Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, Normandy

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

...bridgehead. Unfortunately due to time limitations we bypassed Gold and Sword beaches although we drove through Arromanches (near Gold beach) to look at the artificial Mulberry harbour out at sea. UTAH If you only want to visit one war related museum on your trip I would recommend the Utah Beach museum which is situated in Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, opposite the beach itself. Entry for an adult is around 5 euros and children aged 4-12 cost 2 euros. Particularly if you have children this museum has more to look at in terms of talking points and educational items to look at, there are scaled reconstructions of the landing and everything is immaculately laid out and labelled. Most impressive was the Tobrouk bunker now installed within the museum along with a 75mm gun. Of all the items on display I was pleased to actually see a US Willis Jeep... Read review

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Advantages: Easy Access from UK
Disadvantages: None that I can think of

...I have been to Normandy four times now and have never tired of it. I'm planning to visit again in August next year. Normandy is on of the most historic of the French 'departments'. With the obvious connections of William the Conquerer, to the almost modern day history of the D-Day Landing Beaches. In Normandy you will never be stuck for something to do. We usually choose to stay at Deauville, a resort on the coast. Deauville is easily accessible from all of the major ports in Normandy, 30 mins drive from Caen and Le Harve and about 2 1/2 hours from Cherbourg and Dieppe. Tourist attractions include the Bayeux Tapestry, Bayeux being about 2 hours drive from Deauville. The D-Day Landing Beaches, scattered along the Norman coast, with museums and other related attractions such as Mulberry Harbour and Pegasus Bridge. Caen... Read review

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

...itself holds many attractions with excellent seafood restaurants along the Quai Henri IV (Le New Haven and Le Sully are personal favourites) but it is the beautiful area around Dieppe itself that continues to attract French holiday makers. The 'Pays de Bray' which stretches from Neufchatel en Bray (from where the excellent heart-shaped local cheese originates) to encompass the valleys of the Bethune, Eaulne and Varenne and includes the spa town of Forges-les Eaux. The undulating landscape of the Pays de 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... Read review

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