Bordered by the English Channel, this historic region with a strong cultural identity is a Land of Adventure, evocative of rich discoveries. Between History and Culture, Heritage and Gardens, Beaches and Leisure, your next vacation in Normandy promises many wonderful surprises. Here’s an overview of the coasts (Albâtre, Grâce, Fleurie, Nacre…) of this puzzle of natural regions with their varied and surprising scenery.
Take a dip in the English Channel and let yourself be lulled by its maritime atmosphere
With some 600 kms of coastline, seaside resorts of international renown (Deauville, Cabourg, Etretat…) and mythical sites (Mont-Saint-Michel, Falaises d’Etretat, D-Day beaches…), Normandy is rightly a leading tourist destination.
This vast playground for weekend Parisians is a veritable paradise for lovers of maritime landscapes and leisure activities. Did you know? Unlike the ocean, the shallow English Channel heats up very quickly! It also benefits from the rising temperatures of the many rivers that feed it, notably the Seine, with temperatures approaching 14°C at the end of winter! With global warming, it now reaches 20-21°C in summer! So don’t forget to pack your swimsuits!
If the beach is your thing, here are a few not-to-be-missed activities in Normandy, with the English Channel and its sublime panoramas as a backdrop: guided walks on Mont-Saint-Michel, horseback riding on Cabourg beach, sand yachting on Omaha Beach, sea kayaking in Deauville, microlight flights over Le Havre and Etretat, sand gallops in Deauville at sunset… Another option: admire Normandy and its more distant horizons (Channel Islands) from the open sea by renting a boat!
Finally, you can’t go to Normandy without visiting the Côte Fleurie! The Normandy coastline between Cabourg and Honfleur is a veritable marvel: Deauville and its famous planking, Trouville and its authentic fishing port, Villers-sur-Mer, Blonville-sur-Mer… Other seaside resorts not to be missed on your Normandy vacation include Grandville, “the Monaco of northern France”, Le Tréport, Dieppe, Arromanches-les-Bains…
Prefer a less touristy seaside? Then head for Lindbergh-Plage, Barneville-Carteret on the Cotentin peninsula, Varengeville-sur-Mer beach just a stone’s throw from Dieppe, Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue (France’s favorite village in 2019), Créances and its view of the Channel Islands, the Chausey Islands…
Immerse yourself in history, then recharge your batteries in a remarkable garden
Vacationing in Normandy also means following in the footsteps of the Vikings. Arriving on the Seine in 841, these Scandinavian pirate-explorers left a strong imprint on the region, as evidenced by the toponyms in -fleur (“floth” in Scandinavian = river) or -beuf (“buth” = hut): Barfleur, Cricquebeuf, Elbeuf, Harfleur, Honfleur… Interested in Viking life? Visit the Dreknor in Carentin, an exact replica of a drakkar (Bateau d’Intérêt Patrimonial), the Ornavik historical park in Hérouville, and Rouen (maritime and antique museums, Notre-Dame cathedral…).
If you’re interested in history, head for the Caen Memorial and the emblematic D-Day beaches on the Côte de Nacre: Ouistreham, Sword Beach, Juno Beach, Gold and Omaha Beaches.
Normandy is also a must-do for its natural landscapes. Rich in listed natural areas (Baie du Mont-Saint-Michel, Cap Levi, Domaine de Beauguillot, Havre de Portbail, Réserve ornithologique du Gros Banc, Roche d’Oetre…), it is also home to no fewer than 40 remarkable gardens! Not to be missed: the Jacques-Prévert and Pays d’Auge gardens, Giverny, Etretat, Les Oubliées, Castillon, Mesnil, Les Sculptures… As well as the Parks and Gardens of the Châteaux: Carneville, Nacqueville, Tourlaville, Tocqueville, Vauville, Vendeuvre…
When you come to Hauteville-sur-Mer in Normandy, you’ll discover a land of inspiration. Following in the footsteps of the artists of yesterday (Claude Monet, Georges Braque, Renoir, Victor Hugo, Gustave Flaubert…) and today, our “Expériences Art & Couleurs” village in Hauteville-sur-Mer offers you a vacation that’s as relaxing as it is sporty, gastronomic or cultural. Come and enjoy Normandy!