DK Travel : Normandy

Normandy brings a dozen different images to mind: William the Conqueror, the D-Day landings, Mont-St-Michel; the bleak landscape of the Cotentin coast, the sparkling summertime playground of the Côte Fleurie; sumptuous châteaux, historic abbeys, famous gardens; the orchards of the Auge, the picture-postcard scenery of the Suisse Normande; Monet’s home at Giverny, the Cabourg immortalized by Proust – or perhaps it’s cider, calvados and camembert. Whatever your list, it will barely scratch the surface of this rich and rewarding region.

Pays d’Auge

Rolling pastures, pretty villages, and plenty of stops for cheese and cider.
Pays d’Ouche

As you journey from north to south, the landscape changes from the heavily wooded Eure to the lush, green countryside of the Orne. Spanning both, the Pays d’Ouche is blessed with abundant water. Streams, rivers and lakes make it something of a paradise for anglers.
Pèlerinage d’Eté au Mont-St-Michel

A crossing of the sands from Genêts to Mont-St-Michel every July perpetuates the tradition of the great pilgrimages of the Middle Ages. It attracts about 1,500 “pilgrims”.
People on the Beach at Trouville (Boudin)

Painted in 1865. Exhibited at the Musée Eugène Boudin, Honfleur.
Picnics

A fun way to feed the family without having to worry about the mess. Pack picnic equipment, and shop at local markets.
Pierre Corneille

The classical dramatist Pierre Corneille (1606–84) was born in Rouen. His plays Le Cid , Horace , Cinna and Polyeucte formed the yardstick for French tragedy, while Le Menteur is a comic masterpiece. His writing often reflects the tension between regional and national loyalties.
Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Monet’s great friend and fellow Impressionist, Renoir (1841–1919), did not discover Normandy until he came to the coast in 1879, the year he painted Cliffs at Pourville and Mussel Collectors at Berneval . Once Monet had settled in Giverny, Renoir was a regular visitor.
Pont l’Evêque

Originally called Angelot, this square, washed rind cheese, matured in wooden boxes, dates back to the Middle Ages.
Pont-Audemer

In the charming town centre, encased like a jewel in its nondescript surroundings, water and half-timbered houses are the defining features.
Pont-l’Eveque

This workaday Pays d’Auge town is famous for its cheese. Nearby, at Château de Betteville, the Belle Époque motor museum is worth a visit.