Destination guides

Normandy Town Guide

Listed below are some of the towns of Normandy and what you will find there:

Honfleur An ancient port with a most picturesque harbour, now much used by yachts, which provides the artists who paint on the quayside with plenty of subject matter.

Deauville Great and fashionable resort of the Normandy coast. The wooden promenade, the 'Promenade des Planches', harbour, great hotels and casinos make it an interesting place to visit.

Trouville Rather more down-to-earth than Deauville, with perhaps a bit more atmosphere and bustle in its narrow winding streets, and around the mouth-watering fish stalls along the riverside.

Pont l'Evêque Many of its old houses were lost during the last war but it still has some points of interest. In particular, the main street is an excellent example of medieval France. The town's greatest claim to fame is its distinctive cheese. The Calvados distillery is worth a visit.

Ouistreham From here westwards towards Barfleur are the famous beaches where the Allied landings took place in June 1944 - Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword beaches. Just south of Ouistreham is 'Pegasus Bridge' at Benouville, the permanent site of the airborne troops' museum.

Arromanches On the coast, near Bayeux, where you can visit the D-day museum and see the remains of 'Mulberry B', one of the artificial harbours so essential to the success of the landings. There is a 360 degree cinema, where you can experience the intensity of the Normandy Landings.

Bayeux In addition to being home of the famous Bayeux tapestry the town also boasts one of Normandy's finest Gothic cathedrals, an interesting museum and several other old buildings.

Mont-St-Michel The magnificent Benedictine abbey, built on a rock, has been called 'the wonder of the western world'. Explore the narrow streets of the village which clings to the sides of the rock and visit the abbey itself, with its spectacular night performance.

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