The picturesque view above is one of 35 historic workshop courtyards to be found in the Normandy town of Villedieu-les-Poêles. This particular courtyard is called the Cour du Foyer (or the Furnace Courtyard) and houses the pan maker’s museum and the lace-making house. It’s one of the prettiest courtyards and is situated at the top…
Visiting Bayeux Cathedral is an absolute must if you are visiting Normandy. The cathedral is just a few minutes walk from the tapestry and is very centrally located. You can see the spires and towers from a distance. In fact you can even spot it from the Bayeux Cemetery and Memorial on the outskirts of…
The tourist Office in Coutances has just produced a leaflet if you’d like to take a self guided walk around Coutances. It’s available in French and has also been translated into English and German. Start at the tourist office and follow the map and commentary. Look above the shops and you’ll find interesting façades and…
The Bayeux War Cemetery and Memorial honours almost 6500 soldiers from the Second World War. It’s the largest cemetery of Commonwealth soldiers in France. The cemetery contains 4,648 burials and they are mostly from the Invasion of Normandy. Opposite the cemetery stands the Bayeux Memorial. The memorial commemorates more than 1,800 Commonwealth force casualties who…
Travelling to Normandy will depend on a number of factors so, firstly, take some time to familiarise yourself with the geography of the region. It is made up of the following five departments: Calvados (14), Eure (27), Manche (50), Orne (61), Seine-Maritime (76). Normandy used to be split into two administrative regions of Upper and…
For fantastic Normandy family friendly activities, watch the video and then check out the list below. There’s more to Normandy than history and heritage and it’s unspoilt and laid back feel makes it very popular with families. Holidaying in Normandy is like going back in time and enjoying the sort of holiday you had as…
Introduction to Normandy indoor leisure parks For a rainy day (or even a very hot day ) there are a number of indoor leisure parks in Normandy. Activities range from mini golf, trampolining and ball parks to go-karting rollerskating and climbing walls. Royal Kids There are various sites dotted around France; the Normandy locations are…
An Introduction to Caen Memorial Museum The Caen Memorial Museum, Centre for History and Peace (Le Mémorial de Caen) is built on a blockhouse used by German troops during the Second World War. The bunker has recently been opened up as part of the museum. There’s a lot to see here and a minimum of half…
You can find the best pizza in Gavray at Les Quat’Z’Arts which provides a takeaway service only. So you simply ring your order through and then go and collect it from the shop. Orders take around 30 minutes or so to prepare and are freshly cooked. There’s just one size of pizza and it will…
These are just some of the abbeys and castles in Normandy I’ve visited. They’re all located in La Manche region of Normandy. I’ve chosen five abbeys and five châteaux and they’re all equally impressive. Abbeys Mont St Michel This is on most of my guests’ to-do lists while they are here. This iconic abbey is…
Les Délices de Camille is a small shop in Bréhal selling Normandy gourmet treats such as biscuits, jams, tea and coffee. The products are made onsite and you can taste the products and organise a visit to learn about the production process. The range of jams are made using a minimum of 65% fruit to…
What would be on your top 10 Normandy foods list? There’s certainly plenty to choose from but here’s my suggestions for foodie treats you should try on your next trip. Apple juice, cider, pommeau and calvados The rich and fertile soil provides the perfect growing conditions for bumper crops of apples. From September through to…
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