11 Best Things To Do In Normandy

Are you looking for the best things to do in Normandy?

The historic Duchy of Normandy in northern France is perhaps best known for its D-Day beaches.

However, there are many other memorable things to see here such as the iconic Mont-Saint-Michel, the enchanting Monet’s Garden, and the stunning Bayeux Tapestry. 

11 Best Things To Do In Normandy

Here are some of the best things to do in Normandy if you’re planning a trip to this part of Northern France.

1. See the Bayeux Tapestry

The Bayeux Tapestry, on display at the Bayeux Museum, is the town’s most famous attraction. The 11th-century Bayeux Tapestry is a work of embroidery made of ten different shades of wool yarn.

This medieval masterpiece was named a UNESCO “Mémoire du Monde” for its cultural significance as a historical artifact. The Tapestry depicts 58 scenes (similar to a comic strip), with 623 figures, 759 animals, 37 buildings and ships, and a running commentary in Latin.

After seeing the tapestry, spend time also at Bayeux’s old town. The place is as stunning as its famous artwork, with its half-timbered houses, elegant mansions, and stately townhouses. 

2. Explore Rouen’s old town.

Explore the nooks and crannies of Rouen Old Town, which is home to some spectacular 13th-century structures.

From Notre-Dame Cathedral to The Grand Horloge, and from Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc Church to Saint-Ouen Abbey, you’ll walk through narrow cobblestoned streets lined with well-preserved timbered houses.

Visit the Vieux-Marché (Old Market) for lunch, a city square with a good selection of restaurants serving dishes made with locally sourced ingredients.

3. Visit D-Day beaches 

In Normandy, France, visiting the D-Day beaches is a must. These landing beaches hosted the largest invasion in history.

Thousands of allied soldiers arrived in France on June 6, 1944, to carry out Operation Overload and drive the Nazis out of the country.

The bravery, loss, and subsequent freedom that resulted from this event have such an impact because it is here that the course of history was forever changed.

History buff or not, this is a meaningful thing to do when in Normandy. 

4. Spend a day in Honfleur

Honfleur is one of France’s top five most visited towns. It’s one of the best places to visit in Normandy, and it should start in the town’s lovely Old Harbour (le Vieux Bassin). 

Take a stroll through the medieval quarter and see France’s largest timber church. Hike up the hill to see the Chapel of Notre-Dame de Grâce and the Seine estuary.

After hours of exploring, treat yourself to a fine seafood meal in Honfleur, which is famous for its scallops (coquille Saint-Jacques). 

5. Relax in Claude Monet’s Giverny garden

A trip to Claude Monet’s house and garden in Giverny, about an hour’s drive from Rouen, is one of the best things to do in  Normandy.

For fans of Impressionist art, Monet’s Garden is an exciting place to visit because the lush flowering property inspired many of the artist’s paintings.

In front of the house, Claude Monet designed the Le Clos Normand garden.

Daffodils, pansies, tulips, irises, peonies, daisies, roses, poppies, hollyhocks, and dahlias planted to look like wildflowers abound from spring to autumn. 

On the opposite side of the property, Le Jardin d’Eau (Water Garden) has a Japanese bridge and a water lily pond surrounded by weeping willow trees.

This was the inspiration for the Water Lilies series of paintings by Monet, who captured its beauty with his detailed brushstrokes.

6. Admire the Étretat cliffs

This is one of the most gorgeous spots along the Alabaster Coast, and it’s in the Étretat village/town. The white chalk cliffs here have been masterfully carved by the elements.

Every angle is spectacular, whether you opt to trek the cliffs or observe it from the shore.

A visit to the Étretat cliffs is also a terrific activity to do in Normandy for lovers of the Arsène Lupin (authored by Maurice Leblanc) books because most of the stories were set here. 

7. Visit Mont Saint-Michel

This majestic Benedictine abbey in Normandy is a must-see. Mont Saint-Michel is a rocky island off the coast of Normandy, near the mouth of the Couesnon River, where Normandy and Brittany meet.

Mont Saint-Michel is known for its 11th-century Romanesque Abbey Church located atop Mont, as well as monastery structures, cloisters, and a refectory built during the next two centuries.

In 1979, it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its historical and cultural significance.

Stay until sunset to watch the Mont light up like a magical castle island – it’s such a breathtaking sight and a must experience when in Normandy. 

8. Spend a day at  Le Bec-Hellouin, one of France’s most beautiful villages

One of Normandy’s most attractive towns, Le Bec-Hellouin, is classified as one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France (Most Beautiful Villages of France).

This charming community is located in a serene valley with plenty of open space and lush trees.

With tiny flower-bedecked half-timbered homes huddled around a historic church, the Eglise Saint-André, Le Bec-Hellouin is filled with old-world charm.

The village’s small, pleasant hotels and casual restaurants will undoubtedly appeal to visitors.

A must-see in town and one of the top attractions in Normandy is the Abbaye Notre-Dame du Bec-Hellouin, which was founded in the 11th century.

It is the village’s most notable landmark and is considered a prime example of Regency architecture.

This Abbaye is also still a functioning monastery with a Benedictine monastic community.

The monks manufacture handcrafted pottery and give guided tours of the abbey in addition to completing their religious commitments.

9. Sample some Normandy cuisine

Spend some time experiencing the cuisine of Normandy, which is known as a gastronomic hotspot in France.

Restaurants that specialize in seafood, fish stew, poultry, pré salé lamb (salted lamb), sauce a la crème, veal cooked in cider, and Teurgoule, a milky rice dessert, should be sought out.

For those who love sweets, every souvenir shop in Normandy sells salted butter caramels.

One of the best is Caramels d’Isigny, a shop that has been making the most famous caramels with the best dairy ingredients since the 1930s.

This delicious caramel can be eaten with ice cream, crepes, popcorn, or on its own.

10. Have some Camembert and other Normandy cheeses

Camembert is a French cheese that you may have heard of but in Normandy,  you can visit the village that the cheese was named after. 

Here, visitors can sample camembert straight from the farm, which is sure to be superior to anything you’ve had outside of France.

Four AOP (protected designation) cheeses, as well as dozens of other varieties, may be found in Normandy.

There is also excellent butter that you’ll want to eat with a spoon. You may visit cheese factories, sample your way through fantastic cheese shops, or go straight to the farm for your daily dairy dose.

11. Take the picturesque Cider Trail

Nothing beats a drink of crisp cider brewed from local apples or pears when traveling the lovely French countryside.

You may buy it at a supermarket, visit one of the many calvados distilleries, or do the Cider Trail in Normandy.

The Cider Trail, located east of Caen, takes guests through lovely countryside roads to many welcoming distilleries. Start at Cambremer Village and see how far you can go.

Take it easy and proceed at your own time because there are roughly 20 distilleries to visit along the trail!

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