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Normandy

WHAT TO SEE & DISCOVER

My Top 2


01 Chalk 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, we 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 were met by a few other tourists - as you would expect. But we quickly got away from them 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.


What else to do & see


Rouen

Rouen is the capital of Normandy and is definitely worth a visit! The city is lined with old half-timbered houses. If you want to admire them, you should stroll through the streets around the old clock tower (Gros Horloge). However, I liked the Rue Eau de Robec even better. The area is also a good place to go out in the evening as it is less touristy. You'll find plenty of tourists at well-known sights such as the Place du Vieux-Marché, the Historial Jeanne d'Arc or Rouen Cathedral.


Yport

Yport is a small village near Ètretat. Its face is formed by the white-blue beach houses that line the chalk cliff beach. Simply lovely! It's a great place to spend a day at the beach!

However, Yport is not really suitable for much more than a day at the beach and a hike, as it is not particularly large. But that's what makes the village so pleasant, it exudes a certain tranquillity. In addition, the hiking trails around Yport are less crowded, but you still have an incredibly beautiful view!


Jardins d'Étretat

The gardens of Étretat are also worth a visit (although I find the entrance fee a little expensive). Various sculptures await you in the garden. The highlight among them are large spheres with faces that make various grimaces. They make you feel like you're walking through the world of Alice in Wonderland. I found it fascinating and the faces always make a good photo opportunity!

From the Jardins d'Étretat, you have another magnificent view of the chalk cliffs. However, the view is even better a little above the gardens (outside) on the dome of the Falaise d'Amont.


Deauville

We only spent a short time in Deauville as we didn't have much time left but still wanted to see the town. The town is known as a vacation spot for stars and starlets. As we all know, that means it must be very beautiful there. That's right! But not as expected.

Because Deauville does have large, impressive villas. However, they are much more traditional than we would have expected. As a result, the town doesn't seem so overtly rich. Only the local stores such as Louis Vuitton or Hermès and the impressive casino show that the town attracts wealthy holidaymakers.

A highlight for us were the booths on the beach with the names of the stars who have already been there. It feels like the Walk of Fame, which is very fitting. After all, Deauville is the venue for the Festival of American Film! Our second highlight was the food. Because we ate in an incredibly good restaurant (“Le Square”). And by good, I don't mean that it was luxurious - on the contrary, the restaurant had a very alternative charm.


Für's nächste Mal

Unfortunately, we didn't have enough time in Normandy to explore everything. Normandy is huge and there is so much to see! I have therefore made a list of places that I would like to visit & see next time. The list is a compilation of tips from other bloggers and friends. So I'm sure that the places are all worth seeing!

  • D-Day Beaches (Omaha & Utah) and American Cemetery
  • La Hague & the surrounding area
  • Îles Chausey
  • Dieppe & Varengeville-sur-Mer
  • Le Havre
  • Trouville-sur-Mer
  • Veules-les-Roses
  • Petites Dalles & Château de Sissi
  • Fécamp
  • Honfleur
  • Roche d'Oëtre
  • Caen

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

You can find the list here.