Normandy Holidays — D-Day Beaches, Mont Saint-Michel & Calvados
Normandy
Holidays
D-Day beaches, Mont Saint-Michel, Étretat's chalk cliffs, Camembert and Calvados — history and beauty in equal measure
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Flight Time
Ferry: 3–6h from Portsmouth or Poole; 2h by air to Paris then 2h by road
Best Time
May–September for beaches; June for D-Day commemorations; year-round for history
Country
France
Suppliers
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Normandy Holiday Guide
Normandy in northwest France is one of the most historically significant and scenically beautiful regions in Europe — a land of dramatic chalk cliffs, apple orchards, half-timbered farmhouses, medieval abbeys and the most moving war memorials in the world. The D-Day beaches of June 1944 — Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword — and the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer are among the most important historical sites in the world. Mont Saint-Michel, the medieval abbey on a tidal island, is one of France's most iconic images.
Normandy is also one of the most accessible regions of France from the UK — P&O and Brittany Ferries run regular crossings from Portsmouth to Caen and Cherbourg, and from Poole to Cherbourg. The ferry crossing itself is part of the experience — arriving in Normandy by sea, as the Allied forces did in 1944, adds a powerful dimension to any visit.
The food and drink of Normandy are extraordinary — Camembert, Livarot and Pont-l'Évêque cheeses, Calvados apple brandy, Benedictine liqueur, moules marinières, sole normande and the finest cream and butter in France.
Popular Areas in Normandy
Average Temperatures
Jan
6°C
Feb
7°C
Mar
10°C
Apr
13°C
May
16°C
Jun
19°C
Jul
22°C
Aug
22°C
Sep
19°C
Oct
14°C
Nov
9°C
Dec
6°C
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Call 01282 960 460Top 8 Things To Do in Normandy
The D-Day beaches, medieval abbeys, dramatic coastline, world-famous cheeses and apple brandy that make Normandy one of France's most rewarding regions.
D-Day Beaches — The Most Moving Sites in Europe
The D-Day beaches of 6 June 1944 — Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword — stretch for 80km along the Normandy coast and are among the most historically significant and emotionally powerful sites in the world. The American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer above Omaha Beach, with its 9,387 white marble crosses and Stars of David, is one of the most moving places in Europe. The Mémorial de Caen and the Overlord Museum provide excellent context. Allow a full day for the beaches.
Mont Saint-Michel — The Tidal Island Abbey
Mont Saint-Michel is one of France's most iconic images — a medieval abbey and village on a rocky tidal island, connected to the mainland by a causeway that floods at high tide. The Benedictine abbey at the summit, built between the 11th and 16th centuries, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the finest examples of medieval architecture in France. The bay around Mont Saint-Michel is extraordinary — particularly at high tide when the island is surrounded by water. Arrive early or late to avoid the crowds.
Bayeux — The Tapestry & the First Liberated City
Bayeux is one of the most rewarding towns in Normandy — the first French city to be liberated after D-Day (7 June 1944), and home to the Bayeux Tapestry, a 70-metre embroidered linen strip depicting the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. The tapestry is one of the most extraordinary historical documents in existence — 58 scenes, 623 people, 202 horses and 55 dogs, all embroidered in eight colours of wool. The Bayeux War Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth cemetery in France, is nearby.
Étretat — Dramatic Chalk Cliffs
Étretat on the Alabaster Coast is one of the most dramatic coastal landscapes in France — a small resort town flanked by towering white chalk cliffs with natural arches and a needle rock (the Aiguille) rising from the sea. The cliffs inspired Monet, who painted them dozens of times, and Maupassant, who was born nearby. The clifftop walk between the Falaise d'Aval and the Falaise d'Amont offers extraordinary views. The town itself is charming, with excellent seafood restaurants.
Honfleur — The Most Beautiful Port in France
Honfleur, at the mouth of the Seine estuary, is widely considered the most beautiful port town in France — a perfectly preserved 17th-century harbour of tall, narrow houses reflected in the water, surrounded by art galleries, restaurants and the extraordinary Sainte-Catherine church (the largest wooden church in France, built by shipwrights after the Hundred Years War). Honfleur was the birthplace of Impressionism — Boudin, Monet and the Barbizon School all painted here.
Rouen — Gothic Cathedral & Joan of Arc
Rouen, the capital of Normandy, is one of the finest medieval cities in France — a city of Gothic churches, half-timbered houses and the magnificent Notre-Dame Cathedral that Monet painted 30 times in different lights. Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in the Place du Vieux-Marché in 1431 — the modern Église Jeanne d'Arc on the site is extraordinary. The Musée des Beaux-Arts has an excellent collection of Impressionist paintings. Rouen is 1h20 from Paris by train.
The Pays d'Auge — Apple Country
The Pays d'Auge, inland from Honfleur and Deauville, is the heart of Norman food and drink culture — a landscape of apple orchards, half-timbered manor houses, dairy farms and the villages that give their names to France's greatest cheeses: Camembert, Livarot and Pont-l'Évêque. The Route du Cidre (Cider Route) winds through the orchards and farms of the Pays d'Auge, with tastings of cider, pommeau and Calvados apple brandy at every turn. The village of Camembert is 6km from Vimoutiers.
Norman Food & Drink — Cheese, Cider & Calvados
Normandy has one of the richest food cultures in France — Camembert, Livarot and Pont-l'Évêque cheeses, Calvados apple brandy (aged in oak barrels for up to 20 years), pommeau (apple juice and Calvados), Benedictine liqueur (made in Fécamp since 1863), moules marinières, sole normande (sole in cream and mushroom sauce), teurgoule (rice pudding baked for 6 hours) and the finest cream and butter in France. The Norman table is one of the great pleasures of French travel.
Explore Normandy on the Map
Key areas, beaches and attractions across the island.
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