Champagne

Things To Do in Normandy in October

My top five things to do in Normandy in October include sky gazing, an abbey visit and a fair that dates back to the times of Richard the Lionheart.

Stock Up On Wine, Champagne or Cider

Normandy cider
Image by jp from Pixabay

October is a great time for you to choose wine or champagne for an upcoming celebration or perhaps the Christmas and New Year festivities. Most of the supermarket chains hold their annual wine fair from late September through to October or November. Leclerc, Auchan, Carrefour, Super U, Casino, Intermarché and Lidl all have wine fairs. You can buy single bottles and do your own tasting before going back to purchase your favourite or favourites. You should look for information about ‘foire au vins’. And a reminder for you to check alcohol allowances if you will be going through customs. Just visit the supermarket website to see the wines on offer.

If you’d prefer to experience a more traditional event then October in Normandy fits the bill. There will be a range of apple, cider and seafood festivals held throughout the region to showcase these Normandy specialities. Some of the larger foodie festivals are listed in this link although smaller events will also be organised. 

Learn About Medieval Abbey Life

Lucerne Abbey
The abbey church in Lucerne

Some tourist attractions close in late September but re-open for the late October/early November French school holidays. These holidays are known as Les Vacances de la Toussaint and last for two weeks. One of my local attractions that will re-open is Lucerne Abbey to the south of Granville.

Lucerne is one of the oldest Norman Premonstratensian abbeys that was founded in 1143 and built in the second half of the 12th century. It was restored in the 15th and 17th centuries and an on-going restoration programme has been in place since the late 1950s. Your first port of call is the shop and ticket office that are housed in the gatehouse. The highlights are the abbey church with its Gothic style bell tower, the cloister, the Romanesque washbasin, the refectory, the hosts’ room, the dovecote, the acqueduct and the extensive park. Visitors can also peer into the cellar and admire the exterior of the bakery, the old courthouse, the tithe barn and the abbots’ dwelling. Explanation boards around the site in French and English explain the history of this remarkable abbey. For further information visit Lucerne Abbey website

Get Back To Nature

Normandy sunrise
Sunrise in October in Normandy

What could be a better start to the day than observing the changing colours of the sky as the sun rises? October in Normandy sees a autumnal change that brings spectacular sunrises with it. At the beginning of the month the sun is fully risen by just after 8am and as the month progresses it gets slightly later. Fabulous sunsets are also more prevalent during October and the skies sometimes take on an unusual luminosity. Alternatively, how about a spot of star gazing? The low light pollution throughout most of La Manche region of Normandy provides excellent conditions for spotting some celestial bodies. Firstly, wrap up warm, grab a warming drink and then settle down to enjoy the Normandy night skies. For more information check out the light pollution map.  

Visit A Traditional Normandy Fair

Gavray fair
PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

The Foire Saint-Luc is held just outside Gavray every year. It is usually held on the third weekend in October. Horses, dogs and poultry are on display and can be bought alongside agricultural machinery and local food specialities. Over 600 exhibitors are expected each year to the fair that dates back to the time of Richard the Lionheart. There is also a much-loved pumpkin decorating competition with several categories according to age. Visitors can check with the tourist office in Gavray for information about parking and shuttle buses.

Be A Seafood Gourmet

seafood platter
Image by Nadine Doerlé from Pixabay

At the beginning of the scallop season, the fishing port in Granville holds a shellfish festival called ‘Toute La Mer Sur Un Plateau’. It’s a gourmet paradise with whelks, clams, scallops, lobster, oysters and dog cockles galore to taste and buy. There are also cookery demonstrations, boat trips and stalls selling Normandy gourmet products. Visit the Normandy Tourist Board website for more information about the weekend activities.

Finally, if you are hoping to celebrate Halloween in Normandy then it tends to be a fairly low-key event in rural parts of Normandy. In larger towns you do see children taking part in trick or treat as the shops have buckets of sweets.

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