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Normandy Overview

As the gateway to France for many Eurocampers, Normandy is popular both as a stopping off point on the journey south and as a destination in its own right. Our parcs at Houlgate, Pont L’Eveque and St Pair-sur-Mer are all just a short drive from a number of ferry routes, and close to some of France’s most striking scenery.

Normandy is a region of many contrasts, with over 400 miles of coastline, offering everything from craggy, granite rock faces to the chalk cliffs of the Côte d’Albatre, never forgetting the endless, open beaches of the Cotentin.

Camping in Normandy also puts you amidst stunning bocage countryside, where small fields are surrounded by great hedges and beech tree windbreaks, with ancient beech forests to the east and of course the famous apple orchards of Calvados, with their equally famous digestif.

And away from the windswept beaches of the Cotentin, there are always the wonderful, wooded banks of the Seine Valley, the eternal island of Mont-St-Michel and the great churches of Caen to detain you as you explore Normandy’s many wonders.

While you are staying with Eurocamp in Normandy and enjoying a fantastic holiday in the north of France, you should also visit the famous D-Day landing beaches where many brave servicemen gave their lives for freedom in 1944, and whose bravery is fittingly commemorated here.

Normandy is also celebrated for its cuisine - fresh fish, cream and cheese figure prominently on the menus of the many good restaurants you will find in the elegant resorts and quaint villages that are so numerous here.

Eurocamp also operate across Southern France. Please see the French campsites section for more information.

Places to visit - Sightseeing

Normandy is so much more than just a great stopover on the way south. It also offers some of the most wonderful scenery and attractions in all France:

Mont St Michel
Dating back to the eighth century, this fabulous Benedictine abbey blends Gothic and Romanesque architecture and enjoys a simply stunning location on a rocky mount that seems to rise straight up out of the sands.

The Bayeux Tapestry
This immense woollen embroidery is one of the most famous artefacts in the world. Ordered by the brother of William the Conqueror, it tells the tale of the Norman conquest of England in quite astonishing detail.

Bayeux
In addition to its world-famous tapestry, Bayeux has a wonderful, medieval old town, complete with the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral, which was inaugurated by William the Conqueror himself in 1077.

Omaha Beach
One of five landing beaches used by Allied troops on 6th June 1944, Omaha saw US troops incur heavy losses on D-Day. However, today it does a fine job of telling the story of that fateful day, as well as paying tribute to the fallen.

Caen
The capital of Lower Normandy, Caen is a beautiful city with a fine castle and of course the magnificent Abbey aux Hommes, a part Romanesque, part Gothic masterpiece that was begun in 1066 by order of William the Conqueror.

Deauville
When you’re looking for sophistication, you will find it in Deauville. This chic seaside resort is home to a host of glamorous events including the American Film Festival, not to mention the historic Sea Bathing Establishment and glittering Casino.

Honfleur
This enchanting little maritime city has to be one of the most charming and picturesque ports in France. With its tall houses, narrow streets and lovely Vieux Bassin or Old Dock in the heart of town, Honfleur really is unmissable.

Rouen
With ancient architecture at every turn, Rouen is a jewel of a city; in fact, there are so many fine buildings it is also known as the Town of a Thousand Spires. As the place where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake, it also has a rich and colourful history.

Great for younger kids

Aquarium Vivarium de Trouville
Close to the sea in the lovely town of Trouville, this stunning attraction features a large complex of tanks featuring a variety of tropical fish and other sea creatures, not to mention a plethora of snakes, turtles and lizards.

Cerza Zoo Park
With a host of wonderful animals roaming the park, from lions and tigers to rhinos and giraffes, this is always popular with younger visitors. Children can also pet cute little creatures on the mini farm and enjoy the thrilling 3D cinema.

Great for older kids

Festyland Theme Park
With something for all the family, Festyland offers plenty of William the Conqueror-themed white knuckle rides in a glorious belle-epoque setting, together with two cinemas and live shows throughout the summer.

Beauregard Adventure Park
Situated in the grounds of a grand Chateau near Caen, this beautiful adventure centre offers high-wire thrills amongst the trees for all ages, but is a particular favourite with teens, who also love the nearby paintball park at Olendon.

Places to visit - Activities & events

Watersports
Normandy’s 400-mile coastline offers a host of watersports; from surfing and sailing to kite-surfing and sand yachting. You’ll find accredited watersports centres at Dieppe, Le Havre, Fécamp, Cherbourg-Hague and many other resorts besides.

Golf
There are more than 40 golf courses for those camping in Normandy to choose from, with no less then 12 enjoying stunning seaside locations, including Etretat, Omaha Beach, Cabourg, Granville and Fontenay-sur-Mer.

Horse Riding
The Norman countryside really is made for discovering on horseback and you’ll find more than 300 equestrian centres and stud farms throughout the region, though our favourite ride is the lovely trek across St Michel bay.

Hiking
Normandy has more than 2,000 miles of prime hiking routes, many of them linked to GR or Grande Randonnée routes that criss-cross France. From Calvados country to the Manche, this really is a hiker’s paradise.

Fishing
With 400 miles of coast, plus lakes, marchlands and rivers, Normandy is a great favourite with the fishing community. Best known for salmon, sea trout and brown trout, you will also find plenty of pike in the lakes and wetlands.

Unmissable events in Normandy

Jazz Under the Apple Trees, Coutances
This venerable festival is now the biggest celebration of Jazz in France. Known locally as Jazz Sous Le Pommiers, it usually takes place during the end of May and the beginning of June.

D-Day Commemorations, 6th June
The events of 6th June 1944 continue to be honoured across the world, and nowhere more so than in Normandy. The celebrations of that fateful day include paratrooper landings as well as respectful silences for the fallen.

September Music Festival, Orme
Every weekend in September you will find a wealth of musical attractions across Orme, from contemporary jazz to Gregorian chants, from opera to classical concerts. An unmissable event for every music lover.

Places to visit - Eating out

While those camping in Normandy will find a wealth of wonderful cuisine here, the region’s main claims to fame come from its apples and cheeses:

• Camembert – named after its town of origin, this creamy delight is a favourite here, as are the cheeses of Pont L’Eveque and Livarot.
• Pré Salé Lamb – This unusual but delicious ‘salty meadow’ lamb is so called because the sheep are reared on the salt marshes around Mont St Michel.
• Cider and Calvados – the abundant apple crops of Normandy mean that there are many fine ciders here, not to mention Calvados, the fiery apple spirit of the region.
• Marmite Dieppoise – While there are many fine seafood dishes to enjoy here, the famous fish stew from Dieppe is a must-taste for every traveller.
  

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