Situated
in the north of France, the north
coast of Normandy faces the English
Channel and it is bordered to the
east by Picardy, to the west by
Brittany and by the Loire to the
south. Boasting over 600
kilometres of dramatic coastline, contrasting
from the wild granite coastline
of the northern Cotentin to the
long sandy beaches and white cliffs
of the south, Normandy is an attractive
destination. Inland the apple orchards
of Calvados and the meandering
valleys and wooded hillsides of
the Suisse Normande can be found.
This northern coastal region
is in fact officially divided
into two regions “Haute
et Basse Normandie” (High
and Low). Famous
for Camembert, Calvados, Cider,
D-Day beaches
and war memorials, Normandy offers
an abundance of things to do.
The seaside resorts, rivers and
lakes offer plenty of water sporting
activities including: windsurfing,
water skiing, boating, canoeing,
sailing and fresh water fishing.
While inland, 39 golf courses,
80 parks and gardens, 7,500kms
of rambler’s paths, 200
museums and 50 abbeys and cathedrals,
are just some of the activities
that Normandy has to offer. Other
popular activities include tennis,
hot-air balloon flights, boules
or even car racing at Le Mans.
Normandy also welcomes international
nautical, musical and movie events
such as the American Film Festival
held in the seaside resort of
Deauville in September.
Upper Normandy is comprised
of two departments: Seine-Maritime
and Eure.
- Seine-Maritime stretches
from the busy port and walled
city of Le Havre, up to Le
Treport, a popular seaside
resort and takes its name
from the Seine River. Dieppe,
although a busy ferry port
is also a famous fishing
port and coastal resort,
which boasts a pretty old
town, busy markets and a
fantastic Sea Life Centre,
that children and adults
alike will love. The medieval
town of Rouen and capital
of Upper Normandy with its
hundred bell-towers and half-timbered
houses is steeped in history
and well worth a visit. Both
William the Conqueror and
Joan of Arc died in the town
and it is home to the Gothic
Cathedral of Notre-Dame,
which was immortalized by
French Impressionist Claude
Monet. Just north of Rouen,
children will particularly
love to see animals roaming
free around the wonderful
wildlife park at Parc Zoologique
de Cleres.
- Eure is
a largely wooded plateau cut
by the valleys of the many
rivers that cross it and which
eventually make up the River
Seine. On the banks of the
Seine, art lovers will not
want to miss a wander through
the exuberant gardens at Giverney,
which were the inspiration
for Monet’s famous water
lily series. The gardens are
open daily (except Mondays)
from April 1st to October 31st.
Lower Normandy is made up of
three departments: Calvados,
Orne and Manche
- Calvados, just
east of the Cherbourg peninsula,
is named after the famous brandy
made from apples. If cider
and calvados are your thing,
then take the ‘Route
de Cidre’ a circular
tour of the cider farms southeast
of Caen. The tiny town of Bayeux
is built around the magnificent
Cathedral of Notre-Dame, which
houses the world famous 200-foot
long Bayeux Tapestry depicting
the Norman conquest of England.
It is also home to the D-Day
landing beaches and the monuments,
museums, bunkers and cemeteries
are a living commemoration
to the largest military landing
in history. The department’s
capital
of Caen is worth visiting
for its two great 11th-century
abbeys built by William the
Conqueror and its most memorable
landmark, the World War II
museum.
- Situated in the southeast
corner of Orne,
walkers and outdoor enthusiasts
will be
captivated by the beautiful
scenery of the Perche
National Park region. It is a designated
area of outstanding natural
beauty and the characteristic
dark rocks of the Orne Valley
are ideal for climbers with
the highest peak reaching 1197
ft. The regions passion for
horses can also be experienced
here and tourists are welcome
to tour the famous horse breeding
estate of Haras du Pin, or
attend any of the numerous
horse shows. The department
capital Alencon is most famous
for its lace. A major collection
of French and European lace
dating from the 17th-century
can be seen at the Fine Arts
and lace Museum in Alencon.
Visitors can pick up pieces
of their own at the many markets
of the neighboring villages.
- Manche, which covers
the western strip of Normandy,
stretches from Cherbourg in
the north along the Cherbourg
Peninsular, to the famous Mont-St-Michel
in the south. The second most
visited place in France after
the Eiffel Tower, Mont-St-Michel perches precariously on a 264-foot
high rocky islet that is connected
to mainland by a causeway.
This dreamy ‘pyramid
in the sea’ also marks
the boundary with Brittany.
|
