Normandy Trip Ideas

[JohnnyRoyal]

Good morning all
We are off to Normandy on Thursday for a 16 night Road trip. Really looking forward to this.
Just wanted to ask about any hidden gems to visit and stay that people can recommend?
We are members of Camping Car Park and French Passion.
We intend to go towards Honfluer/Etretat. Then head inland for a week and then come back to Caen via the coast.
Any ideas would be really appreciated
Thanks again
John

 

[Go_buddy_go_]

Will watch with interest as this is our plan next year

 

[MichaelT]

Mont St Michel, gouville sur mer, new DDay museum in Arroumanche

 

[Orion]

The Suisse Normande area to the south of Caen is very good for walking, kayaking, and ther outdoor pursuits.

Visit the Suisse Normande - Normandy Tourism, France

Discover the Suisse Normande (Norman Switzerland), a wild, hilly stretch of land around the Orne river perfect for kayaking, hiking and rock-climbing,

en.normandie-tourisme.fr

 

[Oldrat]

Pegasus museum.

Arromanches.

The new and very impressive British Normandy memorial at Ver Sur Mer.

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[windboy]

Bayeux cemetery is a must. Recommend the gardens at Etretat (see pic attached). Maisy Battery, Le Mont Saint Michel. Berck on the coast to see seals, better view when tide is out.

 

[windboy]

Pic now attached

 

[Hawkstone]

Mont St Michel, gouville sur mer, new DDay museum in Arroumanche

Definitely all of the above. Keep an eye on the CCP website for Mont Saint Michel as it is often very busy. We pre booked just to make sure.

 

[stevewagner]

Dead Mans Corner is an excellent museum and cinema, 360 degree cinema at Arromanche and the Longues sur Mer battery are all excellent. Unfortunately the silhouettes display at the British War Memorial has now gone but it is still worth a visit. All the five WWII beaches are worth visiting.
Also one of my favourites is the Bayeaux Tapestry as it mentions Pevensey where we live!

 

[Blossom]

Sainte-Mère-Église is a nice town to visit, it was the first town to be liberated. It has a good museum to wonder round and also plenty of Resteraunt's and bars. It also has a campsite in the town but it would be good to check if it is open at this time of year.

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[JohnnyRoyal]

Thanks very much to everyone who has suggested Ideas for our trip. I will look at them all and see what we can do

 

[TerryL]

In Normandie ATM. We've done all the landings places before so just pootling around some of the lesser known areas, just to see what's around, picking out nice looking Aires to stopover.
There are still a lot of French m/hs around and it's a good idea to be parked up by 3.30ish or you could struggle.

 

[RioRob]

We intend to go towards Honfluer/Etretat. Then head inland for a week and then come back to Caen via the coast.
Any ideas would be really appreciated
Thanks again
John

If you're going to Etretat then a visit to Fecamp a bit further along the coast may be of interest. You'll find the Palais Benedictine there which looks like a Loire Chateau and is actually the Benedictine Distillery. They do tours and sampling if you're that way inclined.

 

[Puddleduck]

Villedeux-les-Pouelles on Tuesday for the market
Grandville-sur-mer is a very relaxing place and you can take boat trips out to the islands.

 

[cyberyacht]

You'll find the Palais Benedictine there which looks like a Loire Chateau and is actually the Benedictine Distillery. They do tours and sampling if you're that way inclined.

No it's not. I visited quite a few years ago. Was disappointed to discover that the distillery is all modern elsewhere and not a monk to be seen labouring over an old copper condenser. Samples were OK though.

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[Dorwyn]

Villedeux-les-Pouelles on Tuesday for the market

Haven't been there for some years, is the Aires in the middle of the town still open?

 

[JohnnyRoyal]

In Normandie ATM. We've done all the landings places before so just pootling around some of the lesser known areas, just to see what's around, picking out nice looking Aires to stopover.
There are still a lot of French m/hs around and it's a good idea to be parked up by 3.30ish or you could struggle.

That’s great to know and will give you a wave if we see each other

 

[AlunandFelicie]

One of our favourites is Port en Bessin ,sitting between the invasion beaches (used as Ouistreham in The Longest Day {nuns walking down the hill to treat the wounded})still very authentic.the Aire has loads of room ,is quiet and an easy walk into the harbour ,quirky shops ,piers to walk out on (you can see the Mullberry harbour from here)and a weird scallop shell beach

 

[dash300]

One of our favourites is Port en Bessin ,sitting between the invasion beaches (used as Ouistreham in The Longest Day {nuns walking down the hill to treat the wounded})still very authentic.the Aire has loads of room ,is quiet and an easy walk into the harbour ,quirky shops ,piers to walk out on (you can see the Mullberry harbour from here)and a weird scallop shell beachView attachment 951428

Agreed. Just returned from there.
One thing I would add is getting the tides right for the full beach vista as would have been on D Day.
If it's high tide during you daytime visit you will see little of the beaches as the tide comes right in and covers the beaches which is a shame.
As a historical fact the Army favoured a high tide landing to minimise exposure to beach defenses. The Navy likewise for their protection favoured a low tide landing
The agreed compromise was a landing 3 hours after low tide.
Pont du Hoc a well worth visit particularly to see the massive shell holes and bullet splattered bunkers.
Longue sur mer for other German bunkers with guns still in situ. Both free.
Don't forget to buy yourself a clicker/cricket to watch the Longest Day with!