Ten good reasons to visit Normandy in 2024

Brimming with history, culture, stunning natural scenery, remembrance sites and great good & drink, Normandy truly has it all! We invite you to escape, to enjoy and to explore all that our beautiful part of France has to offer. Just in case you need convincing, here is a list of ten good reasons to visit Normandy next year.

1. It will be celebrating the 80th anniversary of D-Day

Normandy will forever be marked by the D-Day Landings and the Battle of Normandy that led to the liberation of France and Europe. 2024 marks the 80th Anniversary of this historic event, and with it, a momentous occasion to celebrate peace, liberty and reconciliation. A rich and unprecedented program of events brings the memory of this tragic period of world history to life, all while emphasizing the spirit of hope. Lest we forget.

2. …And the 150th anniversary of Impressionism!

In 2024, we also celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Impressionist movement in the Impressionist Destination (Normandy – Paris Region). The main event is the Normandy Impressionist Festival which returns from 22 March to 22 September. Visitors can expect exhibitions and themed experiences on the theme of coexistence between Impressionist and contemporary works. Save the dates and come walk in the footsteps of the Impressionist painters in Normandy.

3. It has been listed as one of the best places to visit in 2024

We are thrilled to see Normandy feature in Lonely Planet’s list of best places to travel in 2024! Lonely Planet invites its readers to “rediscover this venerated region through a new eco-lens. Given its proximity to Paris – just over an hour by train from Gare St-Lazare – the hedgerow-cut meadows, cheese-fueled farmsteads and fragrant apple orchards of rural Normandy promise an affordable antidote to the crowds of 2024 Olympics visitors in the French capital”. We truly look forward to welcoming many of you to our beautiful part of France next year!

4. It will be celebrating the 50th edition of the American Film Festival in Deauville

The Deauville American Film Festival is a yearly event devoted to American cinema, which has taken place since 1975 in Normandy’s most famous seaside resort. From 6 to 15 September 2024, Deauville hosts the 50th edition of what is now the biggest French film festival after Cannes. World premieres, tributes, documentaries, conferences and master- classes take place during ten days, all open to the public. 

5. It’s full of new experiences

Want to try something out of the ordinary? Take your pick from our unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experiences – a selection of sights and activities that are exclusively available in our region and which enable visitors from all over the world to experience Normandy to its full potential, and engage with local people, places and traditions. New experiences include painting like Claude Monet on the clifftops of the Alabaster Coast, a behind-the-scenes tour of the Airborne Museum and a two-wheel escape to Giverny, the village of Claude Monet.

6. It will see the opening of the new immersive viking museum in Rouen

Next spring, the very first ‘Immersive Viking City’ will open on Rouen’s quaysides. Normandy’s capital city is the perfect location for this new structure. Indeed, Normandy takes its name from the Viking invaders who menaced large parts of Europe towards the end of the 1st millennium, and on the back of farming and trade, there would be a great flourishing of cities and settlements, of Christian art and of building, the evidence of which resides in place names and the many riches of Norman civilisation. All this is to be rediscovered thanks to new technologies in a unique 800 square-metre setting by the River Seine.

7. It will see the return of Fécamp Grand’Escale

From 8 to 12 May, world-famous ships set course for Normandy to take part in the second edition of Fécamp Grand’Escale. This event brings together tens of sailing ships, yachts and steamboats at the heart of the Alabaster Coast in Fécamp. Numerous nautical activities, exhibitions, concerts and firework displays take place around the port for 5 days of family fun!

8. It will kick off the year in style with the 150th edition of Granville Carnival

The Granville Carnival started 150 years ago when the fishermen of Granville set out for the Grand Banks fisheries off Newfoundland. It is now the is the biggest event of its kind in western France, and the country’s only UNESCO-listed carnival! From 9 to 13 February, come and enjoy satirical float parades, fanfares, dancing, confetti fights and more, as the seaside town of Granville goes crazy for carnival for five days!

9. It’s great to visit all year round

Explore Normandy’s major visitor attractions in the spring before the crowds arrive, make the most of our numerous outdoor events and light shows in the summer, visit our many mouth-watering food festivals in the autumn or, once winter hits, enjoy the magic of the festive season at one of our Christmas markets. There is always something going on in Normandy!

10. It’s easy to get to!

If you live in the UK, simply hop on the ferry and a few hours’ later you’ll be in Normandy. Our beautiful part of France boasts four ferry ports linking us to Portsmouth, Poole and Newhaven. You can travel in the comfort of your own car and enjoy lots of space and fresh air once on board! If you’re a cycling enthusiast, you can take your bike too. If you’re travelling from the US or Canada, Normandy is just an hour’s drive from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. You can also catch a train from Paris Saint-Lazare station and 60 minutes later you’ll be in Giverny or 80 minutes later in Rouen!