Normandy — JIDENBA

May 8

May 8 Normandy

Normandy is a beautiful area of France, rich in history, culture, monuments and stunning landscapes. I spent a week visiting the picturesque coastal towns of Etretat, Honfleur and Deauville, the famous Normandy Landings beaches Juno Beach, Gold Beach and Omaha Beach and the historic inland towns of Caen and Bayeux. Here are a few of the highlight from my trip…

Honfleur

Honfleur is a picturesque port town to the east of Le Havre. Its medieval architecture, churches, fountains and galleries make it one of the most visited towns in France. There is so much to do and see here… wander around the cobbled streets, visit the churches and museums or stop for lunch at one of the many restaurants on the port.

And if you are looking for something a little different, why not try a boat trip up the Seine to the Normandy bridge which links Honfleur with Le Havre. This 215 m high and 2141 m long cable-stayed bridge was a world record at the time of construction. And once you have seen the bridge from below, maybe you’ll want to try the drive over whilst heading to Etretat for the day!

Etretat

Etretat, located 30km up the coast from the port of Le Havre, is a very popular destination for sightseers and it’s not hard to understand why. Dramatic white cliffs, turquoise waters and, as the sun goes down, beautifully colored skies make it one of the most instagrammable locations France!

Visitors can walk up the Falaises d’Aval to the West bordering the golf course, or the Falaises d’Amont to the East where you will find the beautiful Etretat gardens. My advice is to arrive early to avoid the crowds, take a walk along the cliffs then head down to the beach to find a sunny spot for lunch and a wander around the town.

Deauville and Trouville-sur-Mer

Deauville has always been an upscale holiday destination popular with Parisiens looking for a break from the city. It’s well known for its huge beach with beach huts named after Hollywood stars, as well as its casino, golf course, horse races and American Film Festival.

Trouville, is the charming and authentic neighbour and, as the two towns are right next door to each other, it’s easy to visit them both at the same time!

The group Barriere has 3 excellent hotels in Deauville if you are looking for somewhere to stay: Le Normandy and Le Royal - Deauville in the centre of town and l’Hotel du Golf for those wishing to wake up on the golf course.

Cabourg

Further east along the coast after Deauville, Cabourg is another popular seaside town. Take a stroll down Avenue de la Mer from the Town Hall to the Casino Gardens and the Grand Hotel Cabourg then wander along the sea front.

The Normandy Landings Beaches

The Allied landings on the D-Day beaches in Normandy were one of the most important and daring military operations in world history. A trip to these beaches shows us what went on during World War II and gives us a glimpse at the bravery of all those who fought for our freedom.

Juno Beach

Juno Beach is one of the Eastern landing beaches and is home to Canada’s Memorial Museum, the Juno Beach Center. I highly recommend taking the guided tour of the bunkers here, it’s great for both adults and children.

Ver-Sur-Mer

Ver-Sur-Mer is situated at the eastern end of Gold Beach, the most central landing beach out of the five. It’s home to the British Normandy Memorial and the America Gold Beach Museum. At low tide, you can walk the length of Gold Beach from Ver-Sur-Mer to Arromanches.

Arromanches-les-Bains

Arromanches-les-Bains, also known as Gold Beach, is one of my favorite Normandy Landings beaches thanks to its artificial port. At low tide, you can explore the remains of the massive metal structures that were built in Britain and floated across to France in preparation for Operation Overlord.

Both the D-Day Museum down by the beach and The Arromanches 360 cinema up on the hill are worth a visit too.

Omaha

Omaha Beach is one of the two American landing areas in Normandy and many of the memorials here are dedicated to the Americans. One of the most impressive sites is the American Cemetery with its 9,388 white headstones, each one an American life lost.

Places to visit include the Omaha Beach Memorial Museum, the Overlord Museum and for those who may be traveling with a dog, the D-Day Omaha Museum which is the only dog-friendly museum in the area.

Bayeux

Bayeux is a medieval town 10km from the channel coast. It is known for its cobbled streets and half-timber houses, it’s Norman-Gothic Cathedral Notre-Dame and it’s famous 68 meter long tapestry. If you are visiting the Normandy Landings beaches, I’d definitely suggest a quick visit to Bayeux whilst your are in the area.

Caen

Caen is approximately 20km from the coast and is worth a stop on any visit to the Normandy Landings Beaches. As the capital of Normandy, the battle for Caen that followed the D-Day landings was significant. The most famous sites to visit include the castle, its two abbeys, the botanical gardens and the memorial for peace charting the events leading up to and after the battle for Caen.

For more information or to reserve your hotel in Normandy, contact jill@jidenba.com

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