Bed and breakfasts to preserve the heritage of Bessin

Mayor of Vierville, Mr. de Bellaigue defended a tourist development respectful of the character of the village and its two and a half kilometers of coastline. He preferred to limit new constructions and improve the reception in existing buildings, including a few kilometers from the sea. The population, of 255 inhabitants in ordinary times according to the article, increased tenfold during the summer.

Since 1973, he himself offered guest rooms in his 16th century mansion. After the departure of his children, part of the house had become available, while the riders of the equestrian center were looking for accommodation and the municipality lacked reception capacity. Four rooms, including one of fifty square meters, now received summer visitors.

This income contributed to the maintenance of the mansion. Mr. de Bellaigue stressed that old agricultural residences no longer always corresponded to modern exploitation methods: their transformation into bed and breakfasts or cottages could avoid their abandonment while limiting the construction of new buildings.

He also insisted on the links between visitors and residents. In his eyes, the stay in the countryside allowed city dwellers to find an art of living, to make friends and to better understand the difficulties of the rural world. Other owners were already following this path: Mr. Ringott in Amblie, Mr. Petit in Colleville, Mr. Leroy in Commes, Mr. Ver Ecke in Crépon and Mrs. Bouvier in Neuilly-la-Forêt. The article is signed Yvon Lechevestrier.

Reconstructed or uncertain passages:
- The title speaks of four years of reception, the body of five years since 1973; the opening date alone is retained.
- The newspaper writes "Vomissel" for the mansion and the equestrian center.
- The final note giving an example of room price is cut; no rate has been reconstituted.

Archive image: https://vierville.cordelle.eu/PhDoc10/1978Avril20-HistTour.jpg