Introducing Normandy
Three things sum up Normandy – Camembert, cider and cows. Spread along the Channel coastline between Brittany and the far reaches of northeast France, Normandy is where the green, pleasant French countryside smacks hard into the rolling waves of La Manche (the Channel). It’s a place of churned butter and soft runny cheese, where broad fields and dry-stone farmhouses perch on the edge of chalk-white cliffs, and the salty tang of the sea is in the air.
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Normandy is an enticing blend of old and new. Fishing boats jostle with designer yachts in the harbour of Honfleur; contemporary restaurants and chic boutiques sit alongside half-timbered houses and Gothic churches in Rouen; and the reconstructed centre of Caen is a short drive away from the cobblestones of Bayeux. Whether it’s browsing the Normandy fish market, mixing with the high-rollers at Deauville and Trouville, or strolling the D-Day beaches north of Bayeux, this is one part of France that will stay with you long after you leave for home.
Ever since the armies of William the Conqueror set sail from its shores in 1066, Normandy has had a pivotal role in European history. It was the frontier for Anglo-French hostilities for much of the Hundred Years’ War, and later became the crucible of impressionist art, but during the D-Day landings in 1944 Normandy sealed its place in the history books. History has certainly left its mark on the landscape, which is dotted with sturdy castles and stunning cathedrals, as well as the glorious abbey of Mont St-Michel, although many of the towns were shattered during the Battle of Normandy.
Last updated: Mar 2, 2009
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Normandy
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Normandy Overview
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Our Top Picks For Normandy
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1 Rouen
Admire the art and architecture of the historic city of Rouen
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2 Bayeux Tapestry
Be bowled over by the world’s biggest comic strip, the Bayeux Tapestry
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3 Garden
Discover your inner impressionist at Monet’s flower-filled garden at Giverny
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4 Colleville-sur-Mer, Bayeux and La Cambe
Ponder the fallen at the moving war cemeteries of Colleville-sur-Mer, Bayeux and La Cambe
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5 Trouville and Honfleur
Savour some seafood at the harbourside restaurants of Trouville and Honfleur
Our favourite Normandy Blogs (beta)
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Sidetracked! Le Reptilarium in Normandy, France.
Blog: Family Friendly Hotel, Resort, Suite Reviews: Travel Savvy Mom » blog - 23 January 2012
Most people don’t go to France to see alligators. We are not most people. _________________________________________________________________________________ side·track (sīd´trăk): n. 1. A diversion from the main course. 2. A detour taken with children that you would never, ever take without them. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Who: Travel Savvy Mom founder Jamie Pearson, her husband, and their children (then 1 and [...]
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Travel Photo Thursday: Honfleur
Blog: A Traveler's Library - 13 October 2011
Unfortunately, we only had one night in Honfleur, the lovely little Norman seaside town that attracts summer vacationers by the droves. It was no longer summer when we arrived, and the chilly wind sent us scurrying off the street and bending over a huge black pot of moules for dinner at a seaside restaurant. The [...]This content is a post from: A Traveler's Library To comment on this post or search for related information, click on the link to A Traveler's Library. We'll leave a light on for you.
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Mer de Glace Near Chamonix, France
Blog: Video Diary of an American in France - 6 July 2011
The Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice) is a glacier near Mont Blanc, outside the city of Chamonix, France. You get to the glacier by taking an electric train up the mountain. You can just see the glacier, the mountaintop hotel, the Natural History Museum, and the Crystal Exhibit. Or if you are in pretty [...]
