The Domaine de la Désirée hosts weddings, company seminars, birthdays and family gatherings for 20 to 150 guests in its main hall, with a covered annex, a large terrace and 55 beds on site. The estate is hired privately, usually for a weekend, and sits among orchards in Saint-Désir, on the heights above Lisieux in the Calvados.
Seminars and company events
The owners list seminars and team activities among their services, and the estate suits a residential team weekend or a company retreat. The main hall takes a plenary session for up to 150 people and can be split in two for workshops. The annex gives a second room for a smaller group, and the whole team can sleep on site in the three gîtes. A 25-inch screen, professional speakers and a lighting system are provided.
Team activities are on the property: padel and tennis, a three-hole mini-golf, a paintball field with equipment and organized sessions, pétanque, table tennis, football, volleyball and badminton. An indoor heated pool and a wood-fired Nordic bath help the group unwind after a working day.
Weddings and receptions
The wedding offer gives the couple exclusive use of the estate. They choose between self-managed hire and a turnkey service, with packages adjusted to the season. Optional services include catering, decoration, coordination and a DJ. A cocktail can take place on the terrace facing the Lisieux basilica, dinner in the main hall, and the guests sleep on site. The garden belvedere is a popular spot for photos.
Rooms and capacities
The Grande Salle measures 200 m² and takes 20 to 150 guests. It can be divided into two spaces, and furniture is provided and arranged to suit your plan. The hall is heated in winter and comes with a cloakroom, a billiards and table football corner, a piano and a well-equipped catering kitchen. The covered annex covers 75 to 80 m² and seats up to 50, or 80 standing, with its own bar. Both rooms open onto a terrace of more than 250 m², with garden furniture, string lights, a barbecue area and an OFYR brazier.
Accommodation
Three gîtes sleep up to 55 guests. La Longère sleeps 15, with a ground-floor bedroom and bathroom adapted for guests with reduced mobility. The Manoir sleeps 15 to 25, with two large suites overlooking the basilica, a lounge with fireplace, a dining room for 25 and a home cinema. Le Pressoir sleeps 16. Extra beds, cots and high chairs are available.
Catering
The estate can arrange a caterer on request and also organizes barbecue or spit-roast meals on site. The main hall has a fully equipped catering kitchen, so you can also bring the caterer of your choice. The owners share a list of tested local suppliers, from caterers and event planners to bakers and producers.
History and setting
The estate stands on the heights of Lisieux, surrounded by a large Normandy orchard where horses, cows and sheep roam. It looks across to the Basilica of Sainte-Thérèse. The setting is quiet, with no close neighbors, yet shops are five minutes away. Leisure facilities include a 9 by 4 meter indoor pool heated to 28°C all year, the wood-fired Nordic bath, a large garden, a children's playground, billiards, game consoles, karaoke and a library.
Getting there
The address is Chemin Wicart, 14100 Saint-Désir. Lisieux station is close by, with regular trains putting Paris about 1 hour 45 away, and the Normandy coast is about 30 minutes by road. The private car park below the property holds more than 60 vehicles.
