The countryside around Normandy’s D-Day beaches still bears the scars of World War II, and the memorials and vast, immaculately maintained cemetery remind us of the sacrifices the soldiers made during the invasion.
The World War II sites of Normandy have such historical significance that it’s easy to forget they are in a particularly beautiful part of France, with elegant château-style hotels and charming half-timbered towns.
Normandy’s cuisine uses the local apples, cheeses, seafood and salt-meadow-fed lamb to great effect, enhanced with a glass of hard cider or fine Calvados (apple brandy).
Together with our travel partner in France, Decouvertes, we’ve put together a Normandy itinerary that combines the most important D-Day monuments with the most entrancing towns and restaurants.
Our itineraries are for your inspiration. Please contact a travel advisor to customize this itinerary to fit your needs.
Depart from Paris in the morning and head to Rouen.
Stop for lunch at La Couronne, where Julia Child said she became "hooked for life" after devouring oysters and sole meunière; request the Julia Child Menu, which faithfully replicates her feast. (Another excellent place is the two-star Restaurant Gill on the banks of the Seine.)
After lunch, explore Rouen's charming medieval quarter. The magnificent high Gothic Cathédrale Notre-Dame, built during the 13th and 14th centuries, contains a tomb of Richard the Lionheart and was also a recurring subject
for Monet when he lived in nearby Giverny. The excellent Musée des Beaux-Arts, one of the best provincial museums in France, displays one of these canvases, along with works by Géricault, Boudin
and others. Visit the Place du Vieux-Marché, where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431.
Next, continue to your hotel, the Château La Chenevière, which is within 10-20 minutes of the D-Day beaches.
Begin your explorations of Normandy in Caen, one of the first towns to be liberated from the Germans. Start by walking through the American Cemetery near Omaha Beach, with 9,387 crosses and Stars of David marking the graves of American casualties. Andrew Harper describes the visitor’s center here as “deeply moving and beautifully conceived.” Nearby Pointe du Hoc remains virtually unchanged since American Army Rangers scaled its sheer cliffs under withering enemy fire. Pocked with bomb craters, the clifftop still has numerous German bunkers.
Have lunch at La Marée in Grandcamp-Maisy, overlooking the harbor. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure.
Begin your morning exploring the village of Arromanches, where 20,000 British personnel created a man-made harbor out of intentionally sunken ships, immense concrete caissons and miles of floating roadway, much of which still stands. One million soldiers passed through this port.
Alternatively, you can visit La Cambe's somber German cemetery. It remains fascinating because of how different the layout and design are from those of the American Cemetery nearby.
Next head to Bayeux, which has a well-preserved old quarter, including an impressive 12th-century cathedral. After exploring the city, have lunch at Le Lion d’Or, a cozy restaurant serving traditional Norman cuisine.
Bayeux’s most famous attraction, the huge 11th-century tapestry telling the story of the Norman conquest of England, also merits a visit.
Have dinner this evening at L’Ecailler, which presents first-rate Norman seafood overlooking the harbor of Port-en-Bessin.
Start with a visit to the Caen Memorial, widely regarded as the best World War II exhibit in France.
It traces the history of war from 1918 through the present, but the D-Day exhibits are especially engrossing.
Devote the remainder of the morning and early afternoon to tasting local specialties, such as Calvados brandy and Pont l’Evêque cheese.
The rest of the day is yours to explore on your own, or to relax and enjoy the facilities of your château hotel.
Return to Paris, or head west to Mont Saint-Michel and Brittany.
Contact a travel advisor to book your custom itinerary. Fill out the form or call (630) 734-4610.
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