The Attractions of Normandy France
Any Tour of the Region Should Include a Visit to Honfleur and Bayeux
Aug 1, 2008
Normandy offers the visitor so much: its spectacular coastline, open rolling countryside, historic monuments in Bayeux and Le Mont St Michel, inland towns of Coutances, Evreux and Alencon and a delicious rustic cuisine.
Normandy Cuisine
The region’s reputation for relaxed good eating is well deserved, and if you like seafood you are in for a treat. Sole Normandy, Moules Mariniere and a range of delicious dishes using locally caught scallops, crayfish and prawns are readily available. Of course it's traditional to wash it all down with a glass of local apple cider.
Among the most popular attractions in the region are:
Bayeux
An essential stop on any tour of Normandy, its most important sites are:
- Bayeux Cathedral, a magnificent Gothic cathedral which dominates the town.
- Centre Guillaume le Conquerant, home to the historic Bayeux Tapestry.
Deauville
- A walk along the seafront will explain why it’s called the Beach of Flowers. It’s best known for it’s rather grand casino.
Honfleur
- A lovely little town on the Seine Estuary, simply not to be missed. Its timber framed houses; busy harbour and flower-lined roads give Honfleur a unique atmosphere. Although always crowded during the summer months, the greatest pleasure is to sit at a pavement café and watch the world go past.
Barfleur
- This tiny village harbour village in the north western part of the region has been called the most beautiful village in France and is well worth a visit.
Mont St Michel
- Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site Le Mont St Michel is France’s second most visited monument after the Eiffel Tower and best known for its dramatic Medieval abbey. It's 900 stairs to the top of the abbey so you need to be fit,but there are plenty of interesting places to stop on the way up.
Rouen
- Site of the trial of Jean of Arc and the magnificent Gothic Rouen Cathedral.
- Old Rouen with its half-timbered houses and quaint cobbled streets is also worth a visit.
How to get to Normandy
If you’re coming from the UK there are a number of ports that can be accessed from the south of England. They are: Cherbourg, Caen, Le Harve and Dieppe.
If you prefer to fly, there are a regional airports in Normandy and next-door Brittany. Flights arrive there from Paris and some airlines also fly from the UK.
There are a number of car hire companies that operate in Normandy and the car is certainly the best way to see this beautiful region of France.
If you’re leaving from Paris a Seine River Cruise will take you on a leisurely eight-day journey through the beautiful French countryside.
Stopping points en route are:
Vernon
Les Andelys
Caudebec en Caux
Honfleur
Rouen
Before making the trip to Normandy, take time to plan the visit particularly if you only have a short time to spend there, there is so much to see.
 |
 |
