Normandy (France)

Advantages: Green and pleasant, interesting, accessible
Disadvantages: Overdeveloped coast, unexceptional scenery

...Norseman, for the duchy of Normandy was originally carved out from France by Viking marauders in the 9th and 10th centuries. Early Dukes with such blood-curdling names as Rolf the Ganger, Richard the Fearless and Robert the Devil were at daggers drawn with their French neighbours for generations before William the Bastard became William the Conqueror as he staged his coup and added England to his domains. Regrettably, some of the traces of the region’s ...
...Curiously, given its turbulent history, Normandy is less well supplied with castles. Apart from the Chateau at Caen, which was obviously much reduced in WW2, only the fortress that towers above the town of Falaise in the south of the département stands out in the memory. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Falaise is also a good centre from which to explore the most scenic part of the area, the so-called Suisse Normande ... Read review

Advantages: Lots to do and see connected with WWII, pleasant countryside and friendly people.
Disadvantages: Another week needed to fit it all in.

...My motive for visiting Normandy was specific in visiting places connected to WWII. Obviously such recent history cannot be avoided (or should be) when visiting Normandy so there are lots of places to visit, see and learn about. Our gite (cottage) was in lower Normandy (Basse-Normandie) about 100 kms from the landing beaches of Omaha and Utah but that didn't stop us travelling up there on two separate days within the week to see them. Juno (Canadian) ...
...in the south west of Normandy Avranches is a pleasant, busy small town, Avranches itself saw fierce fighting in World War II when Patton's Third Army outflanked the Germans to take the town, there is a Patton Place in the centre of town to remember this event. The town is situated on high ground so in places can command amazing views, especially from the Jardin des Plantes, the views looking west towards the Baie du Mont-St-Michel are fantastic and ... Read review

Advantages: A wonderful place to visit
Disadvantages: None

I can remember the day, no, the second that it happened. I had just joined the sixth form and was studying Flaubert’s Madame Bovary, drunk on the heady joys of French literature. I was also taking Spanish at A level but, though I liked it, it never wove the same spell that French did. And my third subject, English, well I’d known for a long time about the delights of that. This was all new, and magical. When I walked into Coventry City library, ...
...was about to fall in love. I did some work on Flaubert, then looked at general books on Normandy, where he had lived, and where the novel is set. I turned a page, and in so doing turned over my heart. It was so sudden, the coup de foudre, and I was hopelessly in love. As I gazed at the wonderful painting spread across two large pages in front of me, I seemed to step into it, into the soft eddy of colour, swimming effortlessly in the lily pool until ... Read review

Advantages: Relatively unknown to English tourists
Disadvantages: I can't think of any

...Bray evokes the essence of Normandy - peaceful hamlets of colombage houses, Normandy cows and of course the apple trees which produce the region's excellent cider. Our personal favourite is the Vallee de la Varenne. The river Varenne wends its way peacefully through Saint-Saens, a picturesque market town with a very good restaurant (Le Relais Normand), past the beautiful Saint-Saens golf club which is reputed to be one of the most scenic courses ...
...sea near Dieppe on the Cote d'Albatre. The beautiful Foret d'Eawy (the second largest beech forest in France after that of Lyons-la-Foret) rises up from the valley and many varied routes are clearly signposted to enable both the walker and cyclist to take advantage of the scenery and possibly spot a deer or wild boar roaming freely. The coast itself was a favourite of many artists and Monet painted a series of his favourite coastal views reflecting ... Read review

Advantages: Great D-Day memorials, lots for kids, great food.
Disadvantages: Crowds in Mont St Michel in July/August.

Normandy in August provides a true D-Day experience combined with easy to drive roads, great beaches, excellent food and the odd tourist trap such as Mont St Michel. We stayed at a newly set up Bed and Breakfast "la Clos de Bellefontaine" in Bayeux, which proved an excellent base of operations for a family holiday with a three year old boy. Originating in the UK we took Speedferries across from Dover to Boulogne. Originally arriving at 9pm with ...
...out for the locals in Normandy with plates ending "14" - one cut us up on a roundabout (while putting make up on) and another matched speed as we entered an empty freeway to practically drive us off the road. However these were the exceptions and the roads were emptier than the UK and typically 2 lane freeways. We used the peage (toll freeways). Many people seemed frightened to use the credit card (carte bancaire - designated "CB") lanes which were ... Read review

Advantages: Excellent food, service and atmosphere
Disadvantages: No outdoor seating; upstairs toilets

...Before visiting Honfleur, Normandy, for the day I looked at the Ciao France website to see if there were any reviews of restaurants in the town. All I found, however, was a piece of advice that recommended avoiding the restaurants on the waterfront, which it described as 'tourist traps', and seeking out a restaurant in one of the side streets. My 'Rough Guide to France' was too heavy to take along, so I copied out the names and addresses of one or two restaurants that it listed. Unsurprisingly for a fishing port, they all seemed to specialise in seafood. We spent about an hour and a half wandering around Honfleur and were amazed at the number of restaurants there are; you are certainly spoilt for choice, and if a bucket of mussels floats your boat you are in for a treat. We stopped and looked at one or two menus, including that of La... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Free to get in (to main part)
Disadvantages: Difficult / No access for wheelchair/pushchair

...Mont St Michel in the Gulf of St-Malo off the coast of Normandy, France. The Benedictine monastery (founded 708 AD) was used as a prison from the time of the French Revolution (1789-1799) until 1863. I visited Mont St Michel on a day trip during a fmily holiday in June. I was with my husband and 2 children (age 2 and 4 months at the time). The day we went was overcast to the first view of the Monastry was not as spectaular as I'm sure it is on a fine day. We paid c5 Euros to park and then walked about 100yards to the entrance and then paid another 1 Euro to use the loo! It was heaving with people when we got there which was a bit scary with a toddler who wanted to run and explore and a pushchair to manouvre. The path were very narrow and cobblestone which was great to see as I love all things historical but it was very... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: beautiful architecture and atmosphere
Disadvantages: why should it have any! well, kinda expensive to hang around

...on holiday to French Normandy and that Mt. St.-Michel would be one of our destinations and she showed me pictures from her previous trip to that place. I almost had a heart-attack when I saw I was going to lay my feet on the dreamt ground! Ok, let me be a little more factual now. Location and accessibility Le Mont Saint Michel is situated in Normandy, France, in the bay of St. Malo. We went there from Granville by car, which is probably the best as you can park right by the coast. Don't forget to check the high tide information though, because as the tide comes in, the only land access goes under water! I was surprised to find out that in that part of French seaside the difference of low and high tide could easily be even more than 10m! Walking up the hill to the abbey is quite a walk, so make sure you wear good shoes and have... Read review

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