Vegetarian in Normandy – A Personal Guide to Plant-Based Travel 🌿🥖

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First published: October 2025

When I first bought our farmhouse in La Manche over a decade ago, being vegetarian in Normandy was… tricky. Normandy is the meat and dairy capital of France, famous for creamy sauces, pork dishes, and camembert by the wheel. Telling a restaurant you were vegetarian often led to a puzzled look and the suggestion of fish or chicken. But things have changed — and now it’s easier than ever to enjoy a vegetarian or vegan holiday in Normandy.

For the record: Lee is a complete carnivore — so between us, we cover all dietary bases!

🛒 Supermarket Options for Vegetarians & Vegans

All major supermarkets in Normandy now stock a decent selection of vegetarian and vegan products, including:

Carrefour & Intermarché: Their in-house veggie ranges include burgers, falafel, tofu, and dairy-free options.
Leclerc: Offers a growing range of vegan cheeses (including a not-bad vegan Camembert!), plant milks, meat alternatives, and even ready meals.
Biocoop: A good organic store with lots of vegetarian-friendly products and fresh produce.
Picard: Frozen food store with surprisingly good vegetarian and vegan ready meals.

🍽️ Eating Out as a Vegetarian in Normandy

While Normandy may not yet rival Paris for plant-based dining, the region has adapted well. Most restaurants now offer a vegetarian dish — often a veggie burger, pasta, or salad. Some restaurants are even happy to go off-menu if you ask in advance.

Important tip: Rather than saying you are “végétarien” or “végétalien”, it’s better to be specific about what you do and don’t eat. In France, “vegetarian” can still be interpreted as including fish, seafood, or poultry. To avoid surprise prawns or ham, I now clearly explain: “Je ne mange pas de viande, pas de poisson, pas de fruits de mer.”

📞 Our Help with Restaurant Bookings

We’re always happy to help by calling restaurants in advance to ask about vegetarian or vegan options. Many chefs are willing to prepare something tailored, but only if they have time to plan. Let us know your preferences and we’ll help you eat well!

🌱 Recommended Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants

Auberge de Brothelande (Nicorps) – They’ve recently added a lovely vegetarian burger (maybe because we kept asking!). The sauce du chef can be veganised on request.
Les Pipelettes (Coutances) – Next to the Jardin des Plantes. Cosy tea room and café with seasonal veggie dishes and lots of charm.
La Table du Hameau Guilbert (Coutances) – High-quality seasonal cuisine. Offers decent vegetarian options.
There are Crêperies in most small towns, which offer great options for vegetarians. Our recommendation is La Crêperie Les Roches de Ham (near Condé-sur-Vire - about 30 minutes drive from the gîte) has an excellent selection and a view to die for!.

🏡 Vegetarian Food at Our Gîte

Looking for a vegetarian- and vegan-friendly cottage in Normandy? Then you've come to the right place!

When you stay at our self-catering accommodation in Normandy France, we’re always happy to tailor food offerings to suit your needs.

Whether it's our welcome meal, our hot meal delivered to your cottage, our breakfast basket or our picnic baskets, let us know your dietary requirements in advance and we will be happy to accommodate you, whether you are vegetarian, vegan, coeliac or anything else.

Want to cook for yourself? No problem: the kitchen is fully equipped and we'll show you where to find the best fresh produce in the area.

📈 The Rise of Vegetarianism in France

France is changing. While it once lagged behind in plant-based options, today there are more vegetarians in France than ever before. Cities like Caen, Rennes and Paris now feature fully vegan cafés, while countryside areas are embracing veggie options, especially in tourist towns.

Being a vegetarian in France no longer means choosing between salad and bread. With a little planning, you can enjoy Normandy cuisine without compromising your values — and you might even discover some amazing local dishes along the way.

💬 Final Tips for Travelling as a Vegetarian in Normandy

✔️ Learn the key phrases for explaining what you eat
✔️ Call ahead or email restaurants — it makes a difference
✔️ Shop locally for great veggie produce (especially cheese!)
✔️ Keep an eye out while driving — many local farms sell seasonal fruit and veg directly from their gates at great prices
✔️ Ask us for help — we’re happy to recommend or assist

📍 Based in Nicorps, Manche – A Veg-Friendly Base

Our gîte is located near Coutances in the scenic La Manche region of Normandy. It’s a great base for exploring Normandy tourist attractions, and we’ll make sure your Normandy holiday is just as satisfying for your tastebuds as it is for your travel cravings.

Looking for vegetarian-friendly and vegan-friendly gites in Normandy France? You’ve found one!