Normandie

Haute Normandie

Upper Normandy, in northern France, has attracted in the past many impressionists like Pissaro, Boudin, Sisley and Monet. It is therefore no coincidence that every two to three years in Rouen a large festival is held around this theme, with exhibitions throughout the region: The Impressionist Normandy Festival. In the Seine Maritime, just like the Impressionists in their time, you will certainly enjoy the changing light of the sky and the sea and the chalk cliffs of the Alabaster Coast between Tréport and Le Havre.

You can make beautiful walks or bike rides along the Normandy coast. Make a stop in Dieppe, the most important port for Noix de Saint-Jacques, or Fécamp, where you can enjoy delicious shellfish and seafood. A Fécamp, you can also taste the "Benedictine" liqueur named after the abbey in which it was once crafted. Do not forget to admire the Aiguille and the Rocher de l’Eléphant in Etretat. Seine Maritime is also very attractive for water sports enthusiasts. You can especially enjoy sailing, sea kayaking, surfing or kite-surfing here. In Eure, the landscape is very different: vast plateaus and plains, forests and wide valleys. As you walk through these beautiful landscapes, you will discover the half-timbered houses, characteristic for this region. Château Gaillard is located near Les Andelys on the banks of the Seine. This part of the Upper Normandy is very nice for bike rides. It even has a 43.5 km bike trail that runs along the old railway line Evreux-Bec Hellouin, between Paris and Honfleur.

Finally, do not forget to visit Evreux, cathedral and abbey where the monks of Bec made beautiful pottery. The small town of art and history of Bernay is also worth visiting.

Basse Normandie

You can reach the north of the region by crossing the impressive Normandy Bridge over the Seine. The extraordinary light on the Normandy coast was represented by many Impressionist painters in their various subjects: marine, cliffs, landscapes, but also the seaside resort Deauville, known for its horse racing, and fisherman’s villages such as Trouville and Honfleur.

The area is also famous for the many testimonies of the Second World War which can be found there. Along the Landing Beaches (Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, Gold Beach, Sword Beach, and Juno Beach), you can visit many bunkers, memorials, and museums, such as Atlantikwall Ouistreham. Bayeux, the capital of Calvados and founded by the Celts, was one of the first towns liberated on D-Day. It is known for its Gothic cathedral and the tapestry on which is represented the invasion of England by William the Conqueror and the Battle of Hastings. If you want to spend a day in town, we recommend a visit to Caen, capital of the region. You can visit abbeys, castles, and museums, but you will also find many shops. In the Marais Park of Corentin and Bessin, you can admire the traditional houses made of clay and a variety of birds.

Mont Saint-Michel is located near the coast in the Manche department. At night it is beautifully illuminated. This rocky peninsula with its abbey can be reached within a short walk. In the Orne department, you will see the green hills, orchards, and half-timbered houses. This is where the Camembert, the cider, and Calvados are made. Normandy is also the largest producer of butter in France. If you want to cross the ocean, you can take the ferry to Carteret or Dielette. In an hour and a half, you can reach the British Isles Guernsey and Jersey. And if you want to make a longer trip, you can even travel to Ireland from Cherbourg.