Today I want to share the 5 best places to travel in Normandy with you. From cities to towns, war memorials to D-Day beaches, these places belong on any Normandy travel itinerary.
Best Places to Travel in Normandy
I never knew there were so many places to visit in Normandy. Despite it being so close to England, I haven’t explored the northern coast of France since I moved to London.
But now that I’m here on a sponsored trip with Eurotunnel Le Shuttle and the Normandy Tourist Board, I’m finding enough to fill four days and plenty more to bring me back again.
From what I’ve seen, these are the five best places to travel in Normandy.
1. Honfleur, Normandy
The seaside city of Honfleur is an Impressionist’s dream. From Monet to Sisley, all of the famous Impressionist painters came here to capture the town, sea, and sky.
And I can see why. Honfleur is straight out of a storybook, with half-timbered buildings and cobbled streets hugging the port with its pretty boats and warm blue sky.
Down the road from the town center, Le Manoir des Impressionnistes welcomes me and my boyfriend for a night’s stay.
The hotel is housed in a beautiful 18th-century manor and has cozy rooms, giant fireplaces, and a lovely spa. As if we didn’t already know Honfleur was one of the best places to travel in Normandy, it seals the deal.
2. Rouen, Normandy
Rouen is one of the larger cities in Normandy, and is another place made famous by Monet and his contemporaries. His paintings of Rouen Cathedral draw visitors to the Musee d’Orsay in Paris, but seeing the real thing is just as impressive.
A new addition to Rouen Cathedral and its adjacent 15th-century archbishop’s palace is the Historial Jeanne d’Arc. The museum is an interactive multimedia experience that goes through the life and trial of Joan of Arc.
Her trial took place in the very building the museum is in, and she was burned at the stake right outside in 1431.
The only downside is that visiting made me wonder if she was really a saint, or whether she was just a clever peasant girl that saw a way out of poverty by telling tall tales to the king.
Away from the cathedral, Rouen has beautiful buildings—there’s more of that lovely half-timbered architecture here—and great markets and restaurants. They make it one of the best places to travel in Normandy.
We explore the Saturday morning market in the Clos Saint-Marc square, taking in the colors of fresh autumn vegetables and the pungent scents of local cheeses.
We also enjoy a dinner at Le 6eme Sens, a restaurant in the heart of the historic city center.
3. Normandy War Memorials and Cemeteries
Think of Normandy, and it’s hard not to think of World War II, which was partly fought on its soil. The places that commemorate it are some of the best places to travel in Normandy.
No trip would be complete without a visit to some of the memorials and cemeteries in Normandy, and on this one I pay homage to both the American and British.
The American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer is one of the most famous of its kind in the region. It has a museum dedicated to the D-Day landings as well as a beautifully maintained cemetery on the cliffs above Omaha Beach.
I was so moved by my visit that it was hard to hold back tears as I walked through the gravestones.
The Commonwealth has a lot of cemeteries in the area, too. We visit the Etaples Military Cemetery over in Pas-de-Calais, which has a memorial by Sir Edwin Lutyens, who designed many cemeteries in northern France. His too is a moving tribute to the fallen soldiers.
Over in Arromanches-les-Bains, the Arromanches 360° Cinema offers ‘Normandy’s 100 Days’, a moving circular video portrayal of the D-Day invasion and subsequent Allied victory in World War II.
Its position over the Mulberry Harbour, one of the artificial ports built during the landings, makes it all the more powerful.
4. Calvados, Normandy
No trip to France would be complete without sampling some of the country’s famous drinks, and in Normandy the drink of choice is Calvados. Made from apples, the strong spirit has been distilled for generations here.
We visit the Domaine Coeur de Lion, home of the eponymous Calvados Christian Drouin distillery. It’s one of the best places to travel in Normandy for lovers of spirits.
The owner himself takes us on a tour of the historic buildings and offers us a tasting of everything from the pure spirit to some vintage varieties.
5. Beuvron-en-Auge, Normandy
Another must in Normandy is exploring the region’s smaller towns and villages, many of which are rich in history and overflowing with charm.
One such village is Beuvron-en-Auge, which is on the official list of the association of the most beautiful villages of France, l’Association Les Plus Beaux Villages de France.
We stop there for lunch at Cafe Forges, indulging in escargots and a cote de boeuf for two in a rustic dining room with an open-fire grill.
Afterwards we explore the village, soaking up the ambiance of the pretty houses and colorful 17th-century buildings. They show us why it’s one of the best places to travel in Normandy.
Best Places to Visit in Normandy
My trip to Normandy has covered a wide area from Calais in the northeast to Omaha Beach in the northwest. It has taken me to coastal towns and inland cities, D-Day beaches and seafood festivals. But it hasn’t taken me everywhere.
I’d still love to visit cities like Caen, Dieppe, and Le Havre, to name a few. But it’s always nice to have a reason to return. When I do, I’m sure I’ll discover more places to love in this part of France.
Have you been to this part of France? What are your favorite places to travel in Normandy?
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26 Comments on Lady’s 5 Best Places to Travel in Normandy
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France always surprises me: how is possible to be so beautiful?
I have never been to Normandy, but seeing your pictures made me want to travel there immediately. Those houses, those corners, that bike, those seasides: just stunning!
Thanks! O, and great pictures =)
was just thinking that here in Morocco I am really missing the seasons changing!!
I totally agree with everything that you wrote (the puppy… aww! so sad that you have to leave him/her behind)! We have our routines and habits when we are home and going away might look hard sometimes! But, as you wrote, it will be so good to find them all again when you´ll be back!!
Courage!
Thanks!
Beautiful! I’ve heard of Rouen and Honfleur and the drink calvados but I didn’t know that they are so charming! great photos as always!
Thanks! Yeah, they’re all worth a visit, and it’s nice that they’re so close together.
This post shows the beauty that is Normandy. I would also add Bayeux as a must see in Normandy! Lovely town, totally untouched by the D-Day bombings.
Thanks! Bayeux sounds lovely, and I was sad to miss it on my trip. It’s definitely a good addition to the list!
This is great timing, we’re going on holiday to Rouen in two weeks and I’m really looking forward to it!
Do you have any advice about the best way to do a calvados tasting(/tour) without a car? I’ve been looking for one that includes transportation but they all seem pretty expensive – I’m sure the high-end ones are worth it but a little out of our price range at the moment!
That’s great! I hope you enjoy your trip. We had a car, so unfortunately I don’t know about tastings without one.
I have never been to Normandy, but being in many small towns and villages, they are simply overflowing with charm. My favourite is Le Pays Basque from both sides…French and Spanish.
You really have a lovely blog. ;-))
Yeah, the towns are so pretty! Basque Country is one of my favorite areas, too!
I agree with Charlotte, Bayeux is a must and not just to see The Tapestry, the town is beautiful. And Mont At Michel – that you MUST visit. Oh and Falaise, the birthplace of William the Conqueror, Deauville and of course Swiss Normandy. It really is a fabulous part of France and easy to see why we chose to live here and why so many of the guests in our gite come back for another visit!
Those all sound great! Thanks for sharing!
So beautiful. I still haven’t been to Normandy, even though I lived in Paris for a few months, but I will make sure to include Honfleur on my itinerary. That picture of the bike is simply amazing.
I hope you had a lovely time there.
Thanks! Yeah, Honfleur was a real highlight of the trip. I hope you can visit sometime!
Yup, I’ve been to Normandy… since I was born here. In Dieppe. Nice pics, I’ve left Normandy three years ago, seeing these pictures makes me feel great.
I’m glad to hear it! You’re from an amazing place!
We live in Normandy, and couldn’t be happier with our choice. It is beautiful, and on the west coast there is Granville, just further inland is Coutances and many other breath taking places.
Sounds amazing! What a great place to live!
Your post is so helpful and very interesting. North France is a true gem, that’s for sure. As well as the whole country. Your pictures are giving the real essence of this part of France, the striped buildings and bicycles…Wonderful! I only visited Honfleur, so artistic and cute! Art galleries are amazing, I really enjoyed a visit to Gallery Bartoux and I remember I got really impressed by those immense beaches, where it seems that there is no limit to the horizon! Thank you for reminding me of this trip through your great post!!!!!
You’re welcome!
Beautiful!! I have travelled to France before for a business trip, but I was not aware of this lovely destination. Whenever I am going France the next time, Normandy is on the top of the list. Loved the pictures posted here!
Yeah, it’s definitely worth a visit. I hope you enjoy it!
Gorgeous pictures! The distillery looks lovely! Would you go back again – if so for how long? Also, how does it compare to other places in France that you’ve visited?
Thanks! I would go back again for any amount of time! It definitely compares well to other places, but I love pretty much anywhere in France!
Hi there! I’ve stumbled upon your blog while researching my upcoming France trip! This post inspired us to add Honfleur to our itinerary! But I am wondering where you stayed on the night you visited the war museums and memorials? I think we will do one day and night in Honfleur, the war museums the following day, then Mont St Michel the 3rd day and night. Thanks!
That’s great! You’ll love Honfleur. We stayed in Rouen for the night.