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Normandy

The fact that Claude Monet painted some of his pictures in Normandy can only mean one thing: The nature there is beautiful! If not even more than that. Because the impressive panorama of white chalk cliffs, the turquoise waters of the Atlantic and vast green meadows is even more beautiful in reality than in any picture or photo...

14/05/2022

dear(travel)diary,

who would have thought that my mother would go to Normandy twice within two years? When we suggested we could celebrate her 60th birthday in Normandy, she asked my brother and me: “What am I supposed to do there?” She was expecting World War II defenses, unsightly beaches and cold seawater.

But we managed to convince her that her idea was not reality. So we celebrated her birthday in France after all, in a beautiful vacation home near Étretat to be precise. The birthday trip was a complete success! Mom was surprised at how beautiful Normandy is. I was also finally able to tick some impressive places off my travel bucket list.

It was already clear to us back then: this was probably not the last time we would go to Normandy! So we went there again this September. But this time for a special event. A family friend got married in Granville. The wedding was incredibly beautiful and it was worth making the trip to Normandy for that alone. But at the same time, we were able to discover even more of this wonderful region... And hopefully even more in the future!

xx Chiara

Overview:


WHAT TO see & dISCOVER

  1. Chalk cliffs in Étretat
  2. Le Mont St. Michel
  3. Saint Malo (Brittany)
  4. Rouen
  5. Yport
  6. Jardins d'Étretat
  7. Deauville
  8. Granville
  9. D-Day beaches (Omaha & Utah) and American cemetery
  10. La Hague & the surrounding area
  11. Îles Chausey
  12. Dieppe & Varengeville-sur-Mer
  13. Le Havre
  14. Trouville-sur-Mer
  15. Veules-les-Roses
  16. Petites Dalles & Château de Sissi
  17. Fécamp
  18. Honfleur
  19. Roche d'Oëtre
  20. Caen


WHERE TO EAT

Overall, we ate very well. Contrary to what the Parisians in “Emily in Paris” always say, Norman cuisine is very good. So you can't go far wrong. Nevertheless, I would like to recommend a few restaurants in particular:

Le Square (Deauville): This restaurant was my favorite of all, as every meal there was just so delicious. The most delicious dish, however, was the camembert. We could have all tucked into it!

Bergamote (Saint Malo, Brittany): Bergamotte is actually a tea room. But in addition to a large selection of teas, they also serve delicious crêpes, galettes and pastries. It's even worth queuing for them!

Le Puits Fleuri (Vattetot-sur-Mer near Étretat): We went to this restaurant for mom's birthday and the food was very good! The only drawback: it's not for vegetarians. However, the products are all sourced locally and the meat and fish are farmed with care.

Cavoua Coffee Spot (Saint Malo, Brittany): Is a cute café with good drinks and delicious pastries. The owners are also very dog-friendly!


ACCOMMODATION

On our first trip to Normandy, we stayed in a beautiful Airbnb in Vattetot-sur-Mer and we all agreed that it was one of the best places to stay. The house was large and had a lot of charm. We also had a huge garden with a pond and a herb garden to ourselves. There was a conservatory and a fireplace, a well-equipped eat-in kitchen and a bathroom with a bathtub on each floor. We liked it so much that we would have liked to book the accommodation for next year straight away. As we were in Normandy as a family, the accommodation is logically more suitable for a group than for solo travelers or couples.

During our second trip to Normandy, Mum and I stayed in a former school. Because Maxime and her husband bought an old school and turned it into a hotel - the Cosy Er Lann (affiliate link). We had a whole apartment with two bedrooms, a living room, kitchen and bathroom to ourselves. But there are also simple hotel rooms. The hotel even has an outdoor pool and a whirlpool. There are some games, a table tennis table and a large outdoor area.m too. Finally, you can book breakfast at the hotel.


CostS

  • Airbnb for 5 nights (beds for up to 6 guests): 940€
  • Hotel for 4 nights (beds for up to 4 guests + childs): 558,72€
  • Total fuel costs to Normandie & back: 180€
  • Food costs: approx. 120€ pp.
  • Entrance fee Mont St. Michel: 11€ p.p.
  • Entrance fee Jardins d'Etretat: 12€ p.p.


I have put together a list of all the places on Google Maps.

You can find the list here.

1 week in Normandy

Itinerary



Day 1: Arrive in Étretat, hike along the cliffs to Vattetot-sur-Mer, enjoy the view from La Falaise d'Amont

Day 2: Explore Étretat: Walk the Falaise d'Aval and admire the Lucas stone, hike along the golf club to L'Oeil du Panda and stroll through the Jardins d'Étretat

Day 3: Spend a day at the beach in Deauville and enjoy a delicious meal at Le Square, then explore Trouville-sur-Mer

Day 4: Take a trip to Rouen, stroll through the city and end the evening with canapés and wine

Day 5: Drive to Mont. St. Michel and explore the village along the mountain, then end the day in Granville

Day 6: Spend the day in Saint Malo and eat delicious galettes at Bergamotte

Day 7: Relax on the beach at Yport or explore Dieppe


From the community for the community

Tips from the community

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