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.

The Seine

Follow the GR23 along the Seine’s south bank and into the Forêt de Brotonne.
Théodore Géricault

Born into a rich Rouen family, Géricault (1791–1824) shocked contemporaries with the realism of paintings such as The Raft of the Medusa .
Tourist Trains

A painless way to see the sights, these trains run through various town centres. Details from tourist offices.
Tourist Trains

PontauRail run a restored 1952 train at a leisurely pace between Pont-Audemer and Honfleur. The ACFVE train starts from Pacy-sur-Eure and winds its way down the lovely Eure Valley.
Traditional Furniture

Highly regarded, Norman antique furniture is characterized by four objects: the wardrobe (traditionally part of a bride’s dowry), the sideboard, the longcase clock and the box bed. Fine 18th- and 19th-century pieces, on display in museums and for sale in antique s shops, are well proportioned, elegant and often elaborately decorated.
Trains

Under-fours travel free; four-to-12s, half-price.
Tribunal, Mortagne-au-Perche

Occupying a handsome building with origins in the 13th century, this welcoming town-centre hotel makes an excellent base for exploring the Perche.
Tribunal, Mortagne-au-Perche

An old, well-appointed inn on a quiet square. The attractive restaurant offers a balanced choice of classical and regional dishes.
Tripes à la mode de Caen

A popular country dish in Normandy, tripe from the excellent local cattle is cooked simply à la mode de Caen with onions, calf’s feet, Calvados and cider, while in Ferté-Macé it is made into little bundles en brochette (on skewers).
Trou Normand

This famous Norman speciality – or rather indulgence – refers to a shot of chilled Calvados thrown back between courses to aid digestion. The word trou means “hole”: the shot of calva , Normans fondly believe, creates a hole for more food.

Jump to top

Restaurant price categories

For a three course meal for one with half a bottle of wine (or equivalent meal), taxes and extra charges.
- under €30
- €30–€40
- €40–€50
- €50–€60
- over €60
Hotel price categories

For a standard, double room per night (with breakfast if included), taxes and extra charges.
- under €60
- €60–€100
- €100–€150
- €150–€250
- over €250