Rendez-vous In Normandy

Who would not be moved by the magic of Mont-Saint-Michel?
Who could forget that it was on the beaches of Normandy that one of the most important events in world history took place?
Who could not enjoy Normandy’s unique landscapes, marvelous seascapes and magnificent cultural heritage?
Beautiful, inspiring, and historic: Normandy awaits you.

A land of varied landscapes

On the Côte d'Albâtre, or Alabaster Coast, the sheer cliffs drop onto pebble beaches and to the sea. Among these is the breathtaking cliffs of Etretat, which is not far from picturesque port towns such as Fécamp (which houses the superb Benedictine Palace).
Jutting into the Channel, along the Cotentin peninsula, you will see marshes, moors and cliffs, until you reach the famous Mont Saint Michel. In the Orne, near Alençon, you can also explore the Regional Natural Parks of Normandie-Maine and Perche.

A rich historical heritage

Feel the weight of history in Rouen, where the medieval quarter and its characteristic half-timbered houses will take you back in time to the era of Joan of Arc. A major commercial port, rebuilt by Auguste Perret after the Second World War, the city of Le Havre is classified as a UNESCO world heritage monument.
In Caen, the Abbaye aux Dames bears witness to the love between William the Conqueror and Queen Mathilde during the Hundred Years’ War – the history of this period is illustrated in the famous Bayeux Tapestry.
Profoundly affected by the Second World War, Lower Normandy invites a veritable military pilgrimage, particularly during the D-Day Festival in Normandy. The Caen Memorial, the D-Day Museum and the Memorial Museum of Omaha Beach are the main memorial sites to visit.
Upper Normandy was a holy ground for Impressionist painters. Follow in the footsteps of Claude Monet at the Impressionists’ Museum in Giverny, at the Claude Monet foundation, or at the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Rouen, a site which he illustrated in about 30 different paintings.

Normandy is a resolutely gourmet region

The local products and specialties of Upper Normandy are waiting to be discovered at the Fête du Ventre (festival of the stomach) in Rouen. Many delicious specialties hail from the coast of the Channel, such as scallops and Cotentin oysters. In Dieppe, you can taste fresh local herrings cooked right on the streets of the city at the Herring Festival in February. As Normandy is known for its abundant dairy farms, cream is a key ingredient in the sauces of the region’s traditional dishes, such as the escalope normande and moules frites à la normande.

Enjoy the flavors of rural Normandy, from the savory Andouillette de Vire (sausage dish) to the creamy Normandy butter, the rich cheeses from the pays d'Auge (including camembert, Pont-l'Evêque, and Neufchâtel), and the hearty Caen tripe dish.

Normandy’s abundant apple orchards naturally produce a plethora of culinary specialties, such as the delectable apple tart the Tarte Normande, cider and Calvados. The latter is traditionally drunk between courses to aid digestion: this is known as a Trou Normand (or “Normandy hole”).
Once you have made room for dessert, try the local Teurgoule (creamy rice pudding) or visit the Chocolatrium or the Normandie Caramels shop.

A lively region all year round

Music is a vibrant aspect of the region. In the city of Coutances, they have been hosting a Jazz festival under the apple trees (Jazz Sous les Pommiers) for 30 years. In northern Normandy, Evreux hosts the rock music festival Rock dans tous ses états as well as a jazz festival, l'Oreille du Cyclone.

All throughout the region, the Autumn Festival of Normandy showcases theatre, music and dance. Art is boasted at the Biennial of Contemporary Art in Le Havre and at the Viva Cité Festival near Rouen. For cinema fans, there’s the renowned American Film Festival in Deauville

Far away from glitters, Normandy is full of ideas for family outings. Among them, there’s the Zoo Park in Clères, the Gardens of  Moutiers, the Festyland Amusement Park, and the beautiful Zoo in Cerza. In Cherbourg, the Cité de la Mer will lead you to an interactive discovery of the world under the sea.

Why not pay a visit to Normandy?