Normandy: All destinations, advice & information for your holidays!
In spring, Normandy on the English Channel presents itself in a colorful way thanks to the lush vegetation. This natural spectacle has already inspired famous painters like Claude Monet and Paul Cézanne. On the Alabaster, Flower, and Mother-of-Pearl Coast, you will find beautiful sandy beaches for swimming.
Table of contents
Normandy - The most beautiful cities
Honfleur
Honfleur is located on the Côte Fleurie, where the Seine flows into the English Channel. The town is primarily known for its harbor, which is surrounded by colorful houses. Here, you can enjoy typical Norman specialties in a restaurant and watch the bustling activity in the harbor. Honfleur has a maritime character: the town features the wooden sailors' church Sainte Catherine from the 15th century, as well as the Maritime Museum, which is housed in a former church. Art is also omnipresent: exhibitions are regularly held in the Greniers à Sel, the old salt warehouses.
Cabourg
The elegant seaside resort on the Flower Coast captivates with its unique charm. Stroll along the Marcel Proust promenade and visit the Villa du temps retrouvé, a museum dedicated to the Belle Époque and Proust's work. In Cabourg, the famous writer is omnipresent. With his novel "In Search of Lost Time," Marcel Proust created a literary monument to Cabourg. From 1907 to 1914, Proust stayed at the Grand Hotel right on the seafront promenade. Here you can enjoy the exquisite cuisine of the hotel's restaurant and let your gaze wander over the sea.
Deauville
Before it was developed into an elegant seaside resort, Deauville was a simple fishing village. At the beginning of the 20th century, luxury hotels like the Normandy, to which the French singer Patricia Kaas dedicated a song, were built, as well as the railway connection to Paris. A horse racing track was also built, which is still in operation today. Deauville has retained its glamorous character. The coastal town still attracts celebrities from all over the world who come in the summer for the American Film Festival. The main attractions include the beach, Place Morny, and Villa La Breloque. Pure relaxation awaits you in the Pompeian bathing facility.
Étretat
The northern French town of Étretat is located in Normandy on the Côte d'Albâtre. The town is famous for its particularly striking chalk cliffs: the Porte d’Amont, the Porte d’Aval, and the Manneporte. All three giants offer an impressive view from the coast, the beach, and the water. From the central beach in Étretat, a hiking trail runs along the breathtaking coast. It is part of the well-known GR21 hiking trail, which runs from Le Havre to Le Tréport. Another highlight is the Gardens of Étretat – an extraordinary, artistic blend of garden and sculptures that merge together.
Giverny
On the right bank of the Seine, Giverny appears with its flower-adorned rows of houses and the massive stone church Sainte-Radegonde like something out of a picture book. The greatest attraction of the 500-soul village in Normandy is the delicately pink house and the lavishly blooming garden of the impressionist painter Claude Monet. Here, the French artist created his world-famous, color-flickering nature paintings. Lush foliage, fragrant flower beds, and changing light moods caress the senses. In Monet's water garden, you will discover the water lily pond immortalized in oil paints with the Japanese bridge overgrown with purple wisteria. Also worth seeing are Monet's charming studio and the nearby Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny, where high-quality art exhibitions await you.
Bayeux
In Bayeux, a rarity awaits you: The Bayeux Tapestry is known far beyond the borders of France. It was commissioned in the 11th century by Bishop Odo. The elaborate embroideries supposedly depict the conquest of England in 1066. The medieval center contributes to the nostalgic charm of the city. There are 5,000 works to discover in the Baron Gérard Museum, which is housed in the Bishop's Palace. The Musée Mémorial de la Bataille de Normandie reports on the Battle of Normandy. If you want to take a break in between, the Botanical Garden is a good option. A listed weeping willow is one of the highlights.
Rouen
In Rouen, you encounter a piece of history at every turn: A walk through the alleys of the old town takes you on a time travel to the Middle Ages, while a stone on the Old Market Square commemorates the execution of Saint Joan of Arc, who was burned at the stake. However, in the port of Rouen, which is one of the largest in France, the atmosphere is distinctly modern. Numerous restaurants line the waterfront, and the bars celebrate until the early hours of the morning. And then, of course, there is the Armada, the famous harbor festival that takes place every five years.
Le Tréport
The tides shape Le Tréport. At the cliffs, which can be up to 110 meters high, you can observe the difference in the tides. Fishing boats constantly arrive at the harbor. You can buy the abundant catch in the city's fish market. In the harbor district and in the winding streets of the center, there are also excellent fish restaurants. Marvel at the historical residential buildings during a city tour, lovingly designed with bay windows and balconies. One of the highlights is the Musée du Vieux Tréport, housed in the former prison. You can enjoy a perfect view of the sea from the pier, where the lighthouse is located.
Normandy - 5 most beautiful natural sights
Vernier Marsh
Where the Seine and the English Channel meet, the Marais Vernier is far from the hustle and bustle of larger cities. In this ideal family vacation spot, you can go birdwatching on foot or by bike at dawn or in the late evening. You will then discover ospreys, peregrine falcons, grey herons, owls, and white storks in their natural habitat. A particularly good view is offered from the observation tower at the reed-fringed lake La Grand Mare. Donkey walks along thatched houses make children's eyes especially bright. Just a stone's throw away is Pont-Audemer, a small Norman town with countless canals. There, old tanneries, cheese shops, and bakeries, as well as hidden courtyards, await your discovery.
Botanical Gardens
The Botanical Garden of Rouen is located on the southern bank of the Seine. It covers an area of 8.5 hectares. In the green area, plants from all continents can be seen. In the pavilion and the orangery, there are exhibitions by various artists throughout the year. Giant sequoias, American oaks, and ginkgo trees are just some of the remarkable plants in the Botanical Garden of Rouen. Families like to take a break at the playground during a visit. There is a kiosk where snacks and drinks are sold. The bee garden is interesting: information boards provide insights into the life of these important insects.
Norman Switzerland
Numerous hiking trails for the whole family lead through forests, gorges, and valleys in the Norman Switzerland in northwestern France. Great viewpoints provide an overview of the approximately 400-meter-high cliffs. In the valley, the Rouvre and Orne rivers flow, inviting refreshing swims. A popular destination for hikers is the country's highest waterfalls, the Mortain waterfalls. In a kayak or canoe on the sometimes gently babbling, sometimes rapidly rushing rivers, you can discover the region from a new perspective. Climbers are drawn to the cliffs like Clécy on the Via Ferrata.
Mont-Saint-Michel Bay
The Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel stretches from the Breton town of Cancale in the west to Granville in the east. About a kilometer off the coast, Mont Saint-Michel rises from the sea. At low tide, you can walk through the mudflats to the island with the famous abbey. The Bay of Mont Saint-Michel is also known for its salt marshes, where sheep graze. Places like Granville, the Monaco of the North, are worth a visit. In Saint-Malo, west of the bay, you can explore the old town surrounded by high granite walls, which was once a stronghold for privateers.
Cliffs of Étretat
For millennia, the waves have carved true masterpieces from chalk and flint. The white cliffs of the Alabaster Coast bear romantic names like Manneporte, Courtine, or Belval. To explore the rocks of Étretat, take the GR21 hiking trail, which runs from Le Havre to Le Tréport. In Étretat, you will find a market and a museum dedicated to the fictional master thief Arsène Lupin. The Gardens of Étretat, perched high above the cliffs and featuring fascinating plant sculptures, are also worth a visit. From here, you can catch a breathtaking view of the chalk cliffs.
Normandy - Climate
"In Normandy, there is good weather several times a day," goes a well-known saying. This means that after one of the frequent rain showers, the sun quickly comes out again. The Gulf Stream determines the mild climate in the northwest of France. The average annual temperature is between ten and twelve degrees. Low-pressure areas, mostly coming from Iceland, send wet weather to Normandy in winter. The least rain falls from June to August. During these months, temperatures reach 24 to 27 degrees. From June, the sea warms up to around 19 degrees. The bathing season lasts until September.
The following graph shows the average weather conditions for the country. Historical weather conditions may vary by region.