en-Auge = 15min
- Honfleur to Beaumont-en-Auge = 25min
- Cabourg Beaumont-en-Auge = 25min
- Here is a map to help you find your way:
How to get to Beaumont-en-Auge
It is easier to get around the village by car.
Or, if you arrived by train in Deauville, you can take the bus or a cab (15min drive).
See available timetables and book your train and coach tickets now.
Parking in Beaumont-en-Auge
In the center of the village, you have 2 parking areas:
- next to the statue of Laplace
- and below the church
And in the adjacent streets, you can also find parking spaces.
At our last visit, the parking lots were free.
OUR ADVICE FOR RENTING A CAR IN Normandy
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is comfortable enough (distances can be long) but compact (some parking lots and villages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
Practical advice
- Walking around the village is quite easy
- Allow 1 hour to explore the village
- Signs clearly indicate historic sites and their functions or stories.
- It’s a good place to come for lunch – see the restaurant section below.
- To sleep, there is a hotel Le P’tit Beaumont, rentals and guest houses in the village – see options
- Or you can stay in nearby Deauville where you will find much more choice.
WHERE TO STAY IN Deauville
Option 1: downtown
For easy access to the beach, beautiful downtown and restaurants… We recommend..:
- Hotel Villa Augeval with its charming manor houses – see prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Le Patio for good value – see prices, photos and availability
- And for luxury, Hôtel Le Normandy is a must – see prices, photos and availability
Option 2: in the countryside
Less than 15 minutes from Deauville, you can enjoy a peaceful stay surrounded by greenery. We recommend..:
- Hotel Les Manoirs de Tourgeville – prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Les Manoirs des Portes de Deauville – prices, pictures and availability
Option 2: Trouville
On the other side of the harbor is the twin town of Trouville, also with beautiful villas but a more relaxed atmosphere. We recommend..:
- Hotel Le Flaubert, les pieds dans le sable – see prices, pictures and availability
History and half-timbered houses
A church was built in this place whose name was “Bellus mons in Algia”, which means the beautiful hill.
The priory was founded in 1060 by Robert Bertrand de Roncheville, after an alliance with William the Conqueror. Placed under the dependence of the Abbey of Saint-Ouen, it housed 12 monks and a prior.
The place prospered and the rules of the priory were relaxed. The story goes that a commissioner delegated by Pope Innocent IV had to call the priory to order because some of the monks no longer celebrated mass more than once a fortnight.
Many historic buildings are no longer there. But the village has kept its charm and beautiful colorful half-timbered houses: the old post office
Another important fact in its history is that in 1776, a Royal Military School was founded in the village by Louis XVI. A strict discipline was applied to the 180 students, future officers of the king.
The student housing buildings are now privately owned, from what we understand.
Why this name?
Beaumont-en-Auge’s name refers to its location in the Pays d’Auge, a region famous for its many half-timbered houses.
As for the term Beaumont, it is a contraction of “beau” and “mont”, because the village is located at 90m of altitude on a hillock.
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DREAM TRIP TO Normandy
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- 8 maps that make planning easier
- 160+ pre-selected locations
- Practical advice
- 300+ photos to help you choose
Panorama on the Touques valley
Beaumont culminates at 90m on a spur.
As a result, the village offers beautiful panoramas on the Touques valley.
A platform has been installed to take advantage of this.
You can admire the valley with the beautiful Normandy countryside below.
And on a clear day, you can even see the towns of Deauville and Trouville, and the sea!
Although we are from Normandy and have visited the region many times since our childhood, we were surprised!
This valley is home to the Touques, one of the Pays d’Auge’s main rivers, and its many tributaries. This river flows into the channel
The valley is wide and rich in silt. You can also see the forest of Touques Saint-Gatien (the Paysa d’Auge was once 80% wooded).
Fat grass grows in the valley, so cattle breeding has been a main activity since the 17th century. The livestock market of Beaumont-en-Auge was famous even in Paris.
Saint-Saveur Church
The village church is the priory church. It is freely accessible but the priory is now privately owned.
This church is really strange, built at different times. At first we were puzzled by it, observing it to understand the different parts and constructions.
It has indeed been deeply marked by wars, revolution and other destructions.
The tower, in the center of the transept, is square Romanesque, from the 11th century. It is covered by a pyramid-shaped frame, covered with slates.
The nave and the choir were reworked, as they were partially destroyed in 1612.
The most surprising thing is really the bell tower. It is enhanced by colored half-timbering.
This gives it a rather unique perspective, which seems almost out of time.
The underside of the tower has been taken over. Of the four pillars that support it, two appear to have been rebuilt in the 15th century and the others later. Two of the pillars have carved figures
The vaults of the transept also appear to be from the end of the 15th century.
Note the flamboyant windows at each end of the transept.
The choir is of the XIIIth century with the vaults were redone. It consists of 4 bays.
The aisles are lined with windows with flamboyant compartments.
You will also find the tombstone of Robert Bertran and his wife, founders of the monastic complex.
And above we discover 12 paintings representing the apostles.
On the chevet there is a huge five-bay window, which probably dates from the 17th century.
The stained glass windows date from 1952, the work of the painter Maurice Rocher.
DISCOVER Pays d’Auge AND ITS TOWNS
- Visit the Pays d’Auge
- Best things to do in Deauville
- Where to sleep in Deauville
- The cliffs of the black rocks
- Visit the village of Beaumont-en-Auge
- Visit Dives-sur-Mer and its market
- Visit Pont-L’Évêque
- Visit Cabourg
- Best things to do in Honfleur
- Visit the beautiful village of Beuvron-en-Auge
Laplace (birth house, statue)
In the heart of the village, don’t miss the bronze statue of Pierre-Simon de Laplace. It was made by Robert Delandre in 1932.
On its pedestal, 2 medallions represent Galileo and Isaac Newton.
Laplace was born in Beaumont in 1749, where he received his first training in mathematics at the Royal Military School. He did a titanic work on mathematical physics, celestial mechanics and probabilities.
On this same square of Verdun is his birthplace, with a commemorative plaque. It says: “Under a modest you, here was born Laplace, he who knew from Newton how to enlarge the compass, by opening a furrow in the fields of space, made yet another step there.”
Do you know that? Laplace has his name inscribed on the second floor of the Eiffel Tower, among those of 72 scientists.
Jean-Charles Langlois
The other famous character of the village is Langlois, who painted scenes of the Napoleonic wars, including the battle of Waterloo.
Unfortunately we were not so good at photographing the places that correspond to him…
You can see:
- His statue
- His birthplace
- Some of these paintings hung in the town hall
What to see in Beaumont-en-Auge: other places to note
Passage du Collège
On the Place de Verdun, we also spotted a passage under the buildings with an informative plaque that says: “on his way back from Cherbourg, on June 26, 1786, King Louis XVI passed through Beaumont-en-Auge and received the homage of the students of the military college.”
The wash house
In one of the streets leading down from the hill, you can also find a preserved wash house. This communal washhouse dates from 1841 (at least that’s the date indicated on the small sign). The inhabitants came to wash and rinse their clothes.
Charming stores
We particularly enjoyed the charming independent stores throughout the village:
- cellarman
- delicatessen
- decoration
- tapestry
- and the “country store”.
Restaurants
Beaumont once had five travelers’ hostels! This was due to its famous cattle market.
Today, you can still eat in the Auberge de l’abbaye. We find traces of it since the 17th century.
One of the interior rooms is beautiful with its beams and old fireplace.
It is now a gastronomic restaurant. It is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Otherwise, we also had a drink at the Café des Arts. We recommend the sparkling apple juice, produced in the region with late apples “Le Pré-en-Bulles”, a delight.
And the P’tit Beaumont hotel also has a restaurant.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO Normandy
Inspiration destinations
- Deciding where to go in Normandy – the best destinations
- Our weekend ideas: best-of, romantic, unusual, seaside, luxury, family
- 16 seaside hotels in Normandy
- The most beautiful charming hotels in Normandy
Best of
Practice
- Where to stay in Normandy – best places and hotels
- See our tips for renting a car at CDG airport, Orly airport, Beauvais airport, Caen, Rouen, Bayeux…
The 7 hills hike
Finally in the area offers several hikes.
The most famous is the 7 hills to discover the countryside, the panoramas and the Augeron stud farms.
It’s a 7km loop circuit that will take you 2 hours. You can enjoy it on foot or by bike.
