(NORMANDIE, FRANCE) — You can spend a day, a week or a month in Normandie and never get enough. We only had a couple of days on our own to explore the province after taking a D-Day tour, so didn’t get to see a lot, but here are my favorite finds.

Normandie is really really old. Certainly there were neolithic settlements, but it was settled by the Vikings long ago –“Northmen land” is basically what the name translates to — who in the 800s rowed up the Seine in their longboats all the way up to Paris — long before the Viking Longboats were even conceived — pillaging along the way and eventually seizing the province from France. Then the Celts, William the Conqueror, the Romans, then a bunch of other people.

Here follows is my short list of cool things I found in two short days in Normandie.

[Editor’s Note: I’m spelling Normandie two different ways throughout this post, the French or English spelling. Not sure of my rhyme or reason, but it’s on purpose and not a typo.]

Visit the Beautiful Port Town of Honfleur

Honfleur has always been a treasured town, mostly because of its strategically located harbor, right. at the mouth of the Seine.The little harbor is loaded with shops and cafes, cheek by jowl. We just stopped in for lunch, but were late and a lot of places were closed for the afternoon, so didn’t get a chance to explore much. Come in the Spring, Summer or Fall.

Here’s a great guide on Honfleur from the great Normandie Tourism site. Here’s a great roundup story of 36 Hours in Honfleur from Luxe Adventure Traveler. TripAdvisor’s Guide to Honfleur.

Overnight in the Beautifully Restored Caen

We only arrived late at night in Caen, had dinner and left early the next morning, but what a gorgeous city.  Never seen a better use of big windows. Beautiful architecture all around, most of it fairly new after a total rebuild after WWII.  Luckily, they built everything like it was instead of ugly modern buildings.  It has a gigantic Gothic cathedral, the Caen WWII Memorial and several huge abbeys.

With such a short time, we didn’t get to explore much, this hometown of William the Conqueror, but here’s a good guide from the Normandie Tourism website. And a good guide from Lonely Planet.

A Perfect Apartment Stay in the Center of Caen

The whole apartment is beautifully decorated.    

My cousin Joe found this awesome like apartment hotel in the center of Caen, a perfect place in a perfect location. Chez Laurence Du Tilly. It’s just a few self-contained apartments in a shared building, with a generous sitting area and bar on the ground floor. Gorgeously decorated, the owner has impeccable style. Each day, bread is delivered inside the door and your fridge comes stocked with breakfast essentials. It’s a pretty unmanned building, so you’re left alone. Great setup. Highly recommend. And just steps from the main square and great restaurants.

 

 La Casiniére — An Excellent Restaurant in Caen

Our hotel recommended this cute little place, La Casiniere, just a few blocks from the hotel and main square. Lovely room in an ancient building. Great food and atmosphere.

 Bayeux

Visit the Legendary Bayeux Tapestries

Where I first read about the importance of the gigantic Bayeux Tapestry and it’s role in Norman and English relations as it tells the history of William the Conqueror, a couple of Howards and a great family feud that split/combined England and France (very confusing).

I was expecting a gigantic floor to ceiling, hundred yard long thick carpet. I was a bit shocked when I saw this football field long needlepoint that wrapped around this dark room. But once I understood the story and how it was portable and taken around the lands, it’s size made much more sense.  I hear it can get really crowded in summer, so make sure you book tickets in advance.

 Stay in a Chateau Owned by a Former Parisian Chef

It’s not the fanciest chateau, but livable and reasonably priced. The owners, Vincent, is a former chef from Paris before he and his wife Corinne bought this place in 2009 and restored it. Vincent can cook for you in the downstairs drawing room, or you can run into Caen, a quick fifteen minute drive.

Eat at One of Bayeux’s Top Restaurants

Here is Le Rapiere’s website.

Top Normandy D-Day Sites

I have another very dense post on my favorite D-Day Tour sites here.

More Information on Normandy

Here’s a great overview of the rich history of Normandie.

And for general Normandy info. Here’s a guide from Vogue. And a Normandy guide from The Independent. And a Normandy Guide from Conde Nast Traveler. And a great guide from Culture Trip on the 10 Reasons Why You Should Visit Normandy.

— Last Visited December 2018 —