Characterized by apple orchards, fresh cheeses, rolling green landscapes and dramatic seaside cliffs, Normandy is the region of France located to the north west of Paris situated between the English Channel and Brittany. The once British controlled area of France (though it’s been firmly in French hands since the 13th century save for a few British controlled channel islands off the coast), there remains a Norman influence here that gives the region a slightly different cultural feel than other parts of France.
Normandy is a mostly agricultural area made up of boacages—a patchworks of fields divided by high hedges. Normandy is also where much of the country’s dairy is produced. Cattle breeding, cider production and fishing are also all important industries that help define this lush and beautiful region of France. With temperate weather year round (it’s rainy and chilly in the winter and relatively sunny and mild in the summer), Normandy is a great place to visit during almost any time of the year. From beaches to countryside, most will not regret making the trip to this region of France.
>>Read more about weather, regional cuisine and more in Normandy
1. Visit Mont Saint Michel
Located on the Brittany/Normandy border, the towering turrets of the abbey at Mont Saint Michel are one of the most iconic images of northern France. Rising from the flat sands, Mont Saint Michel is situated on a small island connected to the mainland by a causeway. The village and monastery is built on a rocky outcrop in the middle of a tidal flat. Mont Saint Michel is considered to be one of the wonders of the western world, and is one of France’s most iconic attractions—it is both globally famous and one of the most visited attractions in the country.
>>Read more about Visiting Mont Saint Michel and Getting from Paris to Mont Saint Michel. You may also be interested in checking out some photos of Mont Saint Michel
2. Visit the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial
History buff or not, a visit to the D-Day beaches is definitely worth your time if you find yourself on the coast. For those that had family fight WWII (like I did), it’s a sobering experience to visit this spot. The memorial honors American soldiers who died in Europe during WWII and is located in Colleville-sur-Mer on a cliff overlooking Omaha Beach (one of the main landing beaches of the Normandy Invasion).
3. Check out Monet’s gardens in Giverny
You’d imagine that a painter most famous for his beautiful landscapes would probably surround himself with, well, beautiful landscapes. He did. Located just a short 1 hr. train ride from Paris (it is an easy day-trip from Paris), Monet’s house and gardens in Giverny are well worth a visit. You can see the water lilies that inspired the painter and stroll through the absolutely stunning gardens that were Monet’s muse for so many of his well-known prices of art work.
While Giverny can get rather packed with tourists in peak summer months, it is still one of my favorite places in Giverny, and it is well worth putting up with other curious travelers to check out these spectacular gardens.
>>Read more about Monet’s Garden at Giverny and if you are coming from the City of Lights, Getting from Paris to Giverny
4. Soak up the art and architecture in Rouen
With its impressive spires soaring above the city, the beautiful Gothic cathedral at Rouen (a favorite subject of Monet who did a series of painting of the cathedral) is enough in and of itself to warrant a visit to this Norman city. However, Rouen also boasts a beautifully restored Medieval quarter with many typical Normandy-style buildings and homes. The cathedral in the center of the city is considered to be one of the most beautiful in all of France.
Along with its impressive art and architecture, Rouen is also where Joan of Arc was tried for heresy and burned at the stake—and you can visit the very spot where the heroine met her demise. While Rouen was devastated by bombing during WWII, the streets south of the cathedral in the center of town have been beautifully restored, and you can soak up the beauty of the half-timbered houses and quaint store fronts. Rouen is also a great place to be based for your other Norman adventures.
>>Read more about the Cathedral at Rouen and the other impressive Cathedrals of France
5. Enjoy herring and/or scallops in Dieppe
Nestled among dramatic limestone cliffs on the English Channel (or La Manche as the French say), Dieppe is a busy port city of about 35,000 in Normandy. One of the busiest ports in the region, Dieppe has a salty, authentic old harbor where fishermen unload their loads of fresh fish and famous scallops alongside ice cream cone licking tourists (in the summer at least) and British day-trippers.
Located just a quick ferry ride from Newhaven in the UK and the closest beach town to Paris, today Dieppe is part travel destination, part authentic fishing town. The big beach, fresh seafood, annual herring festival and dramatic cliffs make it a worthwhile visit (not to mention all the delicious seafood to be enjoyed).
>>Read more about Visiting Dieppe and going to the Herring Festival in Dieppe
6. Visit the old port in Honfleur
Traditionally a favorite subject of many French painters and now the getaway spot for many Parisians, Honfleur is a small city (pop 8300) with a charming and attractive port. The heart of Honfleur centers around the old port, or Vieux Bassin, where you’ll find fishing boast alongside yachts. Once the launching point for explorers headed across the Atlantic (many settlers in Quebec left from this port), Honfleur has a rich cultural history and is full of brightly colored buildings and grand Norman-style wooden houses that hug the old port—a stark contrast to the modern, industrial port of Le Havre just across the Seine.
7. Taste cider as you travel along the Cider Route
Normandy is famous for its abundance of apple orchards and cider making, so no trip to the region would be complete without indulging in some of the local beverages. There is a clearly signed route called the “Route du Cidre” (complete with apples marking the signs) that is about 40 km long and passes by the producers of an appellation for cider making in the region. Following la Route du Cidre will not only allow you to sample the local ciders, but you’ll also be able see and explore some of Normandy’s small quaint villages—a must-do when in Normandy.
The route starts 35 km east of Caen in Camembert. The route goes through many small villages, where you can stop along the way and sample different ciders. You’ll also be able to try Calvados (a apple brandy form Normandy) and Pommeau (a traditional Normandy aperitif).
8. Check out the Bayeux Tapestry
Bayeux gets flooded with millions of visitors each year, who all flock to this small Norman city to check out the immense embroidered cloth (it’s not technically a taspestry) known to the French as La Tapisserie de la Reine Mathilde. The 230 foot long taspestry is one of the largest and most detailed in the world and the painstaking embroidery tells the story of the events leading up to the Norman invasion in 1066.
While the tapestry itself will probably only be of minor interest to most, Bayeux is actually a great town to explore after you’ve made the obligatory stop to check out this piece of historical signifigance. The first town liberated after D-Day and one of the few towns in the region to survive WWII rather unscathed, Bayeux has narrow streets crammed with wooden-framed Norman houses and has a rather impressive Gothic cathedral.
9. Eat moules mariniere in Trouville
Mussels have long been one of my absolute favorite dishes and Normandy boasts some of the best mussels in the world. What better place to enjoy moules marinere—a delicious sish made of mussels simmered in a shallot/white wine sauce—than enjoying it in one of the true gems of Normandy. Unlike Deuville, the flashier sister city across the river that is sometimes called the Monaco of Normandy and is packed with designer boutiques and 5-star hotels, Trouville is a charming town with an active working fishing port. This means that not only will you be able to soak up local culture and be able to afford Trouville, but you’ll also primely situated to enjoy the freshest seafood.
Trouville was also a spot frequented by literary figures and painters during the 19th century (including Norman native Falubert) and today visitors can hang out on the sandy beach or eat the local delicacies.
10. Tour the President Cheese Farm
I am a cheese lover. This is not only something my grandmere raised me to be, but something that has continued to bring me back to France. Any country with over 300 types of cheese will always remain my heart, whether it’s part of my heritage or not. It is no wonder that in a region chock-full of cows, Normandy is also a famous cheese producing region in France. Most famous of all is Camembert (which, interestingly enough, comes from the village of Camembert, France), a creamy, mild brie-like cheese. If you are interested in seeing how the cheese is made, you can visit the President farm (the major Camembert exporter) located in the heart of Camembert.
The guided tour (€5) shows you how the cheese was traditionally made, allows you to view a collection of vintage cheese making tools, and of course (and most importantly) allows you to sample plenty of the village’s famous cheese.
photo credits: American memorial, Giverny, Rouen, Honfleur, cider tasting, trouville, normandy
