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Cycling trips around the D-Day Landing Beaches
The D-Day and Battle of Normandy routes and circuits we offer range from 10 to 49 km. This gives you plenty of time to stop and explore the sites relating to this pivotal chapter of modern history. The 3 ‘prologue D-Day’ loops of VéloWestNormandy The VéloWestNormandy is one of the great cycling routes in Normandy....
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Where to try aqua walking in Normandy?
Fancy exploring Normandy’s coastline in a more sporty, more unusual way? Try aqua walking – hiking along the beach partially immersed in the sea! Known as longe-côte in French, aqua walking is a fantastic way to burn calories in an exceptional coastal setting. Here are the best three spots in Normandy to try out this increasingly popular...
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The most beautiful greenways for the whole family
With over 700 km of safe cycle routes and greenways, Normandy truly has it all! With easy routes, beautiful surroundings and landscapes, educational or fun stops in villages or heritage sites, find out more about the most beautiful routes to enjoy with your family. On yer bike and follow the guide! The clifftop path offers...
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The Seine à Vélo: follow in the wheels of the Impressionists
Get on your bike and follow in the footsteps of the outdoor painters. Along the banks of the River Seine, discover the landscapes that inspired Monet, Renoir and Sisley and stop off at the museums that display their best works. Giverny, the first stop on your trip The first few kilometres of this Impressionist route...
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A weekend on the Normandy Cheese Route
Camembert, Livarot, Pont-l’Evêque and Neufchâtel – the four famous PDO-certified Normandy cheeses. You may have tasted them, but have you ever visited the towns and villages they were named after? Why not do it this year? To make life as cheesy as possible for you, we’ve put together a three-day itinerary complete with some (optional)...
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Where to go trail running in Normandy
Do you like walking and running, rugged terrain and the great outdoors? We’ve put together a selection of the best trail routes in Normandy. A great way to discover the region and its natural landscapes, but also to train for your next race. The Station de Trail® Bagnoles Normandie Bagnoles de l’Orne is the only...
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Explore Giverny by bike
Combine your fascination for art with your love of the great outdoors on a two-wheeled adventure to Giverny. This picturesque village in the Seine Valley is famously known for being where Claude Monet, the Master of Impressionism, lived from 1883 until his death in 1926. Today the Seine Valley is one of the most cycle-friendly...
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Zoos and animal parks to visit in Normandy
It’s possible to travel far while staying in Normandy! We invite you to discover the region’s zoos and the animals that live there. You’ll also be able to better understand the commitment of these zoos to the protection and conservation of endangered species. Ready for a trip around the world?
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A dog-friendly stay on the Côte de Nacre
Normandy is known for its wonderfully pristine beaches. Some of the best can be found in Calvados, between Ouistreham and Courseulles-sur-mer and what’s better still is that a number of them allow dogs to stretch their legs and get a swim in too. This emblematic coastal destination known as the “ Côte de Nacre” is the...
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The GR® ‘Tour de la Suisse Normande’, voted ‘France’s Favourite Hiking Trail’
The sixth edition of the ‘GR Préféré des Français’ competition, organised by the French Hiking Federation, crowned the GR foothpath ’Pays Tour de la Suisse Normande’, a 113-km loop straddling the departments of Calvados and Orne, in the heart of the sumptuous hilly landscapes of the Suisse Normande. The GR® ‘Tour de la Suisse Normande’, which...
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Explore the Past in Motion: History & Sports on D-Day Beaches
From Cotentin’s eastern coast to the Côte de Nacre, through the beaches of the Bessin, the Normandy coastline resonates with the poignant echoes of the D-Day landings. The memory of the summer of 1944 endures on the edges of Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword beaches, as well as inland. Today, in all seasons, visitors...
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The D-Day Landing Beaches with a dog
The D-Day Landing Beaches in Normandy were the setting for Operation Overlord on 6 June 1944. It was a battleground and a place of slaughter. Today they are a place to enjoy, including with your dog. This is no more than what the veterans wanted and fought for – enjoying in freedom what had been taken away...
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The best equestrian events in Normandy
Normandy’s equestrian calendar is packed with events throughout the year, but which are the best? Here’s our selection of the finest equestrian events to enjoy with friends or family, whether you’re horse crazy or just along for the ride.
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Top golf club restaurants in Normandy
Normandy boasts some world-class golf courses, though some golfers might be more looking forward to the post-round meal than the golf itself in a region so renowned for its food! If you’re a golfer and a foodie, here’s our selection of Normandy’s best golf club restaurants guaranteeing delicious cuisine, beautiful views and unforgettable dining experiences. Restaurant at the Golf d’Etretat Whether...
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Meet Honorin Hamard, France’s paragliding champion
Honorin Hamard is a world-class paraglider. World champion in 2015, he won the French championships in both 2018 and 2019. From the sky, he gets to see Normandy like no-one else. Meet the man and the mind behind all that paragliding passion. Where did you grow up in Normandy? I was lucky to grow up...
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Best places to have a picnic in Normandy
Sure, you could have a picnic at a motorway service station, but we can go one better! Here are all of our favourite places where you can enjoy breathtaking views while you eat! 1. A view of the Mont-Saint-Michel and its Bay You’ve bought some local fresh products from a local village in the Bay...
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Cycling Normandy’s flax trail with a dog
Did you know that Normandy was one of the world’s leading producers of flax, also called linseed? To combine the joys of a cycling trip and the discovery of flax fields, a cycling trail “la Véloroute du Lin” was created in 2018, stretching from Hautot-sur-Mer near Dieppe to Fécamp. I decided to embark on this...
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Ten tremendous treehouses to try
Have you ever wanted to spend the night in a treehouse? Well, in Normandy you can, and what’s more, you’ll be spoilt for choice! Whether you’re travelling with friends, family or a partner, you’re in for an unforgettable stay in any of these ten tremendous treehouses (or cabanes dans les arbres as they’re known in French).
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10 places to have fun with the family
Sometimes there’s just one thing you want to do: get some fresh air and let off steam! Theme parks, summer sledging, bungee jumping… Here’s our selection of the best places to have fun with the family! Viaduc de la Souleuvre (Calvados) The Viaduc de la Souleuvre is quite a piece of architecture (built between 1887...
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Watersports with kids in Normandy
With 600km of coastline, lakes and rivers, Normandy is rife with opportunities to head outdoors and get a taste of water sports! To help you find the perfect spot to get active on the water with your kids, here’s our pick of fun, safe places to get started. Granville Regional Boating Centre Find the perfect...
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Normandy’s most beautiful sunsets
Whether you’re taking a romantic evening stroll, enjoying a drink with friends or are out and about with the family, no-one can resist a beautiful sunset by the seaside or in the countryside. Here are some of our finest for you to factor into your holiday to Normandy, including sunrises too! Sunrise in La Manche...
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Learn to play golf in Normandy
Normandy is the perfect place to take your first swing! If you’ve never played golf before, some of our golf clubs offer free coaching to get you started. Here are the best places for beginners to get a little bit of practice before hitting those white balls with ease and style! Jumièges Golf Course Set in the Meanders of the Seine Regional...
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Artists’ gardens
The “garden painter” Claude Monet explored how gardens could inspire art. In such crafted idylls as Giverny, poetry is everywhere, bringing together paint and plant. Claude Monet’s gardens in Giverny At Giverny, Monet had an army of gardeners to hone his garden in the ways he sought to perfect his art. Let’s imagine it’s 1920...
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Top beaches for horse-riding in Normandy
Our many magical beaches make Normandy an ideal destination for horse-riding, providing freedom for horses and an exhilarating experience for riders. Here are five of the best spots to saddle up for seaside equestrian adventures. Deauville, the place to be One of the most idyllic places for exploring on horseback is the chic seaside resort...
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Playing golf in Normandy
From links to forest courses, Normandy has established itself as a fantastic destination when it comes to offering top quality golf. From the panoramic sea views of the Golf d’Etretat to the prestigious setting of the Golf Barrière Deauville, here’s a round-up of Normandy’s most beautiful and scenic golf courses.
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Top golf events in Normandy
With plenty of world-class courses and resorts to choose from, Normandy has built its reputation as an exceptional golf destination in France. Every year, the region hosts many golf events and tournaments, both for professional and amateur players. Here’s a selection of golf events for your bucket list. The Vaudreuil Golf Challenge Part of the Challenge Tour tournament, the Vaudreuil Golf Challenge is held end June or...
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Linen, a Norman treasure
Since ancient times, linen (or flax) has found in Normandy the clay soil and climate it needs to thrive. With 80,000 hectares spread over Eure, Seine-Maritime and part of Calvados, Normandy produces almost 50% of the world’s flax! Centuries-old expertise Sown in March and April at a rate of 1,800 to 2,000 seeds per square...
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Top exotic gardens in Normandy
A trip to the ends of the earth in Normandy? If you love the scents and colours of faraway places, these beautiful plant havens are the place to be. Vauville’s extraordinary garden Take a trip to the distant lands of the southern hemisphere! At the end of the Cotentin Peninsula, 300 metres from the sea,...
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The ‘bacs’ ferries on the River Seine: how do they work?
These are crossings like no other. They’re practical, economical and unusual! Along the loops of the Seine, eight links allow motorists, cyclists and pedestrians to cross the river by bac. What exactly is a bac? A bac is a flat-bottomed boat typical of Normandy. It allows locals and passing visitors to cross the River Seine...
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Rail biking in Normandy
Normandy’s a bit of an expert when it comes to repurposing disused railway tracks, having already turned several into popular rail biking routes. Explore our region in a new way by rail biking in a group through some of its most scenic natural landscapes. Suitable for all ages, this activity is great for the whole...
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Walking and cycling along the Alabaster Coast in Normandy
To explore the 45 km of coastline between Le Havre and Fécamp, I set off on a slow adventure combining cycling and walking. Instead of breathlessly dashing from one sight to the next, I decide to ride my bicycle at my own pace along a section of the Vélomaritime® and then continue on the GR®21...
