Mindful remote workers and creatively curious guests seeking a calm, slow-paced coastal Norman retreat with artisanal woodworking experiences, homemade organic cuisine, and a family-friendly atmosphere.
Owner-carpenter Jean teaches hands-on woodworking sessions open to colivers, families, and children, offering a rare creative skill-building experience where guests craft their own personal projects.
A beloved weekly Sunday buffet of entirely homemade, locally-sourced Norman dishes enjoyed by both colivers and the wider community, repeatedly described as a highlight of the stay.
The coliving sits just a 5-minute walk from the Norman coast, with beautiful beaches, cycling trails, and historically significant D-Day sites creating an exceptionally rich local environment to explore.
A beautifully renovated Norman farmhouse filled with artisanal wooden details handcrafted by owner-carpenter Jean, giving the space a warm, authentic character that guests consistently describe as unforgettable.
Ratings are AI-generated only from recent and detailed reviews.
Les Briques is a beach coliving in Lion-sur-Mer, Normandy, combining four spaces: coliving, coworking, tea room, and wood studio. Located 500m from the sea and two hours from Paris, it features eleven custom-made wooden cabins inspired by boat couchettes and Japanese capsule hotels, housed in a fully renovated old farmhouse with special attention to design and atmosphere using raw materials and wood.
Les Briques was imagined and created by a family of six — Jean, Katia, and their children — with no outside investors behind the project.
The founding vision was to build a multi-faceted space that respects environmental commitments while providing a unique living and working experience. From the outset, the team made deliberate choices to minimize environmental impact: they chose a location in town rather than an isolated countryside spot, so residents could walk or cycle daily without needing a car. Rather than building new, they renovated an existing old farmhouse, preserving the beautiful stone walls and roof structure while adding modern amenities.
The project involved two years of comprehensive renovation work — exterior insulation, electricity, plumbing, roofing, and garden landscaping — resulting in 240 m² of new spaces. Bio-sourced materials made in France were selected for insulation, and wood-fired masonry stoves were installed for heating. All interior furnishings were custom-made, mostly crafted in the on-site wood lab, surrounded by original raw materials like stone walls and visible frames.
The idea for the coliving itself came through Basile, one of the children, who discovered the concept while traveling around Europe by train as a digital nomad, frustrated by pollution and distance from nature in the Paris region.
The community plays a central role at Les Briques. Every Monday evening at 7pm, there is a family meeting where everyone introduces themselves and organizes the week — colivers propose activities and outings, and interested residents sign up.
Every Saturday evening features a family dinner where everyone gathers for a friendly meal together. Every week there are also one or two skillshares, where a coliver presents a topic important to them, followed by a discussion — an opportunity to discover new things and share passions.
Tolerance and inclusion are fundamental values at Les Briques. Nothing is mandatory, and everyone is free to live their life, while improvised aperitifs, picnics on the beach, and lively discussions around the foosball table are all part of the experience. The attention to design and ambiance, along with the proximity to the sea, create an environment conducive to concentration, slow living, and inspiration.
Les Briques is located in Lion-sur-Mer, a charming coastal village in Normandy, just 500 meters from the sea. Reviewers describe it as a peaceful spot with a relaxed vibe, yet with enough going on — including a weekly night market on Thursdays and a community cinema facing the sea just ten minutes away. The town has a supermarket, bakery, and pharmacy all within easy walking distance.
Lion-sur-Mer sits north of Caen on the Côte de Nacre (Mother of Pearl Coast), in the heart of the historic D-Day region. Sword Beach, one of the five Normandy landing beaches, is nearby, and the broader area is dotted with memorials, bunkers, and museums commemorating the 1944 liberation. Nearby towns worth exploring include Luc-sur-Mer (seafront spa and theatre), Ouistreham (ferry port), and the historic city of Caen (30 km south).
The surrounding coastline and countryside offer a mix of natural landscapes — sandy beaches, clifftop paths, marshlands, and cycling greenways — making it equally suited to quiet focus and outdoor exploration.
How to get to Les Briques from the nearest transportation hubs:
Stays are 100% refundable up to four weeks (28+ days) before arrival.
Between two and four weeks (14–27 days) before arrival, stays are 50% refundable.
Less than two weeks (0–13 days) before arrival, stays are non-refundable.