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France - NormandyD-Day Beaches, Joan of Arc, Monet's Giverny, Bayeux Tapestry
Much to see and do in Normandy, from Beach walking, World War ll Landing Beaches, fine cuisine and one France's top tourist attractions, Mont-St.Michel
The region is noted for its cheese and cream, apples, cider and Calvados, the brandy distilled from cider, and these ingredients are included in many local dishes. Seafood is everywhere and crepes (pancakes), sweet and savoury, are another speciality. France - Normandy - Joan of ArcRouen is the region's largest city. Make for the old market, the Place du Vieux-Marche. It was here that Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in May 1431, and her ashes thrown into the Seine. A tall cross marks the spot and you can see a waxwork tableaux of Joan's life and death in the nearby Jeanne d'Arc Musee on the south side of the square. The cathedral is one of the most beautiful in France. France - Normandy - Giverny About 30 miles from Rouen is Giverny, home to one of the world's most famous gardens. This is where the painter Monet lived from 1883 to his death in 1926 and where he created the famous lily ponds, the subject of many paintings. Monet’s house is open to the public. France - Normandy - The Seaside A short drive along the coast brings you to Deauville. This is a grand old seaside town with a wide sandy beach which has a wooden boardwalk running the whole length of it. People stroll along here, stopping at beachside bars and cafes. Old-fashioned bathing huts run alongside the boardwalk, each one named after a famous film star. With its fashionable shops, racetrack and casino, Deauville is a popular place with the French and they come here in droves, especially in August. France - Normandy - The D-Day Beaches The D-Day beaches are worth a visit. At Arromanches-Les-Bains you can see the remains of the artificial harbour which was installed by the Allies to carry the vehicles and equipment which made the invasion possible. And at Longues-sur-Mer there are well-preserved gun batteries crowning the cliffs. The Pegasus Bridge, at the eastern end of the beaches, is where the paratroopers of the British 6th Airborn Divisioncrossed to the nearby Cafe Gondree, which was the first house to be liberated and today is a popular spot for returning veteransand younger visitors alike. France - Normandy - Bayeaux Tapestry You can't leave Normandy without visiting the historic town of Bayeaux and its famous tapestry It was the first city to be liberated by the Allies and consequently was spared the massive bombing that other cities suffered. The Bayeux tapestry is 230 ft long - about the length of a football field. Made about 1067-70 and embroidered in woolen threads, the tapestry tells the story of the the invasion of England by William the Conqueror in 1066. Leave plenty of time for this. And lots of time too for Mont-St-Michel - the top tourist attraction in France outside Paris. Explore Normandy, there's much more to see. For more articles on France click here.
The copyright of the article France - Normandy in Historical Vacations is owned by Cathy Smith. Permission to republish France - Normandy in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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