Normandy

The green, flowered Normandy countryside stretches between the sea and hedged farmland, and provides marine, urban and country pleasures all at once.

Its coastline stretches from the famous monastery island of Mont-Saint-Michel in the West, passing the Cote de Nacre where thousands of Allied troops poured ashore in the closing stages of World War II, on to the chalky cliffs and long sandy beaches of the Côte d'Albatre, and finishing at the ultra modern seaside town of Le Treport in the East. This beautiful coastline became a kind of open-air studio for Impressionist painters during the mid and late 19th century.

Inland it is a lush, pastoral region of half-timbered manor houses and apple orchards providing the famous cider and calvados brandy; and contented cows grazing in the deep green grass providing the rich cream, butter and cheeses such as Camembert and the heart-shaped Neufchatel.

Other highlights include Bayeux, where the story of William the Conqueror’s invasion of England is told in detail by the town's famous tapestry; Monet's garden at Giverny which is on the wooded banks of the Seine as it meanders from Paris to Le Havre; the Medieval city of Rouen where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake; and the pretty fishing ports such as Honfleur and Dieppe.

 

Upper Normandy

Upper Normandy – or Haute Normandie – is that region which surrounds the lower Seine River valley just before the river enters the English Channel (or, for the French, La Manche). The Seine dissects the region in two, and these two halves all but correspond to the two Departments that make up Upper Normandy: Seine Maritime to the north of the Seine River and Eure which is to the south of the river...READ MORE

 

Seine Maritime - Forges les Eaux. This delightful spa town has pretty lakes and woodland walks, a smart Casino (very popular with Parisians as it is only 70 miles from Paris and open every night until 5am), a Club Med with health spa (daily membership is available for the gym, pool, sauna and various thalassotherapy seaweed treatments), fishing, tennis, and an indoor/outdoor pool, as well as a selection of restaurants, bars and a weekly market....READ MORE

 

Lower Normandy

Lower Normandy is one of the most accessible parts of France. It is split into three departments, Manche, Orne and Calvados. The Manche department is surrounded on three sides by the English Channel (La Manche). Boasting 350km of coastline, Manche has a wealth of interesting places to visit, but the jewel in the crown is the spectacular Mont St Michel...READ MORE

 

Alençon is the capital of the Orne in Lower Normandy, close to the border with the Sarthe department. The ancient streets, medieval buildings, gift shops, chocolatiers, markets and parks of the old town should not be missed. You can even follow a discovery route with an ‘autoguide’ commentary in English or French; headphones and map are available from the Office de Tourisme. This is housed in the 'Maison d'Ozé', former home of the dukes of Alençon, close to the spectacular gothic Church of Our Lady and the cobbled market square...READ MORE

 

Carteret: Only 20 miles from Cherbourg ferry port and on the west coast of the peninsular, is the resort of Carteret, in the department of La Manche. The coast of Carteret has a micro-climate that is protected by the Channel Islands and warmed by the Gulf Stream, making it an ideal holiday destination...READ MORE

 

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