HIGHLIGHTS

Watch the tide rise and fall in the bay around Mont-St-Michel
Follow William’s conquests along the 70 metre Bayeux Tapestry
Pay your respects to those who fell at the D-Day landings
Explore the vibrant city of Rouen
Stroll around the luxuriant garden at Giverny planted and painted by Monet
Marvel at the medieval castle at Dieppe
Enjoy the views from the abbey at Caen

Normandy

The quintessential image of Normandy is one of rolling green pastures, apple orchards and chequered fields of cauliflowers and artichokes. However, it is also an area steeped in history as it has borne witness to a succession of invasions and significant battles.

The town of Bayeux is home to the 11th century Bayeux tapestry which depicts the story of William’s invasion of England in 1066. A dozen or so kilometres away are the beaches of the D-Day landings along the Cote de Nacre and the Cotentin Peninsula where thousands of Allied troops advanced onto the shores of the French coast.

The city of Rouen has prospered through industrialisation and maritime trade, which has resulted in the development of a metropolis rich in culture. It is also renowned for its Gothic cathedral, excellent museums and half-timbered houses. The modern city of Caen is well worth a visit to see the two impressive abbeys built by William the Conquerer and his Queen, Matilda, in the 11th century.

Another impressive building not to be missed in Normandy is Mont-St-Michel. This huge abbey is a collection of buildings in a mixture of architectural styles constructed on three levels. Encircled by the sea, Mont-St-Michel stands at the mouth of the River Couesnon.