12 X Reasons To Visit Normandy Plus An Itinerary You'll Love!
Normandy is a region in Northern France with a stunning coastline, cliffs, picturastic cozy villages, delicious Camembert cheese & cider, medieval architecture, and history. Normandy is where the WWII D-Day beach landing took place in 1944. There's quite a contradiction between the beautiful and calming scenic views you’ll see before you and the cemeteries and memorials also present, reminding us of the dark history that lays here. Over 425,000 Allied and German troops died on these shores, a figure still hard to fathom.
Normandy, France
This region is fascinating to explore!
Best Time To Visit
Spring and summer are the best months to visit as the flowers are in full bloom and the temperatures are comfortable so you can enjoy the beaches and the outdoors.
Getting Around
The best way to explore Normandy in my experience is by renting a car and driving yourself. This way you can see more places along the way, truly experience the region and have more encounters with locals.
An Itinerary Perfect For Discovering The Secrets Of Normandy
Start in the neighboring beach towns of Trouville and Douville: Trouville is a pretty, bubbly, and very fashionable chichi seaside resort, it's said to being France’s oldest seaside resort already discovered in the 1800s. A gorgeous stretch of beach awaits you offering views as well as fun vibes, beautiful architecture, and if you're a seafood lover, head to the port, visit the fishing market, and then enjoy fresh seafood in one of the restaurants. It will make you go YUM!
This town is just like a beautiful painting! Across the river you'll find Deauville, slightly quieter, it's frequented by royalty and quite a few movie stars looking for some privacy. A couple of spots to enjoy here are the Casino and the Grand Promenade des Planches, it’s beautiful! The town's seafront is lined with chairs for your comfort, restaurants, and bars so you can enjoy a grand sunset with a drink in your hand.
Deauville, Normandy
Caen: This town tells a few historic stories, one of which is the Battle of Normandy in 1944 that has sadly destroyed much of the city. The Caen Memorial Museum is very impressive! You can get guided tours to the D-Day beaches from there.
Omaha Beach: Visiting this beach was emotionally overwhelming for us, deadly quite to this day. On the one hand, you're looking at this beautiful stretch of beach and yet, you know so many people gave up their lives in horrific ways right here on these shores. This was a landing area for the Allied forces in the WWII D-Day invasion. You will see the remains of German bunkers and the stainless-steel sculpture 'Les Braves' commemorating American soldiers.
Omaha Beach, Normandy
Omaha Beach, Normandy
Courseulle Sur Mer: A nice seaside spot to enjoy sun, sea, and history. Stroll the beachfront, have a drink and a bite to properly enjoy the views while you're at it. Other highlights are the Castle dating back to the 12th century, and the Saint-Germain Church. You will find a WWII connection here as well, the Juno Beach Center, Canada's only museum here makes an interesting history lesson.
Drive to Mount St. Michel: This is one of the most amazing places I have ever visited! This small tidal island is set in a beautiful bay where Normandy & Brittany meet. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it has been one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Europe for centuries. St. Michel is a tidal island with a medieval monastery on it. What makes this location so unique is that during low tide the waters can withdraw as far as 25km from the shore! You can drive up in the morning and you see it rising from the mainland, however, make sure you don’t get stuck in the high tide before it magically turns into an island!
Access in recent years has changed, the car park has been moved further away for environmental reasons. There are shuttle buses to take you closer to the entrance and from there you walk. The Benedictine abbey atop the mount is your goal, the views are spectacular! Enjoy the village, small museums, shops, and restaurants as you go down. TIP: Look to stay for a night in one of the beautiful hotels on St. Michel, it’s a unique experience indeed!
NOTE: There are many, many steps to climb- Be prepared!
Mount Saint Michel, Normandy
Mount Saint Michel, Normandy
Granville: From this pretty little seaside town you have a wonderful outlook on the Mont St. Michel Bay.
Granville, Normandy
Pointe du Hoc: This is a high land point with a 30-meter cliff overlooking the English Channel. Apart from the breathtaking views, you will find the WWII Pointe du Hoc Ranger Monument here. This monument is dedicated to events taking place here on June 6, 1944, U.S. Army Rangers scaled down these steep cliffs and seized the German’s artillery pieces so they could not be used to fire upon the American landing troops at Omaha and Utah beaches.
Cabourg: Home to the iconic Grand Hotel this town is worth a shortstop. You’ll find gorgeous beachfront, quirky shops, a stylish casino, and many galleries. They are also famous for their horse races year-round.
Honfleur: This town is simply wonderful to stroll through and explore! It has a beautiful old center with cobbled streets and medieval architecture, a buzzing harbor, a market, boutiques, and art galleries. Don’t miss visiting Saint Catherine’s Church dating back to the 15th century, Le Vieux Bassin port which is where many of the houses have been painted over by famous painters, and of course see The Normandy Bridge, perfect for panoramic views and photos.
Honfleur, Normandy
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Etretat: This breathtaking location is known for striking rock formations, arches, and its white cliffs.
Etretat, Normandy
Giverny: An inspirational village for many masterpieces, this area is so green and colorful especially during springtime like you wouldn’t believe! Carpets of flowers await you! Very picturastic surroundings you’ll love. We stayed a few days in this area as there’s so much to see, apart from being one with colorful mother nature that is. This beautiful village located in the countryside where Impressionist painter Claude Monet lived and worked until his death in 1926. Visit the Monte Gardens, Vernon, and Chateau Gaillard. We enjoyed driving around the small country roads covered by arches of trees, animals grassing in the fields, and flowers.
Giverny, Normandy
Enjoy your trip! If you’re looking for additional inspiration for your future travels, scroll down my blog, there are MANY awesome destinations waiting for you!
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Yours,
Diti