15 Must do’s in Normandy | France

Normandy has a lot to offer but where do you start exploring? Normandy is the first stop of my France road trip (2020). Here are my must do’s when you’re in Normandy.

1) Mont Saint-Michel

The Mont Saint-Michel lies on an island in Normandy and is accessible when the tide is low. This town brings you back to the Middle Ages.

Make sure to visit the Abbey. It used to be a temporary prison during the French Revolution.

Entrance fee: €13.

2) Home of Monet

Claude Monet lived in Giverny and today you can still visit his house (turned into a museum). The house is resotred in his glorious form: it looks like you’re back in the 19th century. His garden is most famous as it was an inspiration of many of his paintings.

3) Rouen

Rouen is one of the older towns in Normandy as it was built in the Gallo-Roman time. Walk thought the old town as if you were back in the middle ages. Don’t forget to check out the Palais de Justice (16th century), the tower of Jeanne d’Arc (held captive during the trial), the cathedral, and the clock tower.

History Fact: Rouen is the place where Jeanne d’Arc had her trial.

4) Jumièges

Jumièges has one of the most beatiful abbeys in Normandy, Victor Hugo himself even said it.

5) Etretat

Go visit the white chalk cliffs of Etretat, the only white chalk cliffs in Europe. When the tide is low you can visit a cave called Trou à l’homme.

6) Pont Audemer

Pont Audemer is like Venice but in France. The town was built in the middle ages and you can still see some of the old houses. Everything is small in the town except for the Church Saint-Ouen as it was meant for it to be build elsewhere. Nonetheless, it was built in Pont Audemer and is now one of the bigger historical monuments of France!

7) Pont de Normandie

The Pont de Normandie is Europe’s longest cable bridge (2km). It’s very impressive as it’s very high and it looks like you’re riding against a wall.

8) Honfleur

Honfleur is said to be one of the most beautiful villages of Normandy and was built in Roman times. Many painters came here to find inspiration like Monet, Boudin, and Jongkind. Make sure to visit the harbor and the Sint Catherine church.

9) Caen

Caen was founded by William the Conquerer. Make sure to visit its castle, Abbaye-aux-hommes, and Abbaye-aux-Dames.

10) Bayeux

This town was once destroyed by Vikings in the 9th century. After it’s reconstruction, the town remarkably survived the WW1 & WW2 bombings. Make sure to check out the Catgédrale Notre-Dame as it was one of the most beautiful buildings in 1077. The town is also famous for the Bayeux carpet (11th century).

11) Landing Beaches of Normandy

Wander around the landing beaches in Normandy and learn more about D-Day of WW2. On June 6, 1944, the British and American troops boarded Europe on Omaha Beach, Juno Beach, Gold Beach, Sword Beach, and Utah Beach.

12) American Cemetery

Another must do is to visit the American Cemetery in Normandy. The cemetery is the grave for 9387 American soldiers who died during WW2.

13) Granville

Granville is the Monaco of the North (because it’s located on a hill), wander around the old part of the city and be amazed.

Fun Fact: Chrisitan Dior grew up here. You can still see his home.

Fun Fact: When the wheater allows it, you can see îles Chausey.

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