NORMANDY TOURIST INFORMATION
Tourist information about the individual Normandy departments of Calvados, Orne, Manche, Eure and Seine-Maritime can be found through every property details page along with tourist information about the local towns, tourist attractions and information about events happening in Normandy.
NORMANDY TOURISM
Normandy , the region on the central north coast of France, scattered with French Gites, and holiday homes, perfect for your holiday in France. Pretty little Gites nestling in the Normandy countryside and holiday homes dotted along the Normandy coast. No wonder Normandy is a favourite holiday destination for Parisians. If you are looking for holiday rentals in France, Normandy is the most easily accessed of all the French regions from the UK.
The Normandy coast extends from modern Le Tréport to the Mont-Saint-Michel and provides an amazing variety of landscapes. The sea has sculpted the cliffs with the pounding of its waves and created an incredible architecture that no architect could have created. The sea seems stretch forever and comes to rest on long beaches of golden sands that have been a favourite haunt of chic Parisians.
Normandy is divided into two areas - High Normandy, which runs along the Seine Valley, and Low Normandy that is more rugged and similar to Brittany.
Normandy is a perfect holiday destination and boasts some of the most attractive holiday homes in France. One can rent delightful Gites at very economical holiday rental prices all year round to explore this lovely region.
HIGH NORMANDY
The Alabaster Coast: Extends from Le Tréport to Le Havre, the Alabaster coast's striking chalk cliffs, rise higher than 100 metres in places and are lapped gently by the sea on warm summer days and are a defence against the ravages of the waves on winter days when the sea breaks relentlessly against the cliff face.
LOW NORMANDY
The Floral Coast: From the Seine to the Orne, the pastures and orchards of Auge slope gently down to the rivers' edge, villages nestle in green valleys, their black oak framed houses stand out starkly against their white washed walls. Terraces of flowers, shady alleyways and elegant villas make up the scenic vista.
The Landing Beaches - Mother of Pearl and Bessin Coasts:
Beyond the Orne stretch steep cliffs shadowing beaches of fine golden sand once red with the blood of Allied troops. The British beaches, Sword, Juno and Gold and the American beaches, Omaha and Utah Beach have retained their names in memory of those who fell fighting to Free France and the rest of Europe. Laughter and the cries of children playing in the surf have replaced the sound of guns and wounded. Arromanches with it's artificial port, military cemeteries, la Pointe du Hoc, monuments, milestones and military relics continue to serve as reminders of the battles.
Le Cotentin Peninsula:
The bay of Veys sandy beaches give way to the rocky spur of North Cotentin which juts into the sea. Formed by savage cliffs and deserted shores surrounded by landscapes of flowering heather and gorse the Contenin peninsula is a paradise for all nature lovers. The cliffs of Jobourg are reputed to be the highest in Europe, a definite no go area for all sufferers of vertigo. Further north the cliffs give way to a softer coastline, changing into the large beaches of the West Coast. The West Coast is sheltered from the east and north winds benefiting from the warm currents of the Gulf Stream. Over 100 kilometres of sand spread out like a golden scarf, occasionally interrupted by rocks and harbours finishing at Mont Saint Michel. The sunniest beaches can be found here and the sea is a beautiful azur blue.
Often compared with the countryside of southern England, Normandy boasts lush meadows, plentiful apple orchards used in the production of Calvados, the local alcoholic beverage favoured by Normans and a must try tipple for all tourists. Numerous rivers and streams, and seemingly endless quiet country lanes, criss cross this gentle landscape. Not to mention a coastline of over 600km, much of it padded by sand, best known for the Normandy D-Day landings.
On June 6th 1944, Normandy made its mark in History and became the battle ground for the greatest military operation of all times. This was the day that 135,000 Allied troops scrambled onto French soil, marking the beginning of the end of Nazi occupation in Europe. Today, "the Historical Area of the Battle of Normandy", itself an open-air museum, brings all the sites together, museums and places of remembrance connected with D-Day and the ensuing conflict. There are eight sign posted routes designed to help you discover the sites and understand the events that determined the outcome of the Second World War.
No visit to the north coast of France would be complete without a walk across the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel, which lies on the borders of Brittany and Normandy. Possible only at low tide, this watery walkway extends 14km from the mainland to the island crowned by the impressive abbey 80m above the sea. Below are a maze of narrow streets and a cluster of buildings to explore. If you are feeling less energetic, there is a shorter crossing of 7km to the little island of Tombelaine, once the refuge of a local hermit.
Don't miss the opportunity to view Mont St Michel at night. After dark, the Abbey is illuminated and you can see the ancient ramparts, in all their glory, a memory to treasure. Tourists can visit the Abbey, which is open to the public and explore the island but make sure you leave in plenty of time or you could get caught in the wet sands, a fate of many a Norman soldier as illustrated in the Bayeaux Tapestry.
A few kilometres away is the beautiful town of Bayeux home to the famous 11th century Bayeux Tapestry, 70 metres of embroidered linen, depicting the conquest of England by William the Conqueror in 1066. The love and care that went into the millions of stitches should inspire you to take more interest in darning your socks.
Normandy 's history is closely bound up with that of its abbeys, which enjoyed enormous importance politically and economically. From as early as the 5th century, these religious institutions were responsible for the spiritual, intellectual and artistic development of the region.
There were once over hundred and twenty monastries scattered across Normandy and though the days of their greatest glory have long since passed, about sixty have survived down to the present day. Their buildings represent an architectural heritage of wealth, beauty and architectural splendour.
The two most important orders were those of the Benedictines based at Fecamp, Lessay, Lonlay and Mont St. Michel and the Premonstratensians, who, legend would have you believe, inherited their rule from St. Augustine who resided at Ardenne and La Lucerne.
Few abbeys still function as monastic institutions, the best known being at Le Bec Hellouin, which has associations with William the Conqueror, St. Wandrille, Soligny which is a Trapist Intsitution and Monday. Others, such as Jumieges or Hambye, are impressive ruins, or - as at St-Martin-de-Boscherville or Cerisy-la-Foret are now parish churches.
With its abbeys, cathedrals and churches Normandy, prides itself on possessing one of the largest and finest collections of stained glass in the whole country and on being one of France's foremost regions for sacred art in general. If religious architecture is of particular interest to you, make sure you visit the exceptional cathedrals of Rouen, Evreux, Bayeux, Coutances and Sees with its twin spires or the older portions of the abbey church on the MONT-ST-MICHEL.
The area south of the town of Caen is known as Swiss Normandy, due to its similarity with the Swiss landscape. The region is scattered with deep gorges, fertile valleys and rocky peaks. Climbing and hill walking are among the many outdoor activities you can enjoy here.
Just a couple of hours from Paris, much of Normandy's coast is lined with chic seaside resorts, enjoyed by Parisians who visit at weekends. Along the 'Côte Fleurie', you can pose with the beautiful set in Cabourg, Deauville or Honfleur. In the evening, sample some of the abundant local seafood with a generous glass of 'calvados' (apple brandy).
Normandy possesses a magnificent array of Renaissance châteaux and mansions, ranging from the forbidding medieval fortresses to beautiful half-timbered country residences with its thatched roofs.
Renaissance and post-Renaissance buildings that are open to visitors include the châteaux at Balleroy, Fontaine-Henry, Lantheuil, St.Germain-de-Livet in Calavados, Bizy and Champ-de-Bataille in the Eure, and Tourlaville in the Manche.
Castles or châteaux now housing museums include those at Caen, Crevecoeur-en-Auge and Pontecoulant in Calvados, Beaumesnil and Vascoeuil in the Eure, Bricquebec in the Manche, Flers and Tesse-la-Madeleine in the O r n e, Dieppe and Martainville the Castle of Robert the Devil in the Seine-Maritime.
Dieppe, set between two limestone cliffs reminiscent of the White Cliffs of Dover, is the region's oldest seaside resort with one of the longest bathing beaches on the coast. To the south stretches the Alabaster Coast, a popular and scenic walking route that leads past small villages nestling in the chalky valleys.
The Impressionist artist Claude Monet was born in Paris and spent a large portion of his life in the small village of Giverny. It was here that he painted some of his most famous works, including Water Lilies. There is a largecollection of his work on display in the Musée Claude Monet, a must for any self-respecting art lover. His home is also open to visitors.
The city of Rouen, on the banks of the River Seine, is famous for its impressive Gothic cathedral and, literally, thousands of rustic, half-timbered houses. It was here that Joan of Arc was tried for heresy and burned at the stake. Her story is depicted in the stained glass windows of the striking Église Jeanne d'Arc.
