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Normandy
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NORMANDY.
Normandy has miles of chalk cliffs, sandy beaches and
hundreds of places to visit and things to do, making it
the ideal destination for a short break or longer holiday.
For history lovers there is Notre-Dame and the ancient
cities of Reims and Rouen. The town of Bayeux, has the
famous Bayeux Tapestry, and a visit to Mont St Michel
is defiantly something not to miss. You will find lots
of family fun too, from sandy beaches and water sports
to great theme parks like Disney World Paris, Park Astrix
and the Nausicaa Aquarium. The people of Normandy also
have a great love of horses and put on numerous shows
and competitions throughout the year
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TOWNS
AND PLACES OF INTEREST.
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ALENCON.
The town has been an important centre for lace making
for generations. The oldest technique is called "point
coupé." In 1665 a Royal French Lace Workshop
was established in Alençon for the King Louis XIV.
The lace makers were influenced by the Italian Venetian
lace maker's techniques, creating what was to become known
as Alençon lace by the end of the 17th century.
The lace was sort after the by European royalty and nobility
to adorn their clothes. As a result of the French Revolution
there was a decline in their main customers plus the development
of lace making machinery brought about the loss of much
of the industry. However, Normandy was resolved to preserve
the lace making tradition and opened the "National
Alençon Lace Workshop" in 1976. They have
also opened what is called the 'Lace Road.' The road leads
to the seven lace making towns of Alençon, Argentan,
Caen, Courseulles, Villedieu-les-Poêles, and la
Perrière. La Perrière is particularly famous
for its netting.
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THE
NORMANDY BEACH.
The largest military landing in history took place in
Normandy on 6 June 1944. Monuments, museums, bunkers and
cemeteries are a living commemoration to the Battle of
Normandy.
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BAYEUX.
An ancient Gallo-Roman town, home of the 900 years old
Bayeux Tapestry, constructed from eight separate pieces
of linen joined together. It is approximately 70 meters
long and half a meter wide. At one time the tapestry was
probably much longer. Its thought there could be as much
as seven or eight meter's missing. This is a great pity
as they may have held the answers to many questions about
the events shown on the tapestry. It is without doubt
a masterpiece showing the story of William the Conqueror's
invasion of England. Also worth seeing is the Memorial
Museum dedicated to the Second World War Normandy Landings.
The pedestrianised rue St Jean is lined with shops, cafes
and restaurants. The surrounding region between the coast
and the countryside is not only an area with outstanding
landscapes and beautiful chateaux it also has the Cotentin
and Bessin Wetlands Nature Park. This huge area holds
such a wealth and variety of original plant and animal
species that it has achieved recognition at European and
international level.
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GIVERNY.
A must for art lovers, this picturesque village on the
banks of the Seine was the home of French impressionist
painter Claude Monet. Visitors can wander through Monet's
spacious house, refurbished in the original colour's and
stroll through the restored gardens, that inspired the
famous water lily paintings. The gardens are open to the
public from Tuesday to Sunday throughout the summer. Please
don't forget your cameras for this one. Also well worth
a visit is the American Art Museum, displaying the work
of American Artist who settled in France during the 19th
and the early 20th century.
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MONT
ST. MICHEL.
This impressive stronghold is an amazing feat of medieval
engineering and architecture. The monastery built on a
rocky island is separated from the mainland by about a
kilometre of sand. Before the causeway was built in 1879,
the only approach was on foot or horseback over the land
bridge at low tide. The crossing was not without risks,
as the unwary traveller could easily be drowned by the
sudden onslaught of the high tide. The currents here are
among the strongest in France, and are capable of shifting
the sands about erratically, creating dangerous fields
of quicksand. The Bayeux tapestry depicts that Harold
and William the Conqueror, visited Mont St. Michel. The
tapestry tells how "Harold pulled them out of the quicksand."
Pilgrims obviously needed great faith to visit Mont St.
Michel. However, modern pilgrims and sightseers can drive
across the causeway in safety avoiding the quicksands
and dangerous tides.
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JUMIEGES
ABBEY.
The abbey was begun by the Benedictine, St Philibert,
in 1040 on the banks of the River Seine. The soaring towers
of Jumieges Abbey rise 46 meter's in to the sky. The abbey,
is a great example of Norman Romanesque art surrounded
by a park of majestic trees.
ROUEN.
This ancient town has a fascinating history and is well
worth including in any itinerary. William the Conqueror
and Joan of Arc died here and Victor Hugo called it "the
city of a hundred spires." Rouen is home to many museums
as well as the Gothic Cathedral immortalised by French
Impressionist Claude Monet.
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DIEPPE.
Said to be the oldest seaside resort in France, has something
to offer all tastes and budgets. You can discover its
history in the castle museum, browse for souvenirs in
the vast array of shops or visit the war memorial on the
beach.
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PLACES
OF INTEREST IN DIEPPE.
The 15th Century Castle.
As
well as a long and interesting history of its own, it
also houses a fine museum tracing the maritime story of
the town. There is also a collection of works by Boudin,
Pissarro, Blanche, Sickert and Braque.
The Church of Saint Rémi.
The church was built between the 16th and the 17th centuries.
The central bell tower dates from the 18th century. Inside
the church you can see the outstanding panelling of the
choir, the organ case and the Renaissance decoration of
the treasure room.
The Port. Located in the heart of the town the trawlers
and river barges provide a colourful scene that has been
a favourite subject for many artists.
Activities.
During the day you can choose from the 18-hole golf course,
tennis, horse racing, sea water therapy centres or wind
surfing to name a few. The colourful Saturday markets
are an interesting experience too. Here you can see the
local farmers and traders selling chickens and vegetables,
oysters, honey and fresh goat's cheese. In the evenings
there are lots of thing to do such as the cinemas, casinos,
various theatres, pubs and piano bars. Between the vast
lawns and the beach you'll find swimming pools and mini
golf, the shingle beach is a popular place for kite flying.
The Chateau de Miromesnil.
The 16th century chateau is best known as the birthplace
of the French writer Guy de Maupassant in 1850. The floral
kitchen gardens are beautifully looked after with displays
of home grown vegetables and flowers. The clematis growing
among roses and fruits on the brick walls of the house
is particularly pretty. There is a tiny chapel, with 18th
century decoration, almost hidden amongst the spectacular
beech grove, that surround the estate. The craftsmanship
of the chateau's facades is of special architectural interest.
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FECAMP.
The town has a commercial harbour, a fishing harbour and
small boat's harbour. There are several restaurants, shops,
a market and a cathedral. The most famous landmark in
Fecamp is the Benedictine Monastery (of liquor fame) once
a famous distillery, to day it houses a museum. From the
cliff top surrounding the town is a superb view of the
city and the sea. There is a large network of W.W.II German
bunkers worth a visit. The fishing harbour is very busy
with boats and trawlers selling their freshly caught fish
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DEAUVILLE.
The glamorous resort of Deauville home to the rich and
famous, is a thriving vacation spot of luxury hotels,
casinos, race tracks, golf courses and polo grounds. It
also hosts a number of cultural events throughout the
year, including theatre, dance and music concert. One
of the biggest new events is the Easter Festival, including
the American and Asian film festivals.
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TROUVILLE.
This charming fishing port and seaside resort on the floral
coast, is famous for its many restaurants, terraced cafes
and grills that serve the most delicious seafood. Its
also famous for its sea water cures, an Aquarium and a
Nautical Centre. Busy throughout the year Trouville, has
shops, a daily fish market and a large typical French
market twice a week on Wednesday and Sunday mornings.
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HONFLEUR.
Known as the birthplace of impressionist painting, the
quaint town has narrow timbered houses leading to a charming
harbour. Monet and Baudelaire are just two of the many
artists who flocked to this 11TH century town.
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LE
TOUQUET.
The resort is said to be the most elegant holiday resort
in northern France, also known as 'Paris by the Sea.'
In 1876 it began as part of a hunting estate with woods
and deserted sand dunes. It became a favourite with the
so called 'smart set' in the 1920's. Noel Coward, the
eccentric English actor, dramatist, and songwriter often
visited Le Touquet at weekends. There are many fine villas
here with locally organised trails to see some of the
outstanding examples. Le Touquet also offers many other
attractions from shopping, swimming and lazing on the
beach to golf and night clubs. Every year, a spectacular
motorbike race called "Enduro" brings thousands of spectators,
to watch the biker's race along the beach and through
the dunes, doing spectacular  "wheelies."
In a large glass pyramid building on the sea front is
the Aqualud water sports centre. The centre has indoor
and outdoor leisure pools and water slides as well as
many other sports activities. Le Touquet has two main
sea water therapy centres plus two Casinos. The Muse du
Touquet (museum) has exhibits of the town's history and
a display of Art work from the Étaples School of Art (1880
to 1914).
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CAEN.
The Caen Memorial Centre traces the town's journey through
the 20th century, with interesting and innovative exhibits.
There are also some spectacular reminders of William the
Conqueror. In the surrounding countryside you will find
pretty villages, set in orchards and lush meadows. The
Normandy landing beaches stretch southwards from Ouistreham
to the main British beach at Arromanches, with acres of
sand. The people and the surrounding region are known
for their warm welcome and love of life.
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BAGNOLES
DE L'ORNE.
This town is considered to be one of the best spa towns
in France and well worth a visit.
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CALAIS.
Calais
is one of Europe's busiest passenger ports, and seaside
towns with lots to offer visitors. You can hunt for bargains
in the colourful markets held on Saturdays and Thursdays,
or browse through the huge array of shops including several
large hypermarkets packed with all kinds of delicious
continental foods. Much of the original town has gone,
however, the canal that formed a protective moat can still
be seen in places and the 13th Century Watchtower in the
Place d'Armes has survived.
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Places
of Interest in Calais.
Rodin's Statue of the City Burghers. In 1347 after months
of siege, the people of Calais were starving. Six leading
citizens offered their own lives to Edward III in exchange
for the lives of their people. Edward's queen Phillipa
of Hainault took pity on them, and asked if the brave
burghers could also be spared. The statue stands outside
the Town Hall. The Muse des Beaux Arts et de la Dentelle.
The museum tells the story of lace making. There is also
a fine collection of water colours and sculpture related
drawings. Muse de la Guerre. In the park opposite the
Town Hall, almost hidden by trees is an old German communication
bunker. To day its home to a war museum. The displays
show life during the Second World War. The Beach. Calais
also has a fine sandy beach with colourful beach huts,
and cafes. The long paved walk beside the beach is the
perfect spot for a summer stroll or bracing walk during
the winter months. If you take the coast road north for
Les Dunes de Flandre, you will find 15 km of flat sand
and dunes.
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LE
HAVRE.
The second-largest seaport in France, it is built on the
Estuary of the River Seine. In the Middle Ages, Le Havre
was small fishing village. It was enlarged in 1517 by
Francois I of France due to the silting up of the nearby
port of Harfleur. In the 17th century Le Havre was transformed
into a military and naval base. During WWII, the city
was almost completely destroyed. The Pont de Normandie
is one of the world's longest suspension bridges, linking
Le Havre with the port city of Honfleur. There is a sandy
beach close to the town centre
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ETRETAT.
This seaside town has a good beach, wonderful cliffs and
some lovely old wooden buildings, some several centuries
old. The main shopping street has a covered market made
of wood, with several shops, specialising in Normandy
crafts. There are some good restaurants and a large casino.
From the top of the hill you get some beautiful views
over of the town, near by you can hire horses and go riding
along the cliffs. Running parallel with the beach is a
long promenade stretching as far as the cliffs in the
distance. There are several cafes along the promenade
making it an ideal spot for people watching. The town
has been depicted by many famous painters including Monet.
The André Malraux Museum has a fantastic collection of
Impressionist works.
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CHERBOURG.
Last year it opened a new sea attraction, the Cité de
la Mer, in what was once the transatlantic terminal. This
is an interactive visitor centre dedicated to man's exploration
of the ocean. There is also the ultimate must do for adults
and kids who like to feel hands on with powerful technology,
a decommissioned submarine.
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