Things to do in Normandy
Normandy has a lot to offer visitors of all kinds but it is paradise for military-history enthusiasts in particular. Many people come primarily to pay their respects to the Allied dead and tour the battlefields of World War II.
The city of Bayeaux, an ancient Viking settlement, retains its old-world atmosphere with wooden and stone buildings and cobbled streets. The surrounding area is strewn with interesting military history sites, including the famous D-Day landing beaches. In Bayeaux, visitors will also find the magnificent Tapisserie de Bayeux, which tells the story of the famous Battle of Hastings.
To chart the history of two iconic military heroes, travellers should visit the capital of Rouen, where William the Conqueror died and Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. The heart of Richard the Lionheart is entombed in the Chapelle de la Vierge as a token of his love for this city.
The region also has its share of peaceful little towns and beautiful scenery. One of the most popular villages is the picturesque old fishing town of Honfleur, which served as inspiration for some of the famous Impressionist painters. One of them was Monet and his house and garden in quaint Giverny can be explored.
Presiding over the region is the magnificent island monastery of Mont St-Michel. Huge tidal variations mean the island is at times cut off completely by the sea. When the tide retreats, Mont St-Michel is surrounded by a desert of glistening wet sand.
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Mont Saint-Michel Abbey
One of France's best-known attractions, the Mont Saint-Michel Abbey, is situated on a rocky island just off the coast of Normandy and Brittany. It was founded in 708 by the Bishop …
D-Day Beaches
Early on 6 June, 1944, the largest armada ever known left England's south coast and set off to liberate France. Shortly thereafter British, American and Canadian soldiers began lan…
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Bayeaux
This ancient Viking settlement is situated a few miles inland, between La Havre and Cherbourg, and was the first French town to be liberated in 1944 during World War II. Fortunatel…
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Honfleur
Whether by accident or design, the quaint fishing village of Honfleur, just across the estuary from busy, bustling La Havre, has managed to make time stand still and presents its m…
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Rouen
The capital of Normandy and a popular holiday destination, Rouen is also a centre of industry and commerce; it is the fifth largest port in France and the closest one to Paris, spl
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Deauville
Deauville is the only Norman holiday resort to have any delusions of grandeur. It is at the heart of the Norman Riviera that, in the late 19th century, was a particularly popular h