Normandy Coast, Northern France

Where to Visit by the Sea in Lower Normandy

Jul 29, 2007 Joanne E. Brannan

From the charming port town of Honfleur in the East to magical Mont St-Michel in the West, the coast of Basse Normandy is ideal for a family holiday in France.

Several ferry ports offer easy access from the UK to the Coast of Lower Normandy; Le Havre (across the river Seine to the East via the Pont de Normandie), Caen, Cherbourg and St Malo (to the West over the border in Brittany).

Basse Normandy: A Range of Reaside Resorts in the East

If you are looking for a seaside resort then Honfleur provides a sandy beach as well as a charming and interesting old town to visit, complete with fine seafood restaurants around the beautiful old port, and many art galleries. Nearby Deauville is more exclusive; a resort for the beautiful and famous – but nonetheless fun and friendly for everyone. With a fantastic sandy beach, exquisite boutiques, casino and racecourse, Deauville feels like a set from a James Bond film.

There are other less well known resorts on the “Côte Fleuri” – the “Floral Coast” - besides Honfleur and Deauville, including towns such as Houlgate, which is known for its beautiful late 19th Century seaside villas, and pleasant Trouville, Deauville’s more down to earth seaside resort neighbour.

Nearby in Haute Normandy

Over the river Seine, 18 miles (29 kilometers) to the north east of Honfleur, lies the beautiful town of Etretat, famous for its white cliffs and the fictional gentleman thief, Arsène Lupin.

To the north east of Etretat, Saint-Valery-en-Caux was the site of an abortive WW2 British evacuation, due to the Germans controlling the attractive high chalk cliffs overlooking the harbour.

Normandy Coast: Memories of the Second World War

The lively city of Caen was heavily bombed during the Second World War, but retains many historic buildings, such as l’Abbaye-aux Hommes, and makes a pleasant destination for a day trip. The Caen Memorial is a museum for peace, with exhibits about war and peace, from 1918 to the present day. The ferry port of Caen is in fact based at the coastal town of Ouistreham; Caen city centre is around ten miles inland from the port.

The D-Day landing beaches which stretch from Caen to Utah Beach, which is home to an excellent small museum on the Allied Landings in Normandy, are a potent, and very moving, reminder of our not so distant history. The remains of Mulberry Harbour at Arromanches, the temporary harbour created for the landings, are a poignant reminder of the superhuman efforts of the Allies.

Bayeux Tapestry Close to the Normandy Coast

Bayeux to the west, again slightly inland, is home to the famous and fascinating “Bayeux Tapestry” which depicts the events of the Norman invasion of England of 1066, told according to the conquerors. The cathedral of Bayeux is also worth a visit.

Beautiful Coastline of the Cherbourg Peninsula

To the east of the north coast of the Cherbourg peninsula is the pretty port town of Barfleur, and Cherbourg itself has large aquarium which is an ideal half day visit for children of all ages. To the west of Cherbourg lie beautiful high granite cliffs which are reminiscent of parts of the Cornish and Brittany coastlines.

The coastal town of Granville has pretty streets of stone buildings and a fine beach, and a ferry service to the Channel Islands which operates during the summer season.

Highlight of the Normandy Coast: Mont St-Michel

The highlight of any trip to Normandy is the magical Mont St-Michel, the Abbey built on a rock island just off the coast which is the number one visitor attraction in France. Mont St-Michel is connected to the mainland by a causeway.

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