Normandy Coastline
- Stephanie Michaud
- Oct 7, 2017
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 15, 2018
A sunny weekend forecast made for the perfect opportunity to visit the Normandy region- just a few hours drive north west of Paris. Known for cheese, rugged coastline, historical sites from the second world war, and the sentencing of Jeanne d'Arc- we knew our weekend would be packed! We also had the pleasure to be joined by our first visitors to France- my Mom and Frank!
Trip Itinerary
There is so much to see in this area, it is easy to get overwhelmed- so make sure to pace yourself and mix up the activities. Being Canadian, we prioritized many of the Canadian sites from D-Day and WWII, and wanted to mix museums with outdoor walks and lunches. The area itself is beautiful, so if you visit with good weather, plan to picnic on the beaches as we did.
Approximate Trip Cost
3 nights accommodations in Rouen, plus car rental, tolls, and gas: approximately $900 for the long weekend.
Destination Map
The easiest way to get to Rouen and the surrounding areas is by car. We originally debated taking the train, since it is possible and can be a time saver depending on when you choose to leave Paris, however- given that there were four of us, it was nice to travel together at our own pace. We chose to use Rouen as our home base, and drive to each location during the day.
Visiting Monet's Garden in Giverny is an absolute must see. You can easily spend hours there, and the gardens would be beautiful in all seasons. If you are an aspiring photographer, painter, or just enjoy walking in gardens, Monet's Garden is a sanctuary for you to enjoy at your leisure. This is also a nice way to break up the drive to Rouen.
The Normandy coastline is breathtaking, and traveling by car allows you to stop as you wish. We particularly enjoyed the drive from Courseulles-sur-Mer to Étretat. If we had time, we would have loved to play a round of golf at the course on the cliffs!
Helpful Links
An incredible multi-media museum display not to be missed that tells the story of Joan of Arc, and more recently, how her legend has been used to inspire various movements across France.
A museum dedicated to the role of Canadians in the second World War. Don't miss the underground bunker tour, and be sure to stroll along the beach in remembrance.
The Foundation that maintains and preserves Monet's home and gardens.
In case you have time for a round- it would be like golfing the Pebble Beach of France!
Happy Adventures!
Stephanie
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