Friday
2 pm → evening
Preparations & arrival
Your vendors arrive from 2 pm to set up the decoration. Your closest guests settle into their lodgings, enjoy the park and the covered porch, and unpack before the big day.
Friday night optional
Weddings & Private Events
Much more than a venue,
an experience
More than an estate, an experience. Full privatisation, a 1,500 m² open-air Cour d'Honneur, 82 beds, hands-on support throughout the preparation and an address book of trusted partners to build your wedding in your image.
Friday · Saturday · Sunday
Your three days at the Estate.
A wedding at the Estate is a full weekend. Privatisation is included from Friday 2 pm to Sunday 6 pm — your guests live the event from start to finish.
Saturday
The big day
Ceremony & reception
Bridal preparation in the Louis XVI Lodge or Royal Suite. Civil ceremony and welcome drink (around the HY) in the Cour d'Honneur or the park — fallback under the covered porch, in the lounge or in the Marie-Antoinette hall if the weather demands. Dinner and dancing in the Louis XVI hall, with no curfew.
Sunday
8 am → 6 pm
Brunch & farewell
Brunch in the courtyard or the park, no rush. Your guests extend the party and leave when they wish, until 6 pm.
Our commitment
The Cour des Lys experience.
“Let the history of the place carry you — and write your own.”
01
Full estate exclusivity
The entire estate, gardens and accommodation just for you and your loved ones — as if you were at home, only grander.
02
A bespoke support by Hélène
A single point of contact throughout the preparation — and an address book of trusted partners (decorators, florists, wedding planners, caterers, DJs) shared to help you, never imposed. You remain free to bring your own.
03
A tailor-made organisation
Cocktail in the courtyard, dinner in the Louis XVI hall, dancing in the Marie-Antoinette hall: each format is composed in your image.
04
A setting steeped in history
A former 18th-century coaching inn carefully restored, where every stone tells a story — and where yours takes its place.
One experience, several formats
Three ways to live the Estate.
Our method
Hands-on support from A to Z.
Planning a wedding means a hundred decisions and dozens of vendors to choose. Our role during this phase: to be your single point of contact and, if you wish, point you to trusted partners who regularly work at the Estate. No vendor is imposed — you remain in control of your project and free to choose those you want.
01
A single point of contact throughout the preparation
Hélène accompanies you from the first visit, understands your project, refines it with you, advises you on spaces, timing and configurations. She remains your single contact throughout the preparation — you never tell your story twice.
Hélène is the Estate's point of contact, not a wedding planner. For day-of coordination, you can work with a wedding planner from our address book.
02
An address book — you choose
We share an address book of trusted partners, built over the years — professionals who know the Estate, who deliver a consistent quality, and whom we recommend in good conscience. It is then up to you to choose freely those who match your project.
- · Decorators
- · Florists
- · Wedding planners
- · Caterers
- · DJs
Your family events
At the Domaine de la Cour des Lys.
Whether you are planning a dream wedding, a family celebration, a milestone birthday or any other special occasion, our estate is the perfect setting for your private events. Nestled in the heart of Normandy, in Calvados, the Domaine de la Cour des Lys offers an enchanting, serene environment that invites celebration and lasting memories.
At the Domaine de la Cour des Lys, you can privatise our different spaces in summer or winter, on weekends or weekdays. Celebrate your wedding in a place steeped in history, just 10 minutes from central Caen.
The Estate in numbers
A setting sized for your celebrations.
- 640 m²
- modular spaces
- 50 → 300
- guests · 500 cocktail
- 82
- beds on site
- 2.5 ha
- landscaped park
- 120
- parking spaces
- 10 min
- from Caen & Bayeux
Download our wedding brochure
Brochure in French
The arc of a signature day
The five stages
of your day.
Stage 01
Ceremony
Cour d'Honneur or park, depending on your vision — fallback under the porch, in the lounge or in the Marie-Antoinette hall if weather demands. Officiant of your choice.
Stage 02
Cocktail
Welcome drink in the courtyard around the fountain or under the park trees — fallback under the porch, in the lounge or in the Marie-Antoinette hall if weather demands. The 1972 HY pours the champagne.
Stage 03
Dinner
In the Louis XVI hall, dressed in your image. Caterer of your choice.
Stage 04
Dancing
Ball until the early hours in the Louis XVI hall, no curfew. DJ booth possible inside the HY.
Stage 05
Brunch
Relaxed buffet in the courtyard or park on Sunday morning. Everyone lingers, no one rushes.
Experience 01 — At the peak of elegance
Weddings at the Estate.
Offer your loved ones an enchanting stay with our 82 beds across lodgings, suites and chic dormitories. Privatise our refined spaces for your ceremonies, indoors or outdoors. The Cour d'Honneur, a true 1,500 m² open-air reception hall, anchored by its magnificent 4-metre period cast-iron fountain — centrepiece of the place and a natural backdrop for stunning photos — creates a magical bubble of joy for your cocktail. The Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette halls welcome your reception with elegance, while the estate's park, ideal for photos and civil ceremonies, adds a touch of magic to this exceptional setting.
Experience 02 — Parties, birthdays, family reunions
Private receptions.
Gather your loved ones for a magical weekend and let your imagination run free to create an event that looks like you. By privatising the spaces of the Estate, you and your guests will be wrapped in an atmosphere of celebration and serenity. Savour every moment, from the party to the rest, in this place set within time.
Experience 03 — The Estate just for you
Full privatisation.
For all weddings, full estate privatisation is systematic — not an option, not a surcharge. The entire facilities and gardens are yours, in complete privacy, as if you were at home.
From Friday 2 pm to Sunday 6 pm, the Estate, its gardens and its accommodation are entirely yours.
All included in the privatisation — Friday night remains optional if you wish to add it to your weekend.
A smart option
What if you got marriedmidweek?
A quarter of the weddings celebrated at the Estate take place midweek — and they are among the most accomplished we host. Reduced rates, vendors more available, an extended weekend format: the option is not a compromise, it is a mature choice.
−25%
On the total budget
Venue, caterer, photographer, DJ: almost all vendors apply softer off-season rates. €6,000 to €10,000 saved on a €30,000 budget.
100%
Vendors focused on you
On a Tuesday, your photographer isn't coming off a Saturday wedding nor going straight to the next. They are fresh, available and 100% focused on you. Same for the DJ, hairstylist and make-up artist.
6-9 months
Venue availability
Saturdays from June to September book two years out. Midweek, slots open up 6–9 months ahead. The estate of your dreams, without having blocked your life for 18 months.
3 days
A real stay with your guests
The format naturally invites an extended weekend: arrival Tuesday evening, wedding Wednesday, brunch Thursday morning, return Friday. Your guests live a stay with you, not a 14h-to-midnight appearance.
Our recommendation
Wednesday — that's the day with the widest vendor availability, the softest pricing, and the smoothest logistics. Tuesday works very well too (ideal for summer weddings with long evenings), and Thursday allows distant guests to flow into an extended weekend.
Amenities
Designed for the experience.
Full estate privatisation, systematic for all weddings: enjoy the entire facilities and gardens in complete privacy, as if you were at home.
An enchanting setting — our well-kept gardens, elegant halls and picturesque surroundings provide the ideal backdrop for your photos and memories.
Accessibility — close to major transport routes, our estate is easy to reach while offering the calm and tranquillity of the countryside.
Open year-round, weekdays and weekends, to enjoy the changing beauty of the seasons.
Spacious accommodation — 82 comfortable beds to offer your guests an extended stay.
Cleaning included.
Our commitment
A wedding that respects
what surrounds us.
Six concrete commitments, because an event as strong as a wedding deserves to be in harmony with the place that hosts it.
01
Restored heritage
An 18th-century coaching inn rehabilitated rather than a new build. Every wedding celebrated here keeps a place steeped in history alive.
02
Energy & soft lighting
Hydronic underfloor heating powered by a latest-generation heat pump in the large halls. LED bulbs throughout the Estate. Soft outdoor lighting at night to protect bats, insects and birds.
03
Water & resources
Rainwater harvesting for watering the park and gardens. Not a drop wasted to maintain 2.5 hectares.
04
Park biodiversity
Pesticide-free, late mowing, wildflower patches. Deadwood piles for hedgehogs, bird boxes, insect hotels in the undergrowth. A living ecosystem.
05
Accommodation & shuttles
82 four-star beds. Your guests don't get back in their car in the evening — end of party, bed 30 metres away. For those who need to leave, a return shuttle is always offered.
06
Local sourcing & zero waste
Norman partners favoured (caterers, florists, photographers). Reusable tableware mandatory — no disposable plastic. Strict anti-waste policy with caterers. Rigorous selective sorting across the Estate.
A deliberate approach without commercial certification — just choices made in line with a heritage we respect.
5 consecutive years — 2022 to 2026
Winner of the Wedding Awards Mariages.net,
five years in a row.
Every year since 2022, Mariages.net awards the wedding venues most acclaimed by the couples who married there. A recognition that cannot be bought — it is earned, review after review, wedding after wedding.
The heart of the Estate
The period fountain,signature of your ceremony.
Period cast iron · 4 metres · 10 cm safe basin
The park, setting of your day
2.5 hectares for your most beautifulcouple photos.
Our signature experience
Our 1972 Citroën HY
The detail that turns a wedding into a memory
1972. That year, this HY was driving the roads of Normandy. Fifty years later, after a careful restoration, it pours champagne in the Cour d'Honneur of our former coaching inn. A rolling piece of history, inseparable from the identity of the Estate — it never leaves the place, it is part of it.
“Your guests queue with a smile to be served a spritz at the foot of the HY while the saxophonist opens the welcome drink. At the end of the evening, that's where everyone will have posed for photos.”
The vehicle is placed wherever you tell us — in the courtyard, the park, by the hall — and you do with it what you wish:
- Champagne bar for the welcome drink
- Vintage photobooth where every shot becomes a postcard
- DJ booth for the dancing
- Backdrop for your couple photos at twilight
- Lounge space — or whatever your imagination invents
Price on request · Available exclusively at the Estate
Contact us
Témoignage
A dream estate for a dream wedding!
We have just spent a dream weekend for our wedding at the Domaine de la Cour des Lys!
Throughout the preparation, Hélène supported us with professionalism and kindness.
The estate is the ideal place to welcome your loved ones, who will enjoy magnificent lodgings and a sumptuous dormitory!
The two reception halls are perfect for hosting both the welcome drink and the reception in the same place.
The adjoining park and central courtyard are perfect for couple photos!
Our wedding would not have been the same without this magnificent estate!
Amandine & Charbel — Married 11/12/2021
Frequently asked questions
Planning your wedding at the Estate.
- Yes — this is our signature format for weddings. Full estate exclusivity is always included: the entire site, the halls, the gardens and the accommodation are reserved exclusively for you.
- The Estate adapts to every scale, from an intimate wedding to a grand celebration: from a small circle of 50 guests to 300 people for a seated dinner, and up to 500 for standing cocktails. The Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette halls flex for cocktails, dinner and dancing, while the Cour d'Honneur and the park open up for outdoor ceremonies.
- 82 beds are available on site, spread across suites, lodgings and a chic dormitory restored within the former post-house stables and inn. Beds are made, bath linen and welcome products provided.
- Yes, several options: the Cour d'Honneur, a true 1,500 m² open-air reception hall with its 4-metre period cast-iron fountain at the centre, for a chic and magical ceremony; the wooded park for a civil ceremony under the trees; or the indoor halls in case of bad weather.
- Yes, the Estate is open all year, winter and summer, weekdays and weekends. Thanks to a careful renovation and a latest-generation heat-pump system feeding hydronic underfloor heating in the large halls, comfort remains optimal in every season — even in the coldest winter, in the soft atmosphere only cooler seasons can offer.
- Throughout the preparation, you have a single point of contact at the Estate: they welcome you, advise you on spaces, timing and configurations, and share our address book of trusted partners — decorators, florists, wedding planners, caterers, DJs — who regularly work at the Estate. No vendor is imposed: this address book is shared to make your life easier; you remain entirely free to bring your own. On the day, your vendors (wedding planner, caterer) take over the coordination.
- The Estate is 10 minutes from Caen station, 10 minutes from Bayeux station, 7 minutes from Caen-Carpiquet airport and 20 minutes from the Ouistreham ferry terminal, 2h15 from Paris. Direct access via the N13 motorway, only 1 km from junction 35. It has a private free car park of 120 spaces, accessible to coaches, to make your guests' arrival easier.
- The Portsmouth-Ouistreham ferry arrives only 20 minutes' drive from the Estate — the simplest option for guests coming from the UK. They board their car the night before, cross the Channel overnight, and arrive directly at the Estate in the early morning.
- Our 1972 Citroën HY, carefully restored, is available on the day: champagne bar for the welcome drink, vintage photobooth, DJ booth or backdrop for your couple photos. It is placed wherever you wish — in the courtyard, the park, by the hall. This signature piece never leaves the Estate. Price on request.
- Yes, the Estate has a dedicated children's room where they can play freely while the adults enjoy the evening — close to the reception hall, in a safe setting. Practical for long receptions and much appreciated by parents.
- Yes. The 4-metre period cast-iron fountain at the centre of the Cour d'Honneur rests on a deliberately very shallow basin — only 10 cm of water. Children can play nearby safely, and parents can enjoy the cocktail with peace of mind.
- Yes, a dedicated caterer's pantry is provided for final plating, dressing and service. It has its own separate access for added discretion. A logistical comfort appreciated by kitchen teams, and impeccable timing for your guests.
- Yes, a 145 m² covered porch complements the outdoor spaces — ideal as a plan B for cocktails or the civil ceremony in uncertain weather, without giving up the open-air feel. In heavy rain, the Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette halls take over and flow naturally with the Cour d'Honneur.
- Neither. No vendors are imposed: you remain free to bring your own caterers, florists, photographers, DJs and wedding planners — or to choose from our address book of trusted partners who regularly work at the Estate. And no corkage fee is charged on the drinks you bring. Our role is to make your wedding easier, not to constrain it.
Getting here
Reaching the Estate.
Address
Domaine de la Cour des Lys
Les Housses, RD 613
Sainte-Croix-Grand-Tonne
14740 THUE ET MUE
Parking
Free parking for 120 vehicles, accessible to coaches. Two complimentary electric vehicle charging sockets.
By train
10 minutes from Caen station and 10 minutes from Bayeux station.
Estate shuttle available on request.
By plane
7 minutes' drive from Caen-Carpiquet airport and 1 hour from Deauville airport.
Estate shuttle available on request.
By ferry — from England
Just 20 minutes from Ouistreham port (Portsmouth-Ouistreham ferry) — the easiest option for guests travelling from the United Kingdom.
Estate shuttle available on request.
By car — from Caen
Take the N13 towards Thue et Mue. Exit 35, then head to Sainte-Croix-Grand-Tonne via the RD 613 — the Estate is only 1 km from the junction. 10 minutes from central Caen.
Office hours
Tuesday – Saturday · 8 am – 12 pm · 1.30 pm – 5.30 pm