01 Cliffs in Étretat
The reason why I wanted to go to Normandy so much was the chalk cliffs of Étretat. Because I have seen many pictures of them that have enchanted me. When I arrived in Étretat, the panorama almost took my breath away! The mixture of white chalk cliffs, turquoise sea and green meadows looks so beautiful!
There are several places along the coast where you have a breathtaking view and can see famous landmarks such as the Lucas Stone or the Falaises of Étretat. We liked the hiking trail at the Étretat Golf Club the best. However, this is generally very popular and therefore also very touristy. If you prefer a quieter experience, I recommend a hike from Vattetot-sur-Mer along the coast to Étretat. You will only encounter a few hikers there. At the end, you will arrive above the Jardins d'Étretat. From there, you also have a fabulous view of the town and the coast.
Tip: There is a small cave (L'Oeil du Panda) on the hiking trail at the golf club, from where you can look out over the chalk cliffs. It therefore makes a great photo spot (as you can see above)!
02 Mont St. Michel
I can't tell you how long I've wanted to see Mont. St. Michel for so long! Our trip to Normandy finally gave me the opportunity. To this day, people still argue about whether Mont St. Michel belongs to Normandy or Brittany. But officially, the monastery mountain belongs to Normandy. So of course we couldn't miss out on a trip there. We could already see the mountain rising up from a distance. The view was omnipresent on our walk to the mountain. Once there, we met a lot other tourists - as you would expect. But we quickly got away from the hustle and bustle by simply turning off the main road into one of the side streets and climbing the mountain. During the tour of the monastery, we learned a lot about the very exciting history of the monastery hill and how the Norsemen actually came to Normandy.
For a special view of Mont St. Michel (like the one in the picture here), I have marked a spot for you in my Google Maps list. You can also start your hike to Mont St. Michel from there, so you don't have to start from the large tourist parking lot.
03 Saint Malo
To be honest, the next town is not part of Normandy. But if you are already in Normandy, a detour to Saint Malo in Brittany is not very far away. That's why we took the trip and went to Saint Malo.
Although Saint Malo is certainly no longer an insider tip, it is much less well-known than many places in Normandy. However, the town is particularly worth seeing and I can highly recommend a trip there. Even the view of the old town, which is lovingly surrounded by the city walls, made a big impression on me. As we walked through the alleyways of the city, we sometimes had the feeling of being transported back in time. And by the way, we were constantly accompanied by a light sea breeze.
There are also some good restaurants and cafés in Saint Malo. So you'll get your money's worth in culinary terms there, too!