Love shopping? Want to know where the best places are to shop in Normandy? From modern shopping centres and high street names to narrow lanes lined with beautiful boutiques and independent shops, Normandy has it all. Deauville, Rouen, Le Havre and Caen are some of best places to shop til you drop, not forgetting our designer outlets!
1. Deauville, a shopper’s paradise
It’s true! Retail therapy is real – shopping actually makes you happier. Nicknamed the ‘21st arrondissement of Paris’, the iconic seaside resort of Deauville has always stood out in the world of ultra-chic fashion and a hot-spot for French haute couture designers to this day. Head to rue Lucien Barrière to catch a glimpse of Coco Chanel’s first ever boutique. For a luxury shopping spree, make your way to rue Désiré le Hoc where you’ll find a cluster of the best French designer boutiques such as Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Lancel and Longchamp. You probably won’t resist a little wander inside French department store Printemps, housed in a huge beautiful half-timbered Norman-style building.
2. Independent and designer boutiques in Rouen
For a shopping experience in a beautiful and historic setting, head towards the rue du Gros-Horloge in the old city centre of Rouen. Wander around the surrounding narrow-cobbled streets brimming with independent boutiques. Get a large dose of retail therapy by exploring Le Printemps department store located by the Cathedral or the famous Galeries Lafayette nearby. Looking for an up-market second hand bargain? Head to the Dépôt d’Eve, in rue Saint-Nicolas to find yourself a fashionable item by Isabel Marant, Sandro, Zadig & Voltaire and more. The hustle and bustle of Rouen strikes a perfect harmony between past and present. You’ll find a plethora of antique outlets and cutting-edge designer shops around the Church of Saint-Maclou, which cater for every style. Guillaume Fouquet Antiquités and the Galerie Luce feature among the favorite hot spots!
3. Shopping in Caen: Saint-Sauveur is “the place to be”
Like in most cities, the main shopping streets of Caen boast a great choice of big high-street fashion brands. On Rue Froide however, near the Place Saint-Sauveur, those in search of small independent shops can indulge in a little shopping heaven. On the Place Saint-Sauveur, the superb weekly market held on Fridays has blossomed into a major shopping destination with many quality local products on display. This historic district is also a gem for book lovers. The area boasts many independent bookshops selling both general and specialisedbooks. If you are looking for something special, head to Ess9nce a little further on rue Ecuyère. From cosy sweaters to stylish dresses and trendy prints, the shop merges fashion and practicality, offering a selection of handpicked collections from small independent brands.
4. Shopping in Le Havre, a city like no other
One of the most fashionable areas of Le Havre is the Vincent district. After a quick coffee on the terrace overlooking Place Saint-Roch, push open the door to the Ma boutique concept store. Here you will find ultra-trendy pieces as well as jewellery and accessories. Stay in the area with another Tribeca concept store: perfumes, clothes, home decor, jewellery… a feast for the eyes! Also in the neighbourhood, 2 second-hand shops and 1 outlet will delight second-hand enthusiasts. Valise, La malle vintage and the outlet on rue Président Wilson.
5. Honfleur Normandy Outlet
If you love a good bargain, you’ll be in heaven browsing through this shop of top brands at the entrance to Honfleur. Armani, Galeries Lafayette (outlet), Diesel, Sonia Rykiel, See by Chloé, plus Adidas, Volcom and Billalong for the more casual. There’s something to suit every taste and budget.
6. Mcarthurglen Paris-Giverny
Fashion at a minimum of 30% off all year round” is the motto of Europe’s leading outlet centre. Premium and luxury brands at reduced prices, all in a peaceful setting a stone’s throw from the birthplace of Claude Monet: this is the promise of a successful day’s shopping. Aigle, Gant, Missoni, Moncler, Sandro, to name but a few: names that are familiar to any self-respecting fashion fan.
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